Last month, SPD took their show on the road to participate in the annual KBIS event, held in Chicago. The shop pumped out several stellar cabinet pieces to showcase, and it was a fantastic opportunity to get these out for public viewing. The dust may have settled from the road trip, but we’ve been thinking a lot about the artistry and craftsmanship of woodwork, and found ourselves with a desire to continue along this trajectory. So we came up with a list of a few impressive woodworkers to highlight for today’s post, and unsurprisingly, there’s a healthy representation of architectural training in the mix. 

George Nakashima  New Hope, PA
Part philosopher, part woodwoorker, and part architect, Nakashima operates around a grounded ethos in his woodwork: “Trees have a yearning to live again, perhaps to provide the beauty, strength and utility to serve man, even to become an object of great artistic worth.” 

Chest of Drawers

[Image Source: George Nakashima Woodworker]

Simon Coffee Table

[Image Source: George Nakashima Woodworker]

Conold Chair

[Image Source: George Nakashima Woodworker]

Evert Sodergren  Seattle, WA
With woodworking in his blood, Evert Sodergren’s years working at his father’s cabinet shop proved to be solid training ground. Sodergren’s craft is guided by his Three Element Principle: careful selection of wood, plan thoroughly through drawings, and know how to handle the mistakes.

Dot Table

[Image Source: Sodergren Furniture]

Sculpted Chair

[Image Source: Sodergren Furniture]

Flip Flop Table

[Image Source: Sodergren Furniture]

Judith Ames  Seattle, WA
It’s refreshing to see a well-established craftswoman in a field predominantly populated by men. (Surely there are hordes of others we missed.) Ames’ craft began with pursuits in art and architecture before eventually landing on woodwork.

Rolands Dining Table

[Image Source: Northwest Woodworkers Gallery]

Salmon and Kelp Cabinet

[Image Source: Northwest Woodworkers Gallery]

Cloud Chair

[Image Source: Northwest Woodworkers Gallery]

Sam Maloof (1916-2009)  Alta Loma, CA
No list would be complete without mentioning Sam Maloof. His unique designs are unmistakable and the legacy of his craft lives on in the work of the students who’ve apprenticed under him, our very own David Hentzel included.

String Chair

[Image Source: 37 Signals]

Cradle Cabinet

[Image Source: storkbitesman.blogspot.com]

Rocker

[Image Source: Modernica]

Stewart Wurtz  Seattle, WA
Academically trained in both a furniture-making and (briefly) architecture, Wurtz’s pieces often incorporate wood with metal, creating novel forms and bringing the material relationships to the surface.

Sycamore Coffee Table

[Image Source: Northwest Woodworkers Gallery]

Writing Desk

[Image Source: Northwest Woodworkers Gallery]

Dining Table

[Image Source: Northwest Woodworkers Gallery]

David Hentzel  Seattle, WA
At the time he joined SPD a few years back, David Hentzel had decades of woodworking under his  belt, and training under Maloof to boot. As master woodworker in charge of the day-to-day in our cabinet shop, he continues to hone his craft while producing beautiful modern cabinetry and furniture.

Ethan Bench

[Image Source: BUILD LLC]

Aidan Chair

[Image Source: BUILD LLC]

SPD Bench

[Image Source: BUILD LLC]

We’ve just barely scratched the surface with this short list. Let us know of any names that ought to be on our radar in the comments below.

Cheers, Team BUILD

The design and construction process is lengthy and demanding; every step of the way has its own set of challenges and goals. And while a typical schedule is filled with time-sensitive and carefully sequenced events, there is one event that might be the most important of them all. Nope, it’s not making sure to schedule the framing inspection prior to insulating (although that’s an important one). Nor is it making sure that the electrician runs their in-floor conduits prior to pouring that exposed concrete slab (also important). Nope, it doesn’t have anything to do with permits or power tools. One of the most important events on our schedule is—wait for it—throwing a party. Yup, a good old party. Rounding everyone up and sharing some good food, drink, and conversation doesn’t just make for an enjoyable evening, though. A well-timed party has many important purposes. Here’s our top 10:

1. The most important of them all: A party allows us to thank the owners for their business. It acknowledges their patience throughout the process, and best of all it allows us to express how privileged we feel that the homeowners went on the adventure of design and construction with us. We’re truly honored.

2. A party is a great way to thank the neighbors for putting up with a bit of noise, the occasional mess and the frequent delivery trucks. Neighbors are typically curious about how the project turned out and always appreciate a peek inside the finished product.

