This week’s interview is with Grizzle and Jonathan Junker, founders of Graypants, a company that produces pendant lights made entirely of repurposed corrugated cardboard.

The company’s flagship line Scraplights embodies the team’s interest in repurposing and environmentally responsible design. In 2012, they set up their European office in Amsterdam, from where they started distribution to over forty countries, while the Seattle studio still provides local production for North America and functions as a prototyping shop.

Their portfolio includes public artworks, architectural installations and several lines of lighting, furniture, packaging designs sold throughout the world. Their debut architecture project Garage won the coveted AIA Seattle’s Award of Honor in 2013.

We were curious to learn how these two architects turned their ideas into products and made the transition from “classic” architecture to productizing designs, successfully selling them and establishing a brand.

Enjoy the interview!

What made you decide to found Graypants? Was there a particular moment that sealed the decision for you?

Graypants was an early dream hatched in our college days and refined through scribbles and sketches on napkins. It was born from the desire to combine our love of making with our fascination in technology. We wanted to find a way to bridge that gap and bring technology back to our fingertips.

The moment that sealed our fateful decision was the recession in 2008. Working as architects, that soon had no more building to design, we had to find another outlet for our creativity and energy. We then decided to take the leap and turn those sketches into something crazy and tangible.

Which of your products was first piece with the potential to sell?

The scraplight series (made from repurposed/recycled cardboard boxes) was our first designs with commercial success.

What do you find the most fulfilling about product creation?

Coming from the world of architecture, which can take several years and up to a lifetime to realize a design, we instantly enjoyed how quickly you could prototype and touch a product design. We both really enjoyed model building in architecture and product design was a way for us to bring design back to our hands using a more tactile process.

How did you establish your brand?

Our brand was established and grew out of a friendship. The name Graypants comes from an inside joke between Jonathan and myself.

We saw creating our brand as another fun design problem to solve and we approached it that way.

We wanted to tackle this creatively and come up with a unique solution that was an extension of who Jon and I both are.

How has your architectural training helped you in the actual running of your business? What specific/transferable skills have proved the most useful?

To be honest, through our architectural training we learned how to be creative problem solvers which became our best asset. We had zero business experience and training. However, we approached business as a design problem and were eager to solve it.

With that said, I would definitely recommend some business training!

I think finding a business mentor was one of the most valuable things we ever did.

We soon realized that we did not have the appropriate knowledge to tackle a lot of the difficult challenges we would face. We were very fortunate to find mentors and colleagues early on that were able to help fill in the gaps that we really needed.

Graypants expanded to Europe in 2012. What was the biggest challenge in the process of developing the business from a two men startup to an international enterprise?

One would think language might be the biggest hurdle… but the fact that the Dutch can speak better English than us made that part pretty easy. All kidding aside, the biggest challenge was probably trusting that we were making the right decisions. It was scary to scale and expand.

Again, we were very fortunate and met some amazing people along our journey that made all of this possible. We learned to trust our dream and our vision. It is easy to second-guess yourself, but trusting your passion and speaking from your heart helped us realize our truth and gave us the courage to keep pushing ahead.

You continue to work as architects. Could you tell us about your project Garage?

When we started Graypants we were not sure if we would practice architecture again… There was something about the profession that we loved so much that we ended up having a struggle with it. We decided that we would only dip our toes back into architecture if we would be able to treat it as art. And that is precisely what the garage became… architecture turned into art and poetry.

The garage was a dream come true process for us. The clients allowed us to approach the space in that way and they also challenged us to design in that way. The garage became more than a space, it became an experience and it became a way for us to capture a memory for the clients in a surprising way that allowed us to transform the space into something magical. We wanted to find a way to honor the mundane things we do on a daily basis, and celebrate them as a tool to change the way we live.

What is next for Graypants? What kind of products will be launched soon?

Lots of exciting things are on our horizon…. perhaps too many to list but we are most exited about a new lighting series that we have just launched in Milan. It is a huge departure for us in material and technology.

Do you have any advice for archipreneurs who are interested in starting their own business?

Never give up, get back up and remember to breathe.

Pursuing your dreams is not a sprint but more of a marathon.

How do you see the future of the architectural profession? In which areas (outside of traditional practice) can you see major opportunities for up and coming developers and architects?

