m i n n
minn is my brand of furniture, home goods, and accessories. it is based on the philosophy of min(n)imalism : where I take what we know as minimalism but add meaning and character to it. based on memories, min(n)imalism brings warmth and nostalgia to a minimal, simplistic aesthetic.
the story
People will always have a place they call home. And what makes it home are the objects that fill it.
When I think of home, I imagine the blue house with the tower and witch’s hat that I’ve lived in my whole life. My childhood was made in that house. From the structure itself and all its character, to each of the rooms filled with meaningful objects, to my family who experienced it all with me, so many memories have been made in that house. And those memories have influenced who I am today.
Memories take us back to another time. Each memory has its own reason for sticking around in our minds. We are able to reminisce on these memories and use them to inspire how we live our lives in the present day. Memories are something to stay true to. As we all keep moving forward, eager to jump on the latest bandwagon, we shouldn’t lose ourselves. If we make meaningful memories to cherish and hold on to, then we are able to find ourselves and find happiness in whatever comes our way. All we have to do is be reminded. Physical objects that are connected to a space that holds a place in your heart is one way of recalling these memories.
By filling our homes with objects of our choosing, it becomes a place that we want to spend time in. It becomes an extension of ourselves and creates links between products, experiences, and memories that then allow us to reminisce and be inspired.
All in all, it’s a cycle. For me, it began with the products experienced within the walls of my home. The big blue chair that my brother and I would stack all the cushions from the couch on and then climb to the top, only to slide back down to the bottom. The hundreds of Dixie cups that we would make into a perfectly balanced tower reaching all the way from the ground floor to the second floor banister. The large wooden dining table that I would crawl under to play Barbies, my imagination transforming it into her mansion. Products are meant to be touched, used, worn, experienced. It is from these experiences that connections are built and lasting memories are made. It is from these experiences that meaning is brought to inanimate objects.
Through these meaningful memories we can then be inspired. We can use our memories in our favor to make connections between our past, present, and future. Knowing where we’ve been and where we’re going will build our character and help us in working to have a happy life.
the blue house on the corner with the tower and witch’s hat, otherwise known to me as home
A new, meaningful product is the result of this journey from experience to memory to inspiration. And it’s these products which then begin the cycle all over again. Since my childhood had such a positive impact on my life, it only makes sense that it should inspire my work. I believe the memories I’ve made, which have been so influential in making me the person I am today, should be shared.
Therefore, nostalgia and the power of making memories has become the basis for my brand, the story behind the philosophy. I hope that I am able to use my memories to create beautiful products that others can make memories from and in turn be inspired.
analysis
Although my brand is meant to have a personal connection to my past and my philosophy, I looked to other brands to gain a sense of how they portray their own stories. I wanted to learn more about the process of creating a brand and a product line.
Included in my research is benchmarking and interviews with various brand founders and shop owners.
benchmarking
01 // Punk Soap Dish by Ampersand
02 // Spiral Trivet by Good Thing NY
03 // Makemoney Money Clip by the Minimalist
04 // Handle Backpack by Thisispaper
06 // Swahili African Modern Kenyan Tote Bag by UO
05 // Woodchuck Pendant 01.01 by Lindsey Adelman
07 // Paper Display by Good Thing NY
09 // Anode Chair by Dixon Branded
08 // Standing Bowl by Fort Standard
10 // Tape Dispenser by MSDS Studio
interviews
good thing // jamie
Good Thing is a NY-based manufacturer of small objects and household accessories. Founded by industrial designer, Jamie Wolfond, in 2014.
“in general, I won’t make something if it’s gone too far from something I would buy myself”
smartfish studio // alisha
Smartfish Studio & Sustainable Supply was a studio founded by Alisha Budkie. She constructed footwear using sustainable and local materials.
“take time to honestly look at why you’re doing what you’re doing”
ampersand // tim
Ampersand was founded by Tim Karoleff in 2011 with a simple goal: to create pleasurable and practical products that would make people smile.
“just your story isn’t important, it’s if other people can relate”
dixon branded // john
John Dixon co-founded the Cincinnati based design collective, Losantiville, while also working on his own brand which focuses on assembly of the object.