[All photos by BUILD LLC]

3. A party allows past clients to see what we’re up to and how we’re doing. It allows new and potential clients to kick the tires on a project hot off the press. Our clients (past, present and future) tend to be design savvy and they’re typically ready with lots of good questions for us. What better opportunity is there to address those questions than while walking through the 1:1 scale model?

4. A party helps build community. Clients meet each other, they trade construction stories, and compare notes. Potential clients suddenly have a new resource: homeowners who have already been through the process with us. These social gatherings start to shape a tribe of people with a common design consciousness.

5. A party celebrates and formalizes the act of officially handing the house over to the homeowners.

6. A party gives the trades a very real deadline to shoot for. Who wants to be the last trade to drag themselves across the finish line?

7. A party allows everyone at the office and cabinet shop to see the finished products that we work so hard for. It’s a great time for the team to catch up and get our eyeballs on some built work.

8. A party allows us to get finished photos of the work with people in them—lots of people. We build architecture for people and the stale shots of people-less architecture never quite captures the poetry of good design in our opinion.

9. A party is a good opportunity for your friends at newspapers and magazines to take a tour of the house.

10. Parties are fun.

This last week, a couple of extremely gracious homeowners allowed BUILD to host a party at their home which we just completed. It was a ton of fun and we were able to show it off to friends, family and clients. It also reminded us of something important: as proud as we are of the architecture, the finished product is simply an extension of an extraordinary community of people. And it’s so important, it’s worth throwing a party.

Cheers from team BUILD

You’d think with the amount of time we architects spend in school, all the esoteric titles on our book-shelves, and the cryptic language we use amongst one another at dinner parties that the keys to understanding modernism would be complicated, scholarly and difficult to comprehend. You’d be led to believe that the fruits of modern design are only achieved after years of study and monastic-like internships; the culmination of having actually read all of those books on our shelves. It’s what many of us architects would like you to believe. These diversions do a good job of justifying why we write “manifestos” that nobody understands and they validate why we need to take out a second mortgage to afford all of those linen hardcover books.

But the fact of the matter is that good modern design can be boiled down to a handful of basic principles; principles that you don’t need a Ph.D. in architecture to understand. Today’s post is an explanation of five simple codes of modernism. Over the years, we’ve found that these 5 are present in almost every good example of modernism and they matter more than all of the obscure styles, trends and fashions put together. Granted, good modern design requires more than just these principles, but these 5 will get you most of the way there.

1. Line things up. Seriously, just line things up. As simple and obvious as this sounds, we’re constantly blown-away at the variety of architecture out there with features that should line up, but don’t. And as soon as you notice, you can’t stop noticing. One of our favorite examples of lining things up gets built into every home and commercial space that we do. We have a simple diagram on our cover sheet indicating that all door handles, light switches, shower controls and towel bars are to vertically align (basically anything that you reach out to touch or operate occurs in the same plane). You may not cognitively recognize what’s going on in a home where everything aligns, there’s just a visual harmony that works. But once you do notice, well…

2. Eighty-six the gratuitous. If it doesn’t need to be there, get rid of it. Good modern architecture is rarely about itself; it’s more often about the people and activities that go on inside and around the architecture. The breakfast nook below is everything it needs to be and nothing more. The space is about a family sharing meals together, kids doing their homework, dogs lying underneath waiting for table scraps and the daily celebration of life.

3. Use paint judiciously. Materials like wood, steel and stone have already worked hard to produce their inherent, beautiful qualities. Good modernism is true to itself, so don’t cover up all of nature’s labor with a thick coat of your favorite color. We have a tongue-in-cheek rule of thumb that the only thing you should paint is gypsum wall board and other paint.

4. Be authentic. Express the elements that need to be there and be deliberate about it. The drop beam designed into the simple shed below becomes one of the primary design features of the composition. Because it needs to be there structurally, there is an intuitive response that it belongs there visually.

5. Know when to stop. There’s a certain point at which simplifying is no longer sensible and it’s important to recognize–and yield to– this threshold. Good modernism is cost-effective. Minimalism, on the other hand, is complicated, expensive and (typically) inauthentic. Removing the column in the application below may lend to a cleaner, more minimal aesthetic. But the fact of the matter is that there are significant structural loads being resolved at that particular point in the house. Resolving these loads by some other means would be difficult and ridiculously costly – it would lack sensibility. An attenuated steel column is used here to deal with the increased point-load and the subsequent slenderness ratio. The column is differentiated from the other structural components of the house; in addition to being cost effective and sensible, it’s also a celebrated component of the interior.

