The Ciseal Blog

I wasn't always a design fan - in fact, I studied engineering first thinking I should be responsible and have a "real job."  Little did I know that that "real job" would lead me on a path towards becoming one of those artist types who gets to have fun and make things every day.

My path to this point of making bent plywood things for a living all started when I got my first real job at the GM Technical Center in Warren, MI.  At the time, I didn't have a clue about this mid century architecture and landscape design mecca.  Little by little, though, the design bug began to emerge as I was surrounded by the purposeful yet beautiful vintage architecture, interior design, and landscaping.

The vision for the Tech Center was that of GM's head of research from 1920 to 1947 Charles Kettering.  He insisted of the campus' architect Eero Saarinen that it wasn't to be a fancy facility.  Kettering wanted solid, streamlined buildings that would encourage innovative thinking.  When naming the Tech Center a National Historic Landmark in 2014, The U.S. Interior Department and National Park Service noted, "The General Motors Technical Center (commonly known as the “GM Tech Center”) is one of the most significant works of architect Eero Saarinen...The GM campus represents Saarinen’s work not just as a creator of buildings but also as the planner/designer of total environments." 

What piqued my interest was the variety of buildings and features that were designed over 70 years ago, but have remained intriguingly modern.  Things like the staircases that appear to float down from the floor above, the brightly colored glazed bricks that keep the thermal load of the buildings low, the design dome which is the most awe inspiring space to see a concept car, and the lobbies that have so many details that you could spend hours in them and not catch it all.

(All photos from the Library of Congress)

I get asked all the time how I got started in hand crafting bent plywood furniture and what's my inspiration, so here's some of the story:

Born and raised in the suburbs just north of Detroit, there wasn't a big emphasis on art or design.  They were subjects I enjoyed in school, but I felt a huge push towards pursuing a career in math or science.  Therefore, engineering was my first pursuit.

Fortunately, through my job at the GM Technical Center in Warren, MI, I was introduced to the simple, understated beauty of mid century modern architecture and design.  I was always the one who volunteered to represent engineering in meetings at the design center - not only did I get to experience the beautiful design center lobby with its gorgeous suspended stairs that lead up to the studios, but it was my chance to pick designers brains on how they got to where they are.  I have since come to learn about the history and intent of the campus’ design and it is definitely the spark that led me in the direction of becoming a designer (Dwell magazine has a great little article on the design of the GM Technical Center here).  

While at GM I enrolled at The College for Creative Studies in Detroit, and it only took about one semester of juggling work and school for me to realize that pursuing design full time was my next step.  With the freedom to focus just on school, I was able to explore classes beyond my product design major.  My junior year I took a furniture class that focused on bent plywood, and I was hooked.  I loved the process of designing and hand making durable, functional products from what was previously flimsy, bendy wood.

After graduating from CCS, I started making the Ray tablet stand and other bent plywood things in my spare time.  It eventually grew from a fun hobby making dust in my parents cluttered basement to a legitimate business with happy paying customers.  

Modern classics of the Mid-Century and Danish Modern designers like Charles & Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia, Arne Jacobson, and George Nelson are the biggest influences of my designs.  They inspire me with their nods toward nature, respect for materials and clean, unadorned designs that are both functional and beautiful.  

For each piece I make, I build a form by hand, cut out individual layers of material, then carefully apply glue to each layer, clamp the layers to the form, trim, sand and rub on the finish.  Each piece takes days to complete.  It’s definitely faster and cheaper for huge manufacturers to mass-produce molded plywood products on robotic assembly lines half a world away, but their products lack a certain soul.  There’s an attention to detail, a love of material, a passion for perfection that is evident in a handmade Ciseal product.  My furniture and accessories are designed to be used, loved, and enjoyed every day - hopefully for years to come.  Nothing is more beautiful than a bent plywood piece that shows through its nicks, scratches, and worn veneer that it's been loved for a lifetime.

Check out what's resulted from this journey: Ciseal's Collection

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Thank you, Maureen and The Detroit News for this lovely article:

Designed in Detroit: former engineers, natives flock to area

It's a pleasure to be included with the likes of Hunt & Noyer, Alex Drew & No One, The Detroit Wallpaper Company, Eclecticasa, The Endgrain Woodworking Co., and LeadHead Glass.  All of which are great inspirations to what I do at Ciseal.  

Being huge bent plywood nerds, we're always on the lookout for the stuff - it's our eye candy.  We're fascinated by our fellow bent ply tribe - who they are, why they make what they make, what inspires them, and their craft.  

We recently came upon this video about skateboards made out of trash and were smitten.  It all started when artist Mac Premo was contacted by the World Wildlife Fund to be a part of the "Everyday Things" collection which aims to "inspire people to live more sustainably."  Mac partnered with Sanford Shapes to create a series of skateboards made from materials they could find while dumpster diving around construction sites.

These guys and their project are for sure going to inspire a Ciseal product or two down the road!  Enjoy the video!

THE BUCKET BOARD from mac premo on Vimeo.

Photo: Eames Office

Charles and Ray Eames are a huge inspiration to the work we do at Ciseal (we even named our first product, the Ray Tablet Stand after Ray Eames).  Their sense of design, use of materials (especially bent plywood!), and emphasis on function and comfort are qualities we try our best to emulate.  

