“Tired Lounge” at 360SEE is featured in a design article in Sweden’s WWF eko magazine.

Working closely with the CEO, I designed the brand, materials and presentations to start Way Basics.  Way Basics’ zBoard storage is now sold through the world’s larget retailers.  I designed and developed this informational and e-commerce website on the magento platform – including html emails, custom theme, custom checkout, and more.  I created imagery to tell the story to the consumer.  Packaging, assembly guides, tradeshow booths, POP displays, apparel, press releases and new product development projects were also completed.

I made a few videos as well:

I designed and built the first iteration of this table in 2006.  Since then it’s been reshaped, built from wood and cardboard, been seen in magazines, galleries, and design show houses.  The iconic “speech bubble” shape makes this a unique table a great conversation piece.

Corrugated cardboard, hardboard, and laminated hardboard spacers.
33″L x 20.25″D x 18″H

This wall shelf is all about the simple tilt of the internal space.  It’s recycled tire inlay contrasts and gives the piece a nice texture.

FSC Birch, recycled tires
48″W x 12″H x 7″L

May still be available at 360SEE Gallery.

The Tired Lounge was an experiment with the material: Hoosier sprint car tires.  The shape is a simple curve with two recessed rockers to give the appearance of floating.  The soft rubber was cleaned, coated, cut into strips, stretched and woven.  I’m 6’2″ and the chair was very relaxing and comfortable.

FSC Birch, recycled tires
25″W x 31″H x 50″L

It may still be available at 360SEE Gallery.

In response to the success of last year’s show, “On the wall & On the floor”, 360SEE is returning with the annual design exhibition. Each artist and designer participating has created a free standing or table top piece and a piece for the wall.

All of the pieces on display in some way embrace the sustainably-minded media-choice philosophy of the gallery showing works constructed with reclaimed, repurposed, responsibly sourced, and even living materials.

Designer Leo Kempf, an “On the wall & On the floor” veteran, has traded in his cardboard furniture designs for newly designed pieces made of FSC certified Birch and repurposed tires . Kempf created a rocking recliner upholstered with tension woven reclaimed tire strips and a wall mantle inlaid with tire treads.

Fine art, functional art, and design pieces will also be on display by gallery represented artists and designers.

Oryx is the Infight magazine for Qatar Airways, the award-winning 5 star airline. Designed and produced to compliment the world class image of the airline, Oryx contains lifestyle and general interest features, including exclusive interviews and first-hand travel experiences from our internationally renowned writers.

Here’s the page (click to enlarge):

I’m designing a chair for the 2010 360SEE Gallery On the Wall/Floor show this fall.  I’m covering the chair with strips of used tire material.  I’m really excited about what my first material test revealed.  The texture is great and the material is actually soft… it should help create a really comfortable chair.

strips of used tire woven to form a comfortable surface

We needed a home for our chickens, so I designed and built them this portable coop.  Even the bottom is fenced.  The side opens for easy clean/feed access.  The door in the back is where you grab the eggs.  There are wheels on the back to allow it to pivot easier when you lift the front.  Hey, the chickens like it.

A Green Scheme

House Built and Designed With the Planet In Mind Shows ‘Eco’ Can Be Beautiful

By Jura Koncius

Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 8, 2009

Here are some photos from the event.

The CharityWorks GreenHouse is being staged in the CO2FreeLiving house, a custom-built, carbon-neutral house located in McLean, Virginia. The house showcases a new approach to sustainability whereby more efficient building design, innovative technology, and a smart location are combined to reduce carbon emissions, the leading source of greenhouse gases. (via charityworksgreenhouse.com)

The Conversation Table will be integrated by designer Ernesto M. Santalla in the Spa Retreat.

The opening is October 10.  If you’re in the DC area – check it out!

I’m packing these up to ship to Chicago for the show.

May 8 – July 1

360SEE Gallery
1924 North Damen Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60647
M-Sa 10-7, Su 11-5pm or By Appointment
Tel. 773.698.6340

I have a deadline for this project now.  I’m going to be showing a few pieces in a Chicago gallery this summer.  More details on that later – after I sign contracts and stuff.

This week’s progress: The cardboard Conversation Table is now made of cardboard (with a high recycled content) and hardboard (made from compressed secondary wood fibers – formaldehyde-free, resin free).  It’s also now sandwiched between two protective layers that have a nice textured face.  This weekend I’m making new, final master templates for jigs to finalize processes with my guys.

Here are some photos of the new little section I made tonight to test all the changes:

I finally revisited this cardboard wall shelf.  I just simplified it – got rid of the huge middle block and updated the improved the mounting situation.

Still hashing out the details on this project.  I’ve been building table saw sleds and assembly jigs.  Getting closer to making these available soon.  I’ve got 4-5 of these in my shop that I wouldn’t feel comfortable selling yet.

This first solid prototype was really exciting to see.  It’s exceptionally solid.  This table will be around for the next hundred years at least.  Making some needed improvements in the next prototype.  These will hopefully be available in a handful of standard colors, along with custom colors.  Also in the works is a version of this table made from a combination of local hardwoods: hickory, walnut, and oak.

I wanted to design a simple, functional, flat-packed, cardboard gift to send out to friends of LKD.  After designing/building a few prototypes of bookends and other ideas, I decided to go this route…it’s a book holder… you may have been lucky enough to receive one of these to assemble on Christmas morning… I sent out 16, I think.