Let us know what’s on your list of design principles.

Cheers, from TeamBUILD

Spring may have technically arrived, as evident from the numbers on the calendar and the mind-games the sun’s been playing with us Seattleites the past month, however, we know better. The sustained days of  blue skies and warm temps are still a ways off, which is why it’s the perfect time to get some serious warm-weather traveling on the books. The next trip in our queue is to the mid-century time capsule of Palm Springs. It’s a place thick with icons of California MCMs as well as a contemporary layer of modernism (and kitsch), making it an enjoyable spot for the design-minded traveler in search of some sun. We’ve compiled some spots worth checking out, and if you’ve got any recommendations that belong on TML, shoot ‘em our way via the comments section.

[Image Credit: New York Times]

Hotels

Palm Springs has an exceptional density of design-conscious hotels, which only enforces its modernist roots and its staying power as a desirable desert getaway. The list of modern hotels wasn’t difficult to compile. If anything, editing proved to be difficult.

Hotel Lautner, 67710 San Antonio St. (Desert Hot Springs), 760.832.5288

Ace Hotel, 701 East Palm Canyon Dr., 760.325.9900

The Parker Hotel, 4200 East Palm Canyon Dr., 760.770.5000

Del Marcos Hotel, 225 West Baristo Rd., 800.676.1214

Hotel Zoso, 150 South Indian Canyon Dr., 760.325.9676

Horizon Hotel, 1050 East Palm Canyon Dr., 800.377.7855

The Viceroy, 415 South Belardo Rd., 760.320.4117

The Saguaro, 1800 East Palm Canyon Dr., 760-323-1711

Food+Drink
Though the desert geography would convince you otherwise, the food scene is growing here just as it is everywhere else in the country. And though we won’t get to fully enjoy all the new spots opening up in Palm Springs this year, it’s nevertheless encouraging to see some sharp, well designed restaurants and bars popping up.

Workshop Kitchen + Bar (August 2012), 800 North Palm Canyon Dr., 310.977.7018

Crave, 390 North Palm Canyon Dr., 760.469.4587

Cheeky’s, 622 North Palm Canyon Dr., 760.327.7595 and sister restaurant
Birba, 622 North Palm Canyon Dr., 760.327.5678

King’s Highway (at Ace Hotel), 701 East Palm Canyon Rd., 760.325.9900

The Tropicale, 330 East Amado Rd., 760.866.1952

Architecture
With recognizable names like Frey, Neutra, and Lautner, Palm Springs is a hotbed of mid-century royalty, saturated with their iconic works. If you don’t want to spring for an organized tour, resources abound for you to venture out on the self-guided variety. Check these links.

*The Riviera, 1600 North Indian Canyon Dr., 760.327.8311

Frey House II, West end of Tahquitz Canyon Way

Sunmor Homes, Near City Hall

Park Imperial South Home

Alexander Tract Houses, 1070 Apache Rd.

Palevsky Residence

Loewy House

Wexler Steel Houses, E. Molino Rd. & N. Sunny View Dr.

Kaufman House, 470 West Vista Chino

[Image Credit: Julius Shulman]

Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 North Avenida Caballeros, 760.325.6611

Art
The spine of the art district runs along North Palm Canyon Drive, and it’s dotted with shops and galleries. We’ve picked out a few modern ones to hit. And, of course, there’s the main art museum—worth a visit for the architecture and artwork alike.
Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 Museum Dr., 760.322.4800

m modern Gallery, 2500 North Palm Canyon Dr., 760.416.3611

Michael H. Lord Gallery, 1090 North Palm Canyon Dr., 760.699.8957

The Space :: Palm Springs, 2612 South Cherokee Wy., 760.202.1555

Retail
Where to go for your modernist shopping needs? Three words: Palm. Canyon. Drive.

DWR, 830 North Palm Canyon Dr., 760.322.8750

A la Mod, 844 North Palm Canyon Dr., 760.327.0707

House 849, 849 North Palm Canyon Dr., 760.325.7854

Christopher Anthony, 800 North Palm Canyon Dr., 760.322.0600

[Image Credit: LA Times]

Cheers, from TeamBUILD

Spring has finally arrived (more or less) here in the Pacific Northwest! After another long, gray winter, the longer days, sunshine and blue skies usher forth a notable difference in our lifestyles. Naturally, we spend much more time outside and have a chance to put all of those “outdoor rooms” to use on a regular basis. Along with opening up all the doors, inhabiting the decks, and throwing late night outdoor dinner parties comes a bit of preparation. Today’s post is a quick Spring Cleaning and Home Maintenance to do list. Not only will it properly prepare your dwelling—whatever the shape or size—for the season, but taking good care of your home is one of the most sustainable things you can do for the built environment. Check these items off as soon as you can (all doable in a weekend, by the way) and get on with enjoying your summer days.

