TEAM PONY
Roster: Danny Chambers, Ruben Eriksson, Marcus Thomas and Thalia Meraz (CMF)
Today was a celebration of the sphere of influence that materials have on design and the emotional response triggered by color and touch. When Suzette starts her “color” speak, as I call it, one is mesmerized by the tactile nature of her words. In many ways she is an author weaving her story, using carefully to build suspense, push the story forward and leave you longing for one more paragraph, one more sentence, one more word. I can literally see the colors crawling up the wall, passing over swatches of materials. It was an ever-changing wall of tetra tennis, or Tetris, if you prefer the name you know. The materials lesson was similar in so many ways, I knew some of the textiles and synthetics but I didn’t “know” the materials.
I had my Stumptown coffee, courtesy of Gui, and a granola bar, ready to start the day. I was pretty pumped up; needless to say, it was for a good reason. My first hand materials experience is almost exclusively lifestyle. It was a treat to learn about the technical and performance materials used in Jordans and other athletic footwear. We spoke about textiles, synthetics, leather, foams, carbon fiber, Ariaprene, pigment, finishing, and building a story. There are so many tools in the materials playbook, it’s scary to think about, but who among us doesn’t like a bit of danger. Design is supposed to push the boundaries, shift the landscape or slowly form a river through a mountain.
During our discussion, Suzette, stressed the importance of owning one’s creative process. I feel confident that I soaked up mental insights and design tools that will propel into the future.
All in all.. a great day. Until next time…
Ariaprene in its many forms. Carbon fiber in tubular forms. Nike engineered mesh.— Marcus T
