The art of less-than perfectionism

Wabi-sabi is a principle of Japanese aesthetics based on the appreciation of imperfection. This notion can be applied to anything. It’s a beautiful idea and an interesting topic for designers. We can’t help but strive for perfection, but of course it’s never attainable. Shiny, simple and contemporary are often the most desired criteria. We can’t force irrelevant attributes onto a brand. When it fits, I love to find ways to bring out character and soul. When doing work for myself, I naturally gravitate here. I also love working with dissimilar materials for an an even more distinctive result.

Four featured projects:

A meditation bench, built from a piece of Siberian Elm and a solid block of black acrylic. The curved base allows the user to find the perfect seated position. 

A prototype of a single unit for a networked array. This project was born out of the discovery of a cache  of discarded monitors. To match the aesthetic of the agency environment, it incorporated sandblasted redwood. The hood of an old Chrysler LeBaron tied it all together (naturally). 

A warm organic sculpture made of heavy gauge steel was the goal. Creating this precise ‘random’ shape was a methodical endeavor. My design mind leads even in purely artistic endeavors.

A small table, inspired by a rough piece of glass from the Blenko factory in West Virginia. The tapering legs are polished steel, with a raw torch-cut edge.