1. Clean all interior filters. That includes the dryer vent filter and the range hood filter. Many range hood filters have removable stainless steel grills that can be soaked in vinegar, scrubbed with an abrasive sponge, air dried, and put back in place.

2. Clean those outdoor surfaces. Give decks and patios a quick scrub-down with a stiff brush and a mildewcide solution like Jomax (non-bleach based) or 30-Second Outdoor Cleaner (bleach based). In addition to making everything look all shiny and new, it opens up the pores a bit and removes mold, mildew, dirt, and grime.

3. Get the screen doors gliding smoothly. Nothing says I don’t care about my house like screen doors that sort of open half-way, then get stuck … for the remainder of summer. Simply removing the screen door and cleaning the bottom track will do wonders. It’s also not a bad idea to give the screen door wheels/runners a shot of WD-40 or graphite spray.

4. Clean the gutters. You know the drill: Remove large debris manually, then give it a healthy shot with the hose. If you’ve got neighbors downstairs, remember to take them a bottle of wine for the inevitable debris fallout that will land on their deck.

5. Show that cedar some love. If you’ve got clear or lightly stained cedar, it needs a bit of maintenance every couple of years (the more pigment in the stain, the longer you can wait in between). For clear or nearly clear finishes, like the application above, give the cedar a sanding and apply one coat of Sikkens Cetol SRD Translucent finish. Same goes for finishing outdoor wood furniture.

Let us know what we missed and Happy Spring Cleaning.

Cheers, from TeamBUILD

As architects, we’re always thinking about and talking about the built environment. However, we also have pretty strong opinions about the objects which will be housed in the environments we build and inhabit. And it’s no secret at this point that we’ve been trained to appreciate—and rattle off on command—the iconic pieces of mid-century furnishings that have become fixtures in the collective mind of the modernist. However, individual tastes can tell a much more nuanced story. So along the lines of our Favorite Houses post a few weeks back, we decided to delve into the individual opinions here at BUILD. This time, with furnishings. What we own, what we want to own, and what we think we should want to own. Mid-century and beyond. It’s all covered here.

Charles 
Eames Lounge & Ottoman designed by Charles & Ray Eames, 1956
Zettel’z 5 Chandelier designed by Ingo Maurer, 1998
Elephant Bottle Opener designed by Georg Jensen, 1987

I like objects the design community tells me to like. I want to live in an architect’s home surrounded by an architect’s stuff.

Andrew 
Wishbone Chair designed by Hans J. Wegner, 1949
Akari 10A Lamp designed by Isamu Noguchi, 1951
Iittala Aarne Tumblers designed by Göran Hongell, 1948

I always admire the Scandinavian philosophy when it comes to home furnishings:
1. Buy high-quality, well-designed, functional objects for the home.
2. Buy them once.
3. Take good care of them.
4. Hand them down to your grandchildren.

Sandy 
Egg Chair by Arne Jacobsen, Denmark, 1958
Rising Table by Robert van Embricqs, 2011
Bubble Lamp by George Nelson, 1947

The three qualities that sum up my favorite furnishings: Timeless, simple, and delightful. Accustomed to living in small apartments, I lean towards pieces that have a modest footprint.

Duff 
Quad Shelving Unit by Nauris Kalinauskas, 2006
“Eames” Lounge by Plycraft, 1950s
Coat Hanger by Nicholas Bovesse Guindalo, 2009

I tend to like objects that push the boundaries a bit;  the sort of things that reinvent an everyday object.

Kevin 
7 Chair designed by Arne Jacobsen, 1955
PH 50 designed by Poul Henningsen, 1958
Mano Satin Rice Server designed by Carl Mertens

The objects in and around the home shouldn’t get in the way of life; they should do their job well, look good, and improve the lifestyle within.

What modern furnishings get you weak in the knees? Any new classics on your radar that we missed? We’d love to hear what you’ve got in the comments below.

Cheers, from TeamBUILD

With construction humming along on our mid-century remodel in Des Moines (the one south of Seattle), we figured it was a good time to take a look at some key techniques implemented on this project which have produced increasing returns and could be incorporated into future MCM projects.

