construction

New Tablet/Laptop Sleeves!

2014-08-11T12:15:00.001-07:00

We have finally finished the new tablet/laptop sleeves! Perfectly fitted to a variety of Mac products, but they work for PCs too. And we can do custom sizes...

Get full info and purchase at our web store!

Shoulder Strap Detail

2014-08-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

There can never be too many zippers.

Concrete - Graphite - Marble

2014-07-17T15:44:00.001-07:00

I have been pondering adding colored felt to the UM line for so long. But it has never felt right. But now I've arrived at 3 combinations that I love: grey/orange, graphite/blue, and marble/green.

The new bags are being made now, and then we will photograph. Up on the site within 3 weeks. Stay tuned!

Oakland Makers @ OMI

2014-06-30T11:09:00.002-07:00

I am proud to announce that the Stola Table Lamp will be part of a new exhibition in my home city of Oakland.

OAKLAND MAKERS @ OMI
Multidisciplinary Art Exhibit by Oakland Based Artists
At Omi Gallery at Impact Hub Oakland
June and July 2014, 9AM-6PM
2323 Broadway, Oakland CA

Please come to the exhibit to see the lamp in person as well as fine work from a selection of makers in Oakland.

Cutting Corners

2014-06-28T14:24:00.001-07:00

Learning how to sew around a corner.

The Ingredients of a Messenger Bag

2014-06-19T10:54:00.000-07:00

Here's what goes into the new messenger bag:

- 1 piece of 5mm wool felt, with phone slot.
- 4 pieces of 3mm wool felt.
- 1 strip of 2" hook-and-loop fastener.
- 1 strip of 1" hook-and-loop fastener.
- 2 lengths of 2" black nylon webbing.
- 1 length of 1/2" orange nylon webbing.
- 1 steel loop.
- 1 steel adjustor plate.
- 2 'Actual' woven labels.

3 colors - 3 sizes

2014-06-12T12:02:00.000-07:00

The new messenger bags are coming along very nicely.

Actual Blog = Construction Blog

2014-06-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

Hello readers, I've decided to make a few changes to the blog!

I will be using the blog more as a personal sketchbook and disconnecting it from www.actualsf.com. The new name is 'construction' (because that's what it feels like sometimes), and the new URL is blog.joshjakus.com.

So I hope you will keep following my work. If you would like to keep up with Actual, please become a fan at www.facebook.com/actualsf.

Cheers,
Josh

Style Details

2014-05-19T14:09:00.002-07:00

My new laptop bags are not radical, just very useful and - I hope - very nice. So everything needs to fall into place: material color, strap color, closure, labeling, seams. I like the label placement, just above the velcro inside the top flap. But the label should be larger and be separate from the velcro...

Organizing Details

2014-05-12T15:49:00.001-07:00

Sometimes a certain detail is so compelling that it can organize the design of an entire object. The curve of a folded piece of felt is one of those details. I'm working on laptop bags and totes. This curve will define the construction technique I use for the entire line.

Reality Shot

2014-05-08T16:31:00.000-07:00

Here's what my sewing area looks like after spending a day solving a very small but very difficult production problem. I'm an organized person, but I tend to make a mess while I'm working. I clean it up when I'm done, only to start a new mess the next day.

Faux Computers

2014-04-29T16:17:00.000-07:00

These wooden blanks represent different laptop and tablet sizes. I'm designing a utilitarian laptop bag and these pieces will help me get the size (and access) exactly right.

Designing Again

2014-04-09T11:50:00.002-07:00

There are odd shaped pieces of felt being cut and scraps of paper on the floor. That can mean only one thing: I'm designing again!

A New Catalog: A Narrative of What We Do

2014-02-13T10:30:00.000-08:00

Over the past months, we have been working on creating a narrative about who we are and what we do. This work has come together in a new catalog that will be shared with anyone who is curious about us. Articulating our design process and business practices has also provided us with a unique point of reflection, almost a self-study in preparation for the upcoming year.

We invite you to peruse the catalog yourself.

Our Youngest Zip Tie Fan: Calvin

2014-01-23T10:30:00.000-08:00

Our youngest Zip Tie fan: Calvin! Calvin’s father, Steven, was one of Josh’s students at UC Berkeley when Josh was a Graduate Student Instructor. Steven sent us these photos after getting his new Zip Tie. Steven is a designer and fabricator living in Sacramento. Check out his work on his website.

Sharing Our Ideas and Products in 3x5 Size

2014-01-16T10:30:00.000-08:00

Say hello to our new postcard set. You can collect all five: a summary of Actual, three product-specific postcards (UM Bags, Zip Tie, and Stola Lamp), and a ‘thank you’ card for purchases.

Want to see them in person? Let us know and we will happily send you a set.

Custom Napkins. Linen Samples. Challenges.

2014-01-14T10:30:00.000-08:00

We are often approached for contract design and manufacturing jobs. Recently a local restaurant owner asked us to make 1,000 napkins: 100% linen and custom designed with a distinct stitching. The most exciting