Some weeks the studio is a project floor. Some weeks it is a long table and a kettle. This week it has been the second. We thought we'd put a few things down, in case it is useful.
1. The kettle.
We replaced the kettle. The new one whistles. We had not realised, until then, how often the studio used to forget about water. The whistle is a small piece of design that everyone now thanks us for.
2. The first sentence of every brief.
We are trying out a rule. The first sentence of every brief must contain a person's name. Not a partner organisation. A person. The exercise has been quietly revealing. Half our briefs failed it on the first read.
3. The folding chair.
We bought a third folding chair, for the floor, for whoever shows up unannounced. It has been used four times in three weeks. It pays its rent.
4. The Hindi shelf.
We started a small shelf of Hindi-language craft books and zines, for the people who walk in. It has unbalanced the design library a little, and forced us to label two more shelves. Books, like clusters, like to be named.
5. The pricing question.
Three small mentees have asked us, this month, the same question. "How do I price a piece I am not sure I would buy myself?" We do not have a good answer yet. We have started a notebook. We will write a longer piece in May.
6. The Friday list.
Borrowed from the cohort. Every Friday, by 4 pm, each of us writes: one decision made this week, with name attached. One thing parked, with date to revisit. One ask of the studio. We have done it for four weeks. The list is short and good.
7. The kettle, again.
The kettle is the most-used object in the studio. Nothing we have ever designed will be touched by as many hands. We are going to put a small plaque on it. We will report back.
Nothing we have ever designed will be touched by as many hands as the kettle.
That is the week. Door is open on Tuesday, if you are passing. The kettle is on by 11.