Keep the Fireplace
Maintaining an existing fireplace is a great way to hold on to the vintage character at the heart of the home. It acts as a timeless focal point within an updated space. In addition, the time and money saved by not demolishing it cannot be overstated. For the Des Moines project, the existing fireplace and surround functions as a magnet for gathering as well as a delineation between public and private space at the main level of the home. Also, those rocks are cool.

Extend Rooflines to Celebrate the Entry
Most mid-century modern homes are low slung, horizontal numbers. Don’t get us wrong, this is a fantastic quality to have, and for the most part, it’s something we strive to maintain. That said, most MCMs give little to no indication of where the front door is actually located nor how to approach it. By extending an opposing roofline at the entry, we can create a taller, more voluminous space which acts as a powerful, intuitive wayfinding signal for guests. This was a primary driver during the design process for this particular project; the owners were tired of guests attempting to leap across a ravine to the back deck.

Maintain Lines of Structure and Move Walls at Windows/Doors
Although it’s not a technique we have employed extensively in the past, we’re excited about the possibilities of this one. The low roof line and deep beam at the west façade compromises the vertical opening for doors and windows. At the same time, we wanted to create an expansive opening between the living spaces inside and the deck outside. To accomplish all of this without moving the lines of structure (a costly move), the plane of windows and doors is moved just slightly outside the line of structure. This maneuver allows the windows and doors to act independently of the beams and columns. The end result is a sensible structural system with windows and doors that maximize every inch of height for indoor/outdoor flow.

Clean Up the Angles
Despite their general reliance on grids, we’ve noticed a number of MCMs with perplexing, unnecessary angles. In Des Moines, these angles showed up at the deck and the roof eaves. We took this remodel as an opportunity to clean up the angles and get back to the grid. While the changes to the roof were merely cosmetic, squaring up the deck made for a significant improvement in useable space. Previously, the deck tapered to slivers at either end that, while technically occupiable, were not functional. The new deck will help this home perform for another 50 years.

Open it Up
While we recognize the importance of compartmentalization, homes of the mid-century variety are at their most successful when the spaces flow. We tried to achieve this in two fashions: First, whenever possible, we enlarged openings—making windows larger, changing windows to doors. And at the interior, we took advantage of these increased apertures by stripping away unnecessary divisions between spaces and opening up to the view whenever we could. The result is a clearly defined public space, drawing users from an entry sequence, through a series of spaces, and finally, landing on an incredible view.

For some similar posts check out this, this and this.

Cheers, from TeamBUILD

BUILD is gearing up to speak at the AIA Billings annual Meeting in the Mountains Conference next week, and it looks like we’ll be in good company. The firms joining the stage for the main event include Luis Ibarra and Teresa Rosano of Ibarra Rosano Design Architects out of Tuscon and Randy Brown of Randy Brown Architects based in Omaha. We’ve enjoyed reading up on the work of these firms. They’re making a marked modern impact in their respective regions; maneuvering within the grains of context and creating their own opportunities when none might otherwise exist.  If you haven’t already gotten wind of these practices, consider this your introduction. And if you plan on attending the conference, we’ll see you there.

Ibarro Rosano Design Architects Tuscon AZ

[Image Source: ThinkArchitect.wordpress.com]

[Image Source: Residential Architect]

Ibarra Rosano Design Architects have gained significant recognition for their desert modern architecture since the start of their practice in 1999. The thoughtful, responsive, and disciplined focus on simplicity—which is both a design-driver and expression of their tidy practice—has served them well. Along with Page Repp and Jerry and Desi Winter, their architecture practice is complemented by their development venture, Dreamspace, aiming to invigorate urban renewal and infill housing in central Tuscon.

Garcia Residence

[Image Source: Ibarra Rosano]

Downing Residence

Six Courtyard Houses

Moltz Landscape

Fashion Boutique

Randy Brown Architects Omaha NE

[Image Source: Architect Magazine]

[Image Source: Architect Magazine]

Initially starting up his practice in Los Angeles in 1989, Brown returned to his hometown in Nebraska to form RBA in 1993. Coupling his architecture training with  familial connections in real estate and development, Randy Brown co-founded Quantum Quality Real Estate. Instead of resisting or denying the forces of the suburban mainstay, the strip mall, Brown has leveraged the platform to create unique projects and desirable tenant spaces. The work coming out of his design firm, Randy Brown Architects, balances projects in the cultural, brand identity, and residential realms, with his personal home functioning as a working laboratory of his ideas.

