Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Occupation: Designer.
Instagram: @tetestudio_
Hometown: Zach grew up in Southern Vermont. Laura was born in New York City but spent most of her childhood in Vancouver.
Studio location: Olive, NY, in the Catskills.
Describe what you make: We design objects and interiors.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: Our Puddle Mirror collection.
Describe the problem your work solves: Our studio is centered around our aesthetic, creative approach. We view our projects less as problems to solve and more as opportunities to communicate a message or make an artistic statement.
Describe the project you are working on now: We’re playing around with Tatami, letting the material lead the process rather than dictating a function for it upfront. We love its texture and structure. We’re also designing a makeup organizer. Laura has worked in beauty for most of her career and really enjoys the ritual of getting ready but has always been frustrated with the options available to organize products and brushes. So we’re making our own!
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: We’re aiming for our Tatami project to be ready to share in the spring.
What you absolutely must have in your studio: Good lighting. It feels silly but it makes such a difference in our mood and keeps us creative and energized. Don’t underestimate a big window and a pool of afternoon light on the creative process. We also have a full floor-to-ceiling wall of corkboard where we pin ideas and organize projects and prototypes. It’s a great source of inspiration to be so visible throughout the day.
What you do when you’re not working: Hiking. There are a thousand great trails around us. We moved up here recently so we’re still exploring the area, trying restaurants, and visiting all the great little towns along the Hudson. We’re also doing a lot of work on our house—a good chunk of it ourselves—so that’s a project that’ll take as much time as we give it.
Sources of creative envy: Marianne Brandt, Charlotte Perriand. Beyond creating really beautiful work, they were both part of such an exciting time in design history. There was so much idealism in their design philosophies.
The distraction you want to eliminate: Figuring out what to eat for lunch. It never ends! Every day you have to do it again too.
Concrete or marble? Marble, but they both have their place.
High-rise or townhouse? Townhouse.
Remember or forget? Remember.
Aliens or ghosts? Aliens.
Dark or light? Light.