TECHNOLOGY!!!! The profession is changing so quickly due to the rapid expanse in technology. Fabrication, 3D printing and virtual reality are amazing tools that designers now can easily access. I particularly find the virtual design space to be fascinating and can easily see how that will start to rapidly change the way we think, work, design and live.

About Seth Grizzle and Jonathan Junker

Seth Grizzle and Jonathan Junker are founders and partners of Graypants. They both enjoyed a similar upbringing in a small town in Ohio. Here, they lived with the motto “if it’s broke, you fix it”, which functioned as an inspiration for their later professional life.

They studied at Kent State University, and this is the where the first steps to Graypants were set. After submitting their work to Design within Reach in 2008 – and becoming finalists – their work is now well-known and respected. In November of 2013, Graypants was awarded AIA Seattle’s Award of Honor for their debut architecture project, Garage.

Graypants designs are products with stories and feelings, more than just beautiful objects. Seth and Jon are passionate about their work, and believe that this is an essential element that can be seen in their work.

Designs such as the Scraplights series and the Kerflights have made Graypants to what they are today. Nevertheless, new collections – like the Chronalights series – are constantly introduced, of which the latest have been shown at Euroluce 2017.

The post Product Design Made by Architects – How Graypants Built an International Brand appeared first on Archipreneur.

This week’s interview is with Albrecht von Alvensleben and Maximilian Pauen, architects and founders of Bullenberg, a furniture label based in Berlin.

Albrecht and Max design and manufacture handcrafted wooden tables out of oak wood, taken from the forest of the von Alvensleben family in Saxony-Anhalt, 200 km west of Berlin. The manufacturing process is very personal to the two architects: they carefully select each tree before processing them into logs. Everyone involved in the production is located within a 15 km radius, thus ensuring that each table has been individually crafted and can be entirely customizable.

Here are Albrecht’s and Max’s thoughts on the intersection between architecture and furniture design, as well as on what skills an architect can bring to business development and how they can turn a profit.

I hope you enjoy the interview!

What made you decide to found Bullenberg and create tables? Was there a particular moment that sealed the decision for you?

Max: We were motivated to create products where we would be responsible for the entire process of making them. At the time we first considered it, we were both working in architectural offices in Berlin. The impetus came from a friend – also an architect – who was looking for a solid oak tabletop. It was easy to find a source of great quality raw material as Albrecht’s family had a forest. It took no time for us to realize that we could create saleable products from this source. And so the kernel of the idea was sown.

Throughout history, architects have created a number of memorable furniture designs. Charles Eames, for example, had his own architectural practice before he got into design. What do you find the most fulfilling about product creation?

Max: I believe that if you create an object from start to finish, you have much more influence on its details than you do in architecture. Of course, architecture is very conceptual work, but in the implementation stage, you cannot be involved in every little detail; you cannot be a specialist in every area – the architectural process is really more about coordination and compromises. In creating furniture, especially wood, you can really breathe life into it. The creation process is not as pragmatic; it is much more emotional.

Do you miss working as an architect?

Albrecht: Yes, but only partly. The relatively simple process of plan-drafting for days and weeks on end is not something we miss at all. Working as an architect often seems exciting and cool, but in reality it’s much more tedious and repetitive. What we sometimes miss is working on a larger concept – a greater, more stimulating idea that has been mulled over for months and years before coming into fruition.

Max: The concept for tables had been decided on at a relatively early stage of the company’s founding. Based on that concept, we developed a product. Of course, the concept itself is constantly being adapted and further developed. In architecture there is always time to start anew, and concepts are constantly evolving in consultations with clients and customers. In contrast, our client feedback and design cycle is a more rapid process, which can be oddly enjoyable.

Albrecht: But it’s necessary to say that, in practice, concept development is only a tiny part of a project – it’ll only take a few days or weeks. The remaining work is all about drawing on the computer – that’s part fun, part purely mechanical.

What are your visions for your brand? Are you planning to create more products in addition to the table ARX?

Max: The original concept will remain, but we also want to create new products. The next step we are planning is to move from direct sales into retail. We already have a shop in New York, but our main customer base is here in Berlin, buying directly from us. Many of our customers buy the table unseen, but it is really a product that you want to touch. Our next step, therefore, will be to distribute our tables in specific stores across Germany.

