TUMBLR

we tumbl now
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it's only natural.

order your very own 2012 Naturalist Almanac HERE.

Seattle Design Festival vs. London Design Festival

Obviously, it is very unfair to compare the two festivals too much. London’s Design Festival draws about 350,000 visitors and is on its ninth year, and this is Seattle’s first stab at a design festival. London has committed to become the design capitol of the world, and I don’t think Seattle even knows what it wants to commit to. Oh and London is London.

It is interesting however that Seattle has decided to hold the festival during the exact same week as London, which is setting itself up for a little comparison. Right?

It is my sincere hope that the Pacific Northwest can come together and figure out a way to carve out our own niche event that, at least, strives to equal quality of the London Design Festival.

From my quick and dirty comparison, I have four suggestions:

1. Create a fund to invest in more installations.
2. Hire a cutting edge graphic design/ creative strategy team.
3. Get more technology minded designers involved (on the board and in the events).
4. Have a curated exhibit showcasing local design.


INSTALLATIONS:
Seattle
BUOYANCY:
Installation by Jay Atherton and Cy Keener

artists rendering


from my i phone during installation.
have not found any quality installation shots yet.

London
Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec: Textile Field

David Chipperfield Architects: Two Lines

Perspectives: St Paul's Cathedral

DWELL

the firm I work for (workshop a|d) is in DWELL this month!
-amber

free time in thailand

we are very pleased to have received our copy of the Thai magazine art4d. it is the first magazine to solely feature a free time product! it features work from all around the world, so we are very flattered.
xxx
-amber

evening cruise in the thousand islands / vacation before NYIGF

american flag, classic boat, strapping young man, and pizza.
AMERICA!


driving up to anna's place to pick up the fine lady.


hi puppy!


cruzin.


american sunset.


of the thousands of islands, many of them have little adorable houses on them.


time for pizza and opening more beer!

xxx amber

NYIGF with JOIN

In less than a week, I will be in New York City with JOIN for NYIGF.

JOIN, featuring the work of eight Northwest designers and collectives, will combine forces with the American Design Club and “A+: The Young Designers’ Platform” to assemble a new section dedicated to emerging design. Positioned just outside the entrance to Accent on Design, visitors entering and exiting the fair will have an opportunity to take extra time to experience new work from up-and-coming designers:

GRAIN
BLK PINE WORKSHOP
IACOLI & McALLISTER
FRUITSUPER DESIGN
plainMADE
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN STUDIO
FREE TIME
R&L COODS

xxx
amber


plainMADE



IACOLI & McALLISTER



BLK PINE WORKSHOP



FREE TIME



GRAIN


The New York International Gift Fair is located at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 W 34th Street in New York, and will be open 9:00 am - 6:00 pm August 14 - August 17, 2011 and Noon - 6:00 pm August 18, 2011. 35,000 attendees from 50 states and more than 85 countries are expected to attend the five day fair. JOIN will be located in the new emerging design section at the base of the escalators leading to the Accent on Design exhibit floor.

About JOIN

JOIN promotes emerging independent American design by providing designers a forum to show work, get feedback, and share resources. By organizing design shows and events, we strive to be the adhesive and a resource that binds a thriving, but fragmented, furniture and product design community in Seattle.

AMBER'S NEW RAD JOB!

I am very excited to say that I just finished a really amazing week at the office of Workshop for Architecture | Design and LAIR design. I was hired to work for both, so my days should always be full of a wide range of design problems to solve and communicate... which is my dream situation! Sometimes the two collaborate on projects, sometimes not, but each is stronger by having the other one there for expertise and input.

I first came into contact with them back in April when I was looking for architecture stories to write for Pacific Standard. I was so impressed with the execution of their design intent that I emailed them right away asking if we could meet up... but I didn't hear anything until just a few weeks ago when they were looking for someone to hire. Thanks Universe!

I will still be working on projects with Free Time, August, etc.

Here is some of their work.
xxx-amber

nearpoint





north capitol hill





gig harbor




coleman triplex

2012 Naturalist Almanac

As you might already know, Free Time Industries is at the very end of a fundraising campaign via IndieGoGo. The goal was to raise enough money to send Amber to the New York International Gift Fair late this summer with three new products. So far we have raised over $1,000, which is amazing. THANK YOU!!!! This is enough for the plane ticket and the booth space, but we still need a little bit more to, at the very least, print the 2012 Naturalist Almanac.

We are confident that profits from the almanac alone will be enough to keep Free Time going for another year, and even be enough to bring the Emergency Button and Tool Holster to market too. This is why we need your help! Please visit the IndieGoGo site to watch our video, contribute if you can, and/or help us spread the word. //////\\\\\\HERE///////\\\\\\\//////\\\\\\\



More on the 2012 Naturalist Almanac:
Due to the particularities of time, we humans are in a constant diluge of change. The earth spins past the stars above, cultural events punctuate history, seasons renew, and living organisms go through their individual rhythms. But we have a choice: to let time overtake and inhibit us, or be prepared and become empowered by it.

This is why Free Time Industries (with the help of our amazing intern Riley Hoonan) has created the 2012 Naturalist Almanac - it is a tool to the essential and the natural. It tells you where you are, what is to come, and how to prepare for it, all in twenty-six-by-twenty-six inches.

Starting at the center, the almanac tells you how to find the North Star, length of daylight, solstices, seasons, daylight savings, important days, living via the astrological signs, and keep track of moon and menstrual cycles. The almanac also gives seasonal information on topics such as hunting, fishing, foraging, building, health, gardening, raising ducks, weaving, raising bees, starting fires, and natural cleaning methods. The almanac is meant to be rotated at each season, creating a new ritual for the passing of time. We have gone through an intense research and design process to bring all this information together in a meaningful way.

You can pre-order an almanac via the IndiGoGo fundraising campaign with a $50 contribution. I have attached progress images to peak your interest. Each will be printed in Seattle,WA and comes with brass brads at each corner and 4 brass tacks.



Thank you! Please feel free to email me if you have any questions. amber@freetimeindustries.com

Cheers!
Amber xxxxxx

thanks.

Just wanted to send out a big THANK YOU to all the bloggers out there who have featured or mentioned Free Time in the past few weeks!

We will have more to send you all soon ;)

seesaw

for me, for you

miss moss

journal du design

design milk

mocoloco (on faraday and us)

mocoloco (on the sharpener)

dossier journal

notcot

the adventure school

white board journal



xxx
amber