“design is about physical objects; design became all about sketching but it should be about making”
continuum // ericka
Continuum is an eclectic bazaar/concept shop that features a curated selection of work from a wide array of independent designers, artists, and makers.
“people don’t think, they just consume”
to see full interview questions and notes click here
home is where the heart is
The home is where my heart is. I believe in the power of objects to create connections; a connection between people, experiences, memories, and inspiration.
return to simplicity
We eat the world with our eyes and I want that bite to be full of simply beautiful objects. Our lives are chaotic; the products we surround ourselves with shouldn’t be.
brand characteristics
Using these mantras as the basis, my brand will embody a minimal but meaningful philosophy.
This means that every product has a story. Every product has a minimal aesthetic: clean, simple, and modern. And each of these products has a root in a personal memory of mine. The happiness and creativity that nostalgia brings is part of the inspiration for the product line. This nostalgic aspect also brings a warmth to the otherwise minimal aesthetic.
min(n)imalism 101
Minimalism, as we know it, is clean. It’s simple, it’s white, but it’s also sterile and devoid of meaning.
I believe in the importance of products having a story behind them and so min(n)imalism was created. The extra ‘n’ of course relates back to the brand name of minn but also stands for the added aspect of nostalgia in the line. The minn brand is more than just minimalism, it is a feeling and a connection to memories of simple happiness.
minn moodboard
the image
The minn brand is subtle. It takes cues from the past and brings them to the present. It is meant to hold a place in your home and tell a story when the time is right. The minn brand isn’t one with the name plastered over everything. Instead, the name comes through the design. It is embedded into every product like it was born into a family. Warm neutrals, naturals, and pastels with a hint of bright red make up the palette. These tones are matched with a clean font, bringing a graphic undertone to the brand.
style + vibe inspiration
the inspiration
I am lucky to be able to say that my childhood was really great. I’ve learned to thank all these experiences and memories in making me who I am today. My love of home and the want to share it and create that same feeling for someone else drives me to design.
Therefore, each product in the minn line stems in some way from a specific childhood memory of mine. Although everyone doesn’t know these memories of mine, I hope for them to make their own connections to the product. I want them to relate, learn the story, and then create their own.
childhood memories
the beginning
From a mix of reminiscing on old memories and having a wall full of inspirational photos, the product ideas for the minn line were born.
It took a lot of thinking and working back and forth between ideas from the past and thoughts for the future until the line was just right. It was through this back and forth that the products subtly took cues from memories while bringing a newness to it.
making it real
One of the main focuses of the minn brand is to make real product that people can own and love.
I am a lover of making things and building craft. Therefore, it was a quick turn around from sketch to prototype. I doodled in order to get the idea out and then went straight into building to figure out the details. For these types of products it is really important to see it in real space.
process
// cabinet
The body and drawer were cut and dovetailed. The door and drawer fronts were routed to create a textured pattern. Hinges and drawer slides were then attached and everything assembled.
// “socks”
The “socks” and knobs for the cabinet and cat bed were turned out of aluminum on the metal lathe. They were then powdercoated.
// floor lamp
In order to create a 9” diameter by 42” long piece of wood to be turned, boards were glued together with a hole running down through the center.
// cat bed
The top and bottom platforms were cut using a circle jig on the bandsaw, holes for the dowels were drilled out, and a chamfer was made to finish off the edge.
// crater bowl
Wood bowl blanks were fit into a fixture and individually milled on the Komo router based off a 3D file.
// crossbody + belt bag
For both soft goods products, the pattern was cut out of suede and then sewn on an industrial sewing machine.
// brooch
After cutting a wooden template, the wire was then bent around it and shaped into the correct form.
// magnets
The house shapes were cut out of wood using the scroll saw and cleaned up with the disc sander. The roofs were bent out of thin steel with a metal bender and then attached to the house.
to see the full lookbook, please click here
sharing
To document my capstone and share what I was working on, I Instagrammed photos of my process throughout the semester. #minn #ucid16
getting some sun
As a break from the capstone studio grind, my friends and I often utilized the DAAP roof. From chilling in the wooden structure to skateboarding in circles, we made the most of the space and the daylight.
Roof breaks forever.
summer 2015 through spring 2016