We have already designed a number of new pieces but have not yet made a final decision on our next product. Designing is fun, largely because you get to deal with materials and have to consider what your carpenters need to learn in order to physically produce the product. This is an important exercise; a sort of ‘evaluation’ where we can draw conclusions about how the next product might work, both in terms of building it and its success in the marketplace.

But designing also requires us to question the dimensions of the project: we developed a table, and during that process, learned how to scale a project. We are committed to making products where we know exactly who is involved and where they are located. We would really like to design a chair.

Do you have any tips for “Archipreneurs” who want to start and build their own business?

Albrecht: Get all the formalities and paperwork done as soon as possible – and as neatly as possible – so that your mind is free for structuring the idea that you want to implement.

We have found out that we can accomplish a great deal on our own as trained architects, which of course is very good, because it means that we do not have to pay for expensive services. It stands to reason that, as architects, we can present products. We have, for example, designed our own website and taken all the photos ourselves. You should not be afraid of trying to make things yourself, even if some things don’t turn out so well. You can always build on and revise what you have created.

We said that we want to try everything in business for ourselves at least once. That’s also important in order to see how much effort it takes and better assess what we really do need to outsource in the future.

What is not so good in current architectural education is that students don’t learn much about business. I believe that you must confront the mechanics of business at an early stage before you can fully understand the magnitude of what you hope to achieve: what would you sell, how much time will it take, etc. We have worked this to our advantage; we really got out there and sold from day one, all without a marketing budget. The product spread quite rapidly through channels such as social media and the press, which was very nice of course.

In which areas (outside of traditional practice) can you see major business opportunities for up and coming architects?

Albrecht: The notion of the traditional architectural office is associated with extremely high standards. To ensure sales, clients must comply with standard regulations. Sometimes I do think that the regulations might be in need of changing, since Germany has recently seen such an influx of people and we need homes for them. This isn’t to lower standards but rather to allow for a bit more innovation. It may give rise to new construction concepts; perhaps we’ll see more instructions for conducting DIY projects. With a good concept you can work with a few people and achieve a great deal, even if they do not have the relevant training. This is still not yet possible in Germany. Maybe it will change in the future but, again, ideally not at the expense of our own high standards and expectations.

About the founders

Albrecht von Alvensleben studied architecture under Zaha Hadid in Vienna and at Cooper Union in New York. He has worked for architecture studios in London, New York and Berlin, and is also a dedicated photographer. A large body of Albrecht’s work has been published and exhibited.

Maximilian Pauen studied architecture at the Technical University of Vienna and has worked for architectural and design studios in Vienna, Berlin and Arezzo. Prior to his studies, he apprenticed furniture designer Paul Kelley in London. Max has won numerous competitions in housing and urban design.

The post Architecture and Design: How to Build a Furniture Brand with Bullenberg appeared first on Archipreneur.

Working for starchitect offices has become a controversial and divisive topic due to numerous reports citing long work hours, disruptive office politics and either low pay or no pay at all for interns. Stories about renowned principals not showing up, only to throw tantrums when they do hours later, as well as unhealthy employee competitiveness and near impossible deadlines are some valid reasons as to why working for a starchitect has gotten such a bad rap over the years.

Nevertheless, there are (arguably) other equally valid reasons as to why young graduates continue to line up for the opportunity to work in offices run by famous architects. Whether it’s to gain experience, acquire impressive references or simply schmooze with the big guns, these hopeful professionals are proving that there’s a lot to be learned from the most successful in the field. Here are some of the most important behaviors that you can learn from working for a starchitect:

#1 – Brand Building

There is a science to marketing your work – if anyone has mastered it it’s the starchitects. An important part of brand building is to create a niche that will keep new commissions rolling in and media devouring every press release of yours that hits the Internet. Daniel Libeskind, Frank Gehry and Bernard Tschumi have become the ‘go-to’ architects for cultural monuments; Richard Meier has become the developers’ first choice for high-end residential architecture; Helmut Jahn is known for high-rises and glass-and steel commercial building, gmp Architects design stadiums, and so on.

