Tastemakers: Object Creative
Industrial design team reinvents the teapot, house number, ladder, door and more
The husband-and-wife team behind Seattle-based Object Creative believes everyday activities don't have to be mundane. Jonah and Mac Griffith's philosophy is to bring the extraordinary into ordinary living, and to provide users of their products with a bit of humor. Object Creative's designs certainly pay tribute to this perspective. Their products are simple, playful, and decidedly different. Since Jonah has experience in houseware design and Mac's experience is in environmental design and softgoods, each of their designs functions effortlessly and simply.
Address by Object Creative
The bold style of these modern address numbers come from their simplicity. Keep them subtle and sophisticated in an oxidized iron, or add some fun to the front of your house in a bold green or blue.
Q: What kind of changes do you see happening in product design today?
A: We think companies and consumers are beginning to realize every product has an impact, and product design is responding by using materials in an authentic way. Today we see a lot more products showcasing craftsmanship even at a level of mass production.
Q: What kind of changes do you see happening in product design today?
A: We think companies and consumers are beginning to realize every product has an impact, and product design is responding by using materials in an authentic way. Today we see a lot more products showcasing craftsmanship even at a level of mass production.
Step
Modern, sleek, and subtle, this stepladder's design is meant for use outside the closet. Its bold construction of lacquered maple makes it a piece you automatically want to show off.
Q: What are you trying to say with your designs?
A: There are so many products that we live with and accept just because they are familiar. Our design work focuses on reconsidering these everyday products in an attempt to discover something new.
Q: What are you trying to say with your designs?
A: There are so many products that we live with and accept just because they are familiar. Our design work focuses on reconsidering these everyday products in an attempt to discover something new.
Redoor by Object Creative
The Redoor is made out of reclaimed and repurposed traditional house doors. Object Creative then uses a CNC router to cut designs and patterns into these solid wood doors, which are painted with a lacquered color.
Q: How has your work evolved since you first started? How do you see it evolving in the future?
A: Hopefully our designs are smarter now. One of the exciting parts of product design is not knowing what you'll be working on in the future, but always knowing that there are more problems that will need to be solved.
Q: How has your work evolved since you first started? How do you see it evolving in the future?
A: Hopefully our designs are smarter now. One of the exciting parts of product design is not knowing what you'll be working on in the future, but always knowing that there are more problems that will need to be solved.
Object Creative
Once you see the light that filters out of the woven metal shade of the Galaxy Floor Lamp, the lamp's name makes sense. The lamp's oxide metal shade allows the light to flicker out in soft specks, mimicking the look of the night sky.
Q: What are some of your favorite new design trends?
A: We love that people are designing for smaller spaces, and we love seeing all sorts of new DIY projects.
Q: What are some of your favorite new design trends?
A: We love that people are designing for smaller spaces, and we love seeing all sorts of new DIY projects.
Q: What are some of your new favorite product lines?
A: Linus Bikes, and Le Creuset — old is new again!
Q: What designers (both past and present) are you inspired by?
A: From the past — Eva Zeisel, and Charles and Ray Eames. Currently — Marc Newson.
More Tastemakers:
Asaf Weinbroom
Daniel Schofield
Jared Rusten
A: Linus Bikes, and Le Creuset — old is new again!
Q: What designers (both past and present) are you inspired by?
A: From the past — Eva Zeisel, and Charles and Ray Eames. Currently — Marc Newson.
More Tastemakers:
Asaf Weinbroom
Daniel Schofield
Jared Rusten
Q: How did you get started in product design? What is it about home design that inspires you?
A: We both grew up in DIY households, fixing up our own houses, and eventually moving on to study industrial design at university. Now we have our own fixer-upper where we enjoy spending time working on home projects — we're finding our inspiration in our own home.