Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Age: 29 (Dana). 27 (Mariah).
Occupation: Founders of BOND Hardware.
Instagram: @bondhardware
Hometown: Chappaqua, NY (Dana). Portland, OR (Mariah).
Studio location: Brooklyn.
Describe what you make: Refined from industrial shapes, BOND Hardware forms are made to adorn spaces or the body using materials that are sustainably acquired for the longest and least destructive lifespan possible. We are highly visual, and utilize imagery to highlight the kinetic energy of the pieces and the individuals who are drawn to them (Mariah).
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: The Saw Blade Series. What started as the Buzzsaw Collection in 2017 (inspired by a circular saw blade, as chokers, pendants, bracelets, rings, and earrings) was refined into a motif with one dramatic blade called the Blade Collection the following year. In 2019, the Buzzsaw Collection and Blade Collection were interpreted at a massive scale, as a chandelier, monolith mirrors, dining tables, and end tables. The Buzzsaw Collection was also our first hypoallergenic, nickel-free, and sustainably made collection with the same production rules applying to any pieces made afterward (Dana).
Describe the problem your work solves: BOND Hardware is meant to create pieces that embolden the people who wear them or place them in their environments, to be their strongest selves. The pieces resemble motifs we all interact with. They are made without contextualization, and are up for interpretation.
Describe the project you are working on now: A jewelry interpretation of an i-beam. Dana was inspired by the design’s efficiency—the i-beam is the most efficient shape in construction in terms of material usage, strength, and size allotment, and the same is true when applied as jewelry.
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: Immediately following the launch of BOND Houseware will be the I-Beam Collection, an interpretation of the i-beam as a choker, pendant, bracelet, bangle, and various earring styles in solid 935 Silver or 10K Gold. All metals are recycled, hypoallergenic, nickel-free, tarnish-resistant, and made to last forever.
What you absolutely must have in your studio: Grace Jones, La Bouche, pickles, scotch bonnet sauce, tea, a blowtorch, and our team. They’re so talented and we’d be goners without them.
What you do when you’re not working: We’re always working, but it’s nice to work while traveling and exploring. Self-care and movement practices are vital to keeping it together.
Sources of creative envy: Long list and we’re definitely forgetting people. Paco Rabanne, Guy Bourdain, Helmut Newton, Bob Fosse, Janet Jackson, Marlene Dietrich, Richard Serra, Daniel Arsham, Gina Gershon, Russell Maliphant, Marie Chouinard, Jiri Kylian.
The distraction you want to eliminate: Distractions are a healthy part of focusing (Dana).
Concrete or marble? We’d have to go with sustainably acquired marble, although we do love concrete aesthetically…
High-rise or townhouse? Loft or house boat. Would like to have something with a moat…
Remember or forget? Forget.
Aliens or ghosts? Aliens… but Dana = sci-fi and Mariah = horror.
Dark or light? Dark.