#2 – Knowing the Value of Projects

Established architects create works of high value and know how to price themselves. Learning how they do so could be key to your own success. The experience of watching these guys at work can inspire you to learn how to negotiate and get your way in a deal. Another benefit of working for a starchitect is in actually going through the wringer of the daily pressures that come with working in a high-profile environment. Overcoming setbacks, tricky obstacles and the murky waters of office politics will make you stronger and encourage you to fight for your own talents to be seen.

#3 – Showing Off Projects

Starchitects never miss opportunities to show off their projects to decision-makers, journalists, colleagues, architectural students and the general public. Their designs are displayed in their studios, showcased at exhibitions, and project principals often give lectures, attend conferences and publish books. Their promotional material runs the gamut from publications to giveaways.

#4 – Celebrating Successes

Every now and then, starchitects give themselves and their employees the opportunity to relax and enjoy their success. They can recognize and celebrate each project milestone as a way to relieve the pressures of the everyday. Giving people the opportunity to socialize and loosen up in an informal atmosphere also helps to strengthen the team.

#5 – Collaborating With the Best

To be excellent in your business, you have to surround yourself with talented people. Starchitects usually team up with only the best engineers, consultants, PR agencies, developers and contractors, which goes to show that recognizing talent is essential for building a successful career. Koolhaas, Libeskind and Calatrava, for instance, could have never brought their visions to life without the expertise of Cecil Balmond, structural engineer and a trustee of Arup, a famous London-based international engineering firm. There are numerous examples of successful long-term collaborations among famous architects and professionals working within relevant industries.

#6 – Creating an Automated Design Language

Successful design offices develop systematic frameworks, procedures and automatically generated design solutions that help link the design with the construction process. The practice of establishing a design ‘language’ enhances efficiency and is recognized as the modus operandi for the best architectural firms. Additionally, by having a recognizable design language, starchitects can rely on their staff to follow the same logic and produce work that is consistently in line with the firm’s profile. By appropriating some of these principles and developing your unique design philosophy behind them, you can increase the efficiency of your future practice.

#7 – Finding Local Partners

Many famous firms find localized partners for specific commissions in order to optimize construction processes, simplify navigating the permit/building code minefield, and acquire knowledge on how things are done differently in other countries, regions and cities. In this way, starchitects outsource a large portion of their construction risks and capitalize on their partners’ experiences without having to do all the heavy lifting. It is time-effective, resource-effective and builds relationships with national and international partners and clients.

#8 – Creating an Efficient Work Environment

Creating an efficient office structure is an important ingredient for the success of an architecture firm. A strong hierarchy is evident in most starchitect offices but this is certainly not the only model out there. Some studios prefer a more diffused organizational approach with a loose hierarchy (think SANAA). In both cases, the principals have found a method that appeals to different personality types. A great management system means that the office is kept running smoothly while the principals are out acquiring new commissions.

#9 – Effective Storytelling

Starchitects repeatedly market their design attitudes and philosophies until their name becomes associated with specific principles, catchphrases and tropes. Future archipreneurs should learn from Bjarke Ingels’ famous apocryphal motto “Yes is More” and OMA’s manifesto-style book S,M,L,XL in order to discover what makes their own story original and fresh.

#10 – Realizing Someone Else’s Dream

While the satisfaction of working on high profile and interesting projects is a reward in itself, it is always useful to keep in mind that you are refining someone else’s ideas. Some people might be comfortable with the thought of spending their entire careers working for a starchitect, but if you’re determined to nurture your “archipreneurial spirit” then it is important to focus on learning from and utilizing the experience you have gained when the time comes to get out there and build your own practice.

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It is a well-known fact that most world-famous architects belong to an elite, exclusive and very successful club where only the most promising students and beginners are nurtured. Successful firms such as BIG, REX, MVRDV and FOA are, in the words of Conrad Newel, “the Children of Rem” (Koolhaas) and are living proof that having a famous architect recognize your work can be the key to a successful career.

Working in a starchitect’s office can be a confusing experience, and can cause one to lose sight of the big picture. Keeping your goals and entrepreneurial ambitions on track is one of the most important lessons an archipreneur can learn from working for a successful starchitect.

Have you ever considered working for a famous architecture firm? Perhaps you have already done so? Share your thoughts and experiences with us below!

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