Introducing My Mind

 

When walking into any department store, everything visible is predictable and plain. In a world controlled by mass production, I often find myself browsing the internet for designs that tempt and inspire. Currently, I am a student at the University of Minnesota, Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication, and while I do not yet have practical experience in the field, my non-traditional work experience has still given me ample opportunities to learn and practice creative design. I strive to discover quality and personal pieces for spaces and share them with others. Every individual and their space deserve to have pieces that transcend time and tell a story. 

 

        Currently, I am working diligently to achieve my Bachelor's in Strategic Communication: Advertising & Public Relations. However, I discovered my passion revolves around the advertising industry, specifically, having the opportunity to explore and work creatively during a project. Considering my gravitation and eye for detail, I knew my Bachelor's would only be further complemented by an Interdisciplinary Design minor. During my time at the University of Minnesota, my work experience has lacked internships related to my studies; however, my practical experience in jobs outside of the advertising industry has only helped to solidify my foundations. Having worked in fields outside of my major has allowed me to recognize that there are areas outside of my understanding of advertising that allow me to incorporate and share meaningful design opportunities       

       

          If I were asked to reminisce about my first memory with design, it would be hard to truly pinpoint. In kindergarten at Clara Barton Open School, my parents had a meeting with my teacher to discuss my consistent interest in organizing the classroom versus my lack of focus on the class material. I have always been an individual who craves practical pieces in a visually satisfactory space.  As I have matured, so has my taste. While I did not necessarily have the budget or permission to buy new pieces of furniture, organizing and reorganizing spaces gave me tangible experiences. Growing up, I continued to express my innate abilities to design, organize, and optimize spaces, as well as learning and practice budget-friendly ways to refurbish or enhance an object for a space. To me, a room with the right pieces is a puzzle waiting to be solve.​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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        Up until now, my experience having worked in restaurants, a grocery store, and the Residential and Housing department at the University of Minnesota, all of which have been hectic and chaotic, has revolved around social interaction and operating in settings that, at times, can be a sensory overload. Yet, they have opened my eyes to the various personalities and characteristics we as individuals have. These experiences have taught me how to grab the attention of individuals despite our unique personalities and characteristics, making them stop to consider.  Working in these environments has given me opportunities to practice design in similar yet different ways, truly pushing me to consider design and advertising practically. 

 

        Although my experiences have not been in traditional settings of practicing design and advertising, it has still presented me with situations in which I could incorporate practical design. Having opportunities to incorporate functional design in a variety of ways has only furthered my passion. I have honed my design capabilities and stand ready to discover pieces for spaces that further enhance my designs.

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Mass Materials​​​​​​​

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        In today's world of manufacturing and mass production, it is becoming ever so difficult to find quality pieces that are personal to the buyer. Due to mass production, individual spaces, while slightly different, are becoming more similar and predictable. Our world's process of constantly manufacturing is not only harmful and wasteful to our sustainability, but it is also lacking uniqueness and personality for buyers. People’s spaces have become homogenized, containing the same furniture and items. When considering the data provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (November 8, 2018), the amount of furniture discarded every year should be extremely alarming. It is without a doubt wasteful and pointless to create expendable furniture in place of quality. I would argue it is only natural, after seeing the amount of waste from these mass-produced products, to crave furniture that lasts and makes an individual proud.

 

        While I recognize the financial appeal of mass-produced furniture, it is both affordable for consumers and cheaper to produce; it is worth noting the amount of work that goes into a personal product. I hope to discover hidden pieces that are realistic for readers because they are practical and affordable. Mass manufacturing these furniture pieces and items for our spaces has removed the craftsmanship that previously went into the product. It is also worth considering that personal pieces, if personally requested to be built, can take longer to acquire; however, I would argue it is worth supporting personal craft over mass production. Personalized design can be obtained if we take the time to research and invest in these talented crafters. Luckily, I am here to help conduct that research for you, bringing you personal pieces. 

 

       When curating items for our personal spaces, we deserve unique pieces that reflect traits of who we are or simply make us happy as individuals. Our spaces are opportunities to create an environment that is personally practical and meaningful. It is hard to feel a sense of pride and a form of personal attachment to a piece of furniture that my neighbor has. Individuals deserve to have possessions or pieces that transcend time and can be passed on, something for them and their families to be proud of. My family personally has a marble top table – covered in my mom's craft supplies – that my great-grandpa used to have in his hotel lobby, and while the hotel no longer exists, the table does. I would argue that the craftsmanship of this table is unmatched compared to other furniture in our house.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

So What?

        Ultimately, I will be searching for and hopefully inspiring more thoughtful searching and consideration of pieces to complement our affordable spaces. Whether it's a small item or a piece of furniture, there are so many creative product designers out there with amazing products, and it is my mission to discover them. However, taking the time to recognize that higher-end products on the market, while maybe out of budget, have strengths and weaknesses, allows us to learn and teach more about product design. I am searching to discover cheaper solutions to personalized products that are sustainably considerate. What are ways we can invest in and enhance our personal spaces that are budget-friendly? 

 

        I am here to break down these barriers and misconceptions about quality products for our spaces. What are budget-friendly ways we can incorporate pieces that feel authentic to us as buyers and/or consumers? Additionally, what makes a piece of furniture sustainable, what materials go into our products, and where do they come from? In addition to discovering and discussing these pieces, I will work to provide step-by-step processes of practical design experiences in my life to enhance my spaces. What tools, tips, and tricks have I learned and implemented to further solidify my skills? 

 

        Our journey together to discover quality pieces that we feel like bragging about does not have to be a stressful or overwhelming experience. Through a thorough collection of pieces, together, we will form a better understanding of what makes something truly personalized, of high quality, and able to become timeless. My mission is to continue to thoughtfully research and explore ways in which pieces are available outside of mass production, sustainable manufacturing processes, and DIY solutions.  

 

Moving Forward

        As My Material Mind moves forward, I will be continually sharing my insights about craftsmanship, materials, and design strategies that can be leveraged to bring your individualistic space from predictable to personal. Outside of mass production exist pieces of furniture that have stories to tell, like my great-grandpa's marble-top table. I hope that you will join me on this journey to discover and explore how thoughtful design choices exist that are meaningful as well as practical. I look forward to connecting with you, fellow enthusiasts of design, furniture, organization & craftsmanship, and overall, sharing my long-term passion for creating personalized spaces. Whether you have just started to think about designing a personalized space or have been doing it for as long as you can remember, I look forward to our future dialogue together! 

 

        Always feel free to reach out to me with personal experiences you have involving design in your lives. I want to hear your stories, questions you may have, projects you are working on, or discoveries you have made! I desire that through dialogue, we can successfully find pieces – or build them – for our spaces that are worth coming home to and bragging about. 

 

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Stay in Touch! 

Emmet Sutton

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LinkedIn → @EmmetSutton