You know when you meet someone and it feels like you’ve known them forever? Joel Speasmaker is like that. Comfortable, intelligent, down to earth… an old soul. Joel is an amazing designer and a sort of jack of all trades. From publishing to making art to designing, he blows me away with everything he does. This is why Joel is always the “go to” designer for a majority of Poketo’s special projects. The poketo colors and identity you see on this website, Joel helped create. Now, Joel has lent his visual design to our newest Colorparty wrist watch we launched just a couple weeks back. Here we go, lets chat with Joel Speasmaker.

You do so much work from art shows to commercial work to zines. How would you describe yourself — artist, designer, publisher? Anything you absolutely love over another?

I think that I keep each of those things — artist, designer, publisher, whatever — separate in my thinking. But this isn’t intentional. They are obviously all related, and I try to keep a consistent philosophy throughout, but I’m less confident with some, and more confident with others. There are positives and negatives in this.

We first met when you created and published The Drama quarterly arts magazine. I believe at the Alternative Press Expo back in 2005. How has making that magazine shaped your current work and personal life.

It shaped everything, really. On top of learning so much throughout that period of time, I inadvertently set up this huge network of insanely talented and kind people that I’ve been able to eventually work for, collaborate with, live with, or simply be a friend of. It’s pretty amazing, actually, and I don’t think I realized the significance of it at the time while it was happening. But I appreciate it so much now. If only I could find the time for one last related project I’ve been planning…

Tell us about your design firm, Forest. What is the philosophy, what type of projects do you enjoy working on? If you had to pick 3 words to describe Forest, what would they be?

The easiest way to explain my method behind working is this: you have to create your space. Something can’t exist without a framework. Create the space for the something to exist. Empty your mind and allow it to move through you. Don’t look at the internet. Don’t obsess over what your peers are doing. Be thoughtful and honest. Forget about design. Learn other things.

Give us a glimpse of your Brooklyn studio. You are also surrounded by other great artists and designers in the building. What is a typical day like?

I love my studio. Super tall ceiling, tons of light coming through, a train going right by the window. Brooklyn is crazy and frustrating and loud, and my studio is a nice escape from that. Lately a typical day starts a little later, tea in my thermos, working a bit in between watching soccer.

Your aesthetic is clearly seen in all of the commercial work you do. Do you feel like there is a distinction between your personal work and the work you do for clients? How do you work both harmoniously?

I actually struggle much more with personal work, as opposed to client work. The method and form seem to present themselves to you as you go through the motions with a client. I’ve learned to separate myself from this work, while still taking it just as seriously as my own. I have a hard time with design awards and accolades, because there was so much more going on than just me on any given project. Shouldn’t the client be just as recognized for something that is successful? Whatever I’ve created wouldn’t exist without their problem needing to be solved. And in the end it is simply that, a solution created within the restraints of my aesthetic combined with the process of reacting to a clients desires.

On the other hand, personal work is so intensely personal for me that it is difficult to share it. I love the process of it, I spend more time thinking and doing research than actually creating something. But when finished, there is of course that human need for some sort of recognition or validation. Some people thrive on this and create their whole career around it. But I try to fight that instinct.

As most people know, you created our Poketo visual identity we see today. Give us your thoughts on designing the Poketo identity and how that translates to your latest project with us, The Colorparty Watch.

We went through a large amount of variations and ideas, before eventually coming to what you see today. I think it portrays (at least how I feel about) Poketo in such a simple and strong way: a modern sense of fun and collaboration. It’s been rewarding to then apply the identity to new and unique projects, namely the line for Target, and now the Poketo watch with Furni. We were limited in a sense to what we could customize on the watch, so I’m glad we went with a simple application of the Poketo colors. Each of these projects seem to inform the next one, I wonder what’s on the horizon?

Three words that describe The Colorparty watch:

Subtle color statement.

More from Joel at thisisforest.com.
Check out the Colorparty watch here.

Last week we launched our wrist watch collaboration with Canadian design studio, Furni. There has been an incredible response over the watches and for good reason; The studio makes awesome design objects, especially in the time arena. Meet Mike Giles, the proprietor, desinger, maker, mover and shaker of Furni.

Tell us about Furni, what do you guys do, what’s the Furni philosophy?

We’ve been designing and manufacturing design-driven goods ever since we saw space in the market about 6 years ago… since then we’ve also chosen to team up with other like minded businesses to offer cool collaborative products that allow us to keep on creating relevant stuff.

Tell us about the space, are you designing and making there? Describe your studio for us.

Right now “espace 215″ is Furni’s home, we founded the workspace about 4 years ago with some other friends, currently we share the space with a number of graphic designers, a product designer and a pair of interior designers. It makes for an awesome working atmosphere as well as allows us all a group space where we can share resources and bills!

What does a typical day look like at Furni?

Well as of Jan 1st I became the sole proprietor of the company (up until that point I shared the business with a friend who has decided to focus his time on contract work) so it’s quite interesting as I report only to myself…. having said that as I’ve always been one to “hussle” so I am always busy!  Most days I get to the office about 9am and work will about 1pm at that point I head home to have lunch with my girlfriend and 10 month old daughter….then the afternoon is usually spent in my home office e-mailing and working on design and logistics…

Currently on the playlist?

Really liking the Cults album and was also recently turned on to Malvina Reynolds, she was a folk singer back in the 50′s (she was actually born in 1900 and only discovered her love of music when she was 40!)

You live and work in Montreal. I’ve only heard amazing things about the city, but, haven’t been yet. What are some favorite places, where would we go if Angie and I came over?

I always ask friends who visit what kind of experience they would like while here, basically there is something for everyone…. shopping, dancing, design, adventure you name it. Personally I like to take people to quaint little restaurants and some of the less “travelled” landmarks here, most of the architecture in the subway system is from the 60′s and every station was designed by someone different, so on a cold day you can ride underground and look at some cool stuff! In summer we’ve got festivals up the yin yan, comedy, jazz, then there’s the Francopholies (French music) as well as fireworks twice a week at the theme park “La Ronde”.

On the same island as the theme park is the Expo 67 Dome that is by Buckminster Fuller, it’s a rad landmark. If people are down for a bike ride you can go around an check architecture and see some forgotten buildings like the Esso gas station by Mies van der Rohe!

Three words that describe our collaboration together, The Colorparty Watch…

pure unadulterated fun.

Check out the Poketo x Furni watch here.
More from Furni at FurniCreations.com

Had the pleasure this morning to meet up with Steven Harrington and Justin Kreitemeyer at the Creative Mornings, Los Angeles talk. No doubt you’ve seen the work both Steven and Justin have done individually as well as for their design firm, National Forest. National Forest works on everything from identity to major advertising campaigns. Today, they went through some of their projects for the likes of Urban Outfitters, Quicksilver, and Target.

Most interesting though was their metaphor of the “spark”. A spark produces a flame which produces a fire, builds community, and spreads. In their case, all of their creativity and art starts with a simple act of doing what they love. The spark is their pure, unadulterated art. Often times, their art, their perspective get fused with commercial work with the potential of spreading like fire to millions. But, it all starts with the spark, being themselves and being free to express themselves through art. It’s how it is and how it should be.

Here is our friend, Jon Setzen, the organizer of Creative Mornings, Los Angeles. He is the one that invited us to our Creative Mornings talk last year at the Herman Miller showroom. Basically, Jon rocks worlds.

Melanie Nakaue is the artist and maker behind our newest collection of limited edition jewelry exclusively on Poketo. We met Melanie originally through working with us here at the studio, awesomely volunteering her time helping us out on special projects we have slated this year! An established artists and educator, Melanie melds her fine art into jewelry through a project called Friends of Similar Size. Melanie designed these awesome clay necklaces, the Poketo identity colorways mixed by hand and created exclusively for Poketo.

You describe yourself as an artist, writer, designer and educator. Is your general philosophy for each the same or how do you view each?

I believe all of these to be a function of who I am as an artist. My writing and design work operate as an extension of my art practice, and I view my teaching the same way as well. All of these different elements share a similarity in that they are a exploration of conceptual ideas embedded in formal strategies.

How did you get into making jewelry? Is it an extension of your fine art or something totally different?

I’ve always had a love for jewelry, since it combines things I am interested in: sculpture, design and fashion. I’ve had a lot of ideas of how jewelry could function as small sculptures, so a few years ago I took an introductory jewelry making class and it just took off from there.

My jewelry line (FRIENDS OF SIMILAR SIZE) is in direct correlation with my own art practice, and I consider each collection as a new body of work that deals with a specific thematic concept and formal strategy.

Give us an idea of what kind of work and thought go into each necklace?

For the Poketo necklace collaboration, the most essential element is color. I have to consider how each color will work with one another to create an interesting composition. Each color of clay is mixed separately until it matches the specified Poketo logo color combinations. After that, each link is sculpted and shaped by hand and assembled individually.

Where is your studio? Tell us what a normal day looks like for you.

I currently live with my husband (an artist and filmmaker) and two dogs in a bright and airy live/work space in Los Angeles. My studio is located here as well, which makes things very convenient, since I work on my projects during different times of the day, especially at night.

A typical day for me involves juggling a lot of different elements: teaching, art making, jewelry design. I have to work on many different things at once to stay on track, but I also enjoy this way of working since it helps me make connections to things that I wouldn’t have considered otherwise.

Any projects coming up that you are excited about and that you can share?

I will be participating in The Artist Tower of Protest, part of Pacific Standard Time and in collaboration with LAXart. I also have an upcoming solo exhibition at the Harris Art Gallery at the University of LaVerne in 2013.

On a personal note, you have two adorable doggies. We of course instantly bonded with you because of your little guys. Tell us more! Do they hang with you as you work?

As you know, I love my dogs! They are both rescue dogs. Pocky is around 11 years old and is a Tibetan Spaniel. She is very regal and wise. Puffin, is 3 years old and is a fun loving Japanese Chin. Both Pocky and Puffin are always with me when I am working, and you can find echoes of them in my own work as well and they really enable me to see and experience things in new ways, and I am forever grateful.