commodity materials made lux

Trex is a composite made from recycled wood and plastic bags that is usually designated for outdoor decking that will last in the elements.

With a material that is accessible, affordable, and most commonly found in commodity goods, I sought out to discover if such a substance could be designed into a luxury product.

After finding Trex, I performed several tests to
 learn about its characteristics. 

I iterated by burning the material, pouring molten lead on it, sanding/polishing it, and performing a series of strength tests. 

Inspired by its ubiquitous nature, display of strength, and minimal design, the i-beam shape became a key element of my design.  The i-beam is designed to withstand the maximum bending load while using the least amount of material, and is an iconic shape widely used in modern construction. 

I WAS ONLY SEVEN YEARS OLD WHEN I SAW THE REMARKABLE TOGGLE BOLT…

I appreciate beautiful aesthetics very much but I’m even more drawn to a clever, simple way to accomplish a physical or mechanical task. A couple of examples are the first time I saw a toggle bolt and a latch mechanism on my backpack. I was only seven years old when I saw the remarkable toggle bolt and I was basically screaming in excitement talking to my dad about it. “It is just SO simple, but so clever”, I said.

The latch on my backpack is also a simple and clever design that Peak Design invented for this bag. I honestly smile every time I use it. 

I’ve always been interested in the way things physically work and how they were put together. For the last eight years I’ve been making things (mainly furniture) which has helped me develop a strong connection with the physical world and the way things work. I’ve found such great pleasure in making things that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional in some way. There are few greater joys than using something I’ve created.