Kent Bellows Studio and Center for Visual Arts

[Image Source: Randy Brown Architects]

Laboratory House

Elm House

Bluestem

DATA

Cheers, from TeamBUILD

In a little over a week, BUILD will be adding more miles to the travel log, this time by way of our cabinet shop, Special Projects Division. On April 24-26, the world of kitchen and bath design will descend upon the Windy City for the annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. It’ll be our first appearance at KBIS as an exhibitor, and we’re pretty excited about it. Reputed to be the world’s largest international tradeshow event dedicated to its industry, this year’s event has a roster of 500+ exhibitors and an expected 20,000-some attendees. That’s a lot of eyeballs.

[All photos by BUILD llc]

David Hentzel, the master woodworker at the helm of SPD operations, will be at KBIS to showcase the latest from the SPD Collection as well as some of his own stellar work. Since its launch in 2008, SPD has been creating elegant pieces of modern custom cabinetry and furniture, which are the direct products of rigorous R&D and the skilled craftsmanship of the entire SPD team. We stopped by the shop last week to snap photos of the pieces David will be taking with him to Chicago. As usual, they’re looking razor-sharp, and we can’t wait to get some serious exposure for the work coming out of SPD.

Large Cabinet

Specs:
3/4” sequenced vertical grain walnut veneer with 1/8” solid edge-banding
Paperstone “slate” countertop
Custom tile backsplash
Sugutsune 1600 series stainless steel pulls
Custom aluminum utility track
Hera under counter puck lights
Blum hardware: Intivo series stainless steel
The drawers contain every single organizer that Blum makes

Ebony Dowel Chair

Specs:
Body: Curly Maple
Connections: Ebony dowels

Small Cabinet 

Specs:
Pomelle Sapele face
Paperstone “slate” wrap
Aluminum kerf joints
Blum hardware: Intivo with HL and HK Aventos lifts
Hafele inset pulls
Custom tile backsplash

Backlit Wine Rack and Full-Height Cabinet

Also, a heads up that we’re giving away 3 individual passes (going rate is $480 apiece) to KBIS. Follow us on Twitter for the inside scoop.

For more on KBIS, check them out on Facebook and Twitter.
If you’re planning on attending, stop by the SPD booth (#4228) and say hello.
And if you’ve been to the show in years past, we’d love to hear your thoughts.

Cheers, from TeamBUILD + TeamSPD

In the day to day of doing good work and staying on task, it can be a challenge to stay inspired. Taking a moment to pause and reflect on wisdom from the trenches expressed by like-minded creatives—from the design world and beyond—can be just the mini-jolt we need to tackle what’s in front of us. Below is a shortlist of quotes we’ve culled from our Twitter #quotes series. Take a read, enjoy, and stay inspired.

“Don’t fight forces, use them.”
Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983), Systems Theorist/Architect/Engineer/Author/Inventor

[Image Source: Thomebeau.blogspot.com]

“A well-defined problem is half solved.”
Michael Osborne, Package Design

[Image Source: AIGA DC]

“Design is as much an act of spacing as an act of marking.”
Ellen Lupton (1963- ), Curator/Graphic Designer/Writer

[Image Source: elupton.com]

“The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are.”
John Burroughs (1837-1921), Naturalist/Essayist

[Image Source: livingasimplelife.com]

“A lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to.”
Banksy, Graffiti artist/political activist, England

[Image Source: Flavorwire]

“There’s a point when you’re done simplifying. Otherwise, things get really complicated.”
Frank Chimero (1984- ), Graphic Designer/Writer

[Image Source: ADC Young Guns]

“If you are going to have less things, they have to be great things.”
John Maeda (1966- ), Graphic Designer/Computer Scientist/Professor/Author

[Image Source: Bracket]

“Design isn’t finished until somebody is using it.”
Brenda Laurel, Writer/Researcher/Interaction Designer

[Image Source: GraceHopper.org]

“Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you.”
Aldous Huxley (1894-1963), Writer

[Image Source: The Guardian]

“To create a memorable design you need to start with a thought that’s worth remembering.”
Thomas Manss (1960- ), Design Consultancy, London

[Image Source: Vimeo]

“If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got.”
Albert Einstein (1879-1955), German Theoretical Physicist

[Image Source: The Real Best]

“Design is people.”
Jane Jacobs (1916-2006), Urban Planning Activist

[Image Source: Xray Delta]

Any favorite quotes? Hit that comment button, and let us know. We’d love to hear ‘em.
And if you’re in need of a daily dose of quotes, follow us on Twitter.

Cheers, from TeamBUILD