We're also big fans of learning more about their design process and how their designs are manufactured.  One amazing source of inspiration is this video about the making of the Eames Lounge Chair at the Herman Miller factory.  This mid century beauty has stood the test of time and remains coveted for it's comfort and style.  The video details some of the Eames' design process as well as shows the people and processes behind the manufacturing of the chair.  

It's fascinating how much of the work is still done by hand - like selecting the veneer and hand sanding the wood to perfection.  A lot of the processes are similar to how we make our products - just on a much larger scale!

Photo by building Lab, inc.

When I first heard about Monique Lombardelli (check out her website - it's gorgeous) and her mission to save mid century homes I was like, it's about time!  For years my heart has broken for all of the unappreciated mid century modern homes we've lost to the wrecking ball to make way for brand new pseudo craftsman McMansions.  I wondered why home buyers and especially real estate agents couldn't see just how special mid century homes are.  Sure, many today need some updating - all homes do after 40 or 50 years, but there was no one really sharing the possibilities of what life in these homes could be like.  

What's great about what Monique is doing is that she's showcasing the lifestyle that a mid century home and neighborhood can bring.  The perfect example of her work is the film People in Glass Houses: The Legacy of Joseph Eichler.  When I first saw it I was transfixed through the entire video.  It's exactly the love story for mid century homes that we needed so that we can perhaps save a few more of these fabulous homes from being torn down.  She focuses mainly on the Eichler neighborhoods around San Francisco, but the same appreciation can be applied to many of the mid century gems across the country.  These homes are not just for the kitchy, mod squad, retro aficionados around us either - it's a modern, bright, open, refined, nature-loving, community-oriented lifestyle in which we can all find something to appreciate.

Photo: building Lab, inc.

The one quintessential element I love about mid century modern or Eichler style homes is the post-and-beam construction which allows for walls of glass which in turn bring a strong indoor/outdoor connection.  That simpler, care-free indoor/outdoor lifestyle is sought after now more than ever.  Open floor plans and elegant, simple, refined architecture draw you from the inside to the outside, making it easy to appreciate the calm of nature.  In the Glass Houses video, many Eichler homeowners comment about how peaceful and calming their homes are.  Some day, when the time is right, I can't wait to live in a lovely mid century modern home of my own.

For more mid century eye candy, check out Monique's YouTube channel.  

There's something about learning about the revitalization of the Leonard Mill that struck me.  It's an historical 126 year old beanery and grain elevator in nearby Leonard, MI that was once the center of commerce for local farmers.  It's usefulness as a mill has long passed, but instead of tearing it down and forgetting this area's unique history, the Village of Leonard is in the process of repurposing the building as a destination on the Polly Ann Trail, a non-motorized path that winds through 30 miles of Oakland County.  Check out the story for yourself here: The Leonard Mill.

I guess I was drawn to the story because I've always had this picture in my mind of Ciseal growing up into it's own place - and that place usually looks something like the Leonard Mill.  It would be the perfect setting for Ciseal's modern bent plywood furniture and home goods to be made in a historic, repurposed building with all it's character and beauty.  That's modern with soul quite literally, right?  

I can just picture taking a morning coffee break, and stepping outside to a beautiful area like Leonard with an abundance of natural beauty and access to acres of nature right out the door.  Not only would it be amazing to have an above-ground shop with natural light, but to also have a welcoming storefront where our customers can feel, hold, and test out our products.  Maybe we'll even have a coffee shop where local freelancers and travelers alike can take a sneak peak at us bending plywood into useful objects on the shop floor.  They sit back in one of our chairs pulled up to a local furniture maker's table that's lit by a hand blown glass pendant light.  They'll sip a latte out of a local potter's handmade mug while reading their Facebook feed on their iPad that's propped up by our Ray stand.  Whether it's an old repurposed mill or not, I'm just excited to see what this little business grows into.

I've been meaning to start actually blogging for quite a while - not just the usual product updates and news about Ciseal, but blogging about things I find interesting on a regular basis.  The problem was I would keep getting stuck on what to write about.  Do I keep it strictly to business and write only about bent plywood (and probably bore everyone to death)?  How do I expand the topics and still keep it cohesive?  And my biggest concern - will this extreme introvert who won't talk unless asked a question in which "probably" or "probably not" are not relevant answers have enough things to say?

Then it struck me - I founded Ciseal on this "modern with soul" idea.  The idea that modern doesn't have to be mundane and full of perfectly arranged clean lines that you're afraid to mess up (ironic being the perfectionist I am).  You can try to keep your stuff impeccable, but in doing so you miss out on the fun things in life.  Modern with soul embraces the mess of life and honors it.  It's not always going to be perfect because the new puppy might mistake your beautiful new coffee table as a delicious snack, or your slightly tipsy friend might neglect to use a coaster under his manhattan one Saturday night, but that's the evidence of a lived life.  There will be marks and nicks and scratches that you can't fix - that's what ultimately makes life interesting.  

So, my goal for this blog is to highlight the things that make my life interesting.  There will be updates about what's going on at Ciseal, where I envision this little company going, and posts about bent plywood because that's what I do and I adore it.  I'll also include some thoughts on the "modern with soul" life.  Things like what life is like in beautiful Michigan, what inspires me to create the things I make, drink recipes that my friends and family look forward to when we get together, and probably some adorable dog photos for good measure.  So, follow along, and we'll see where this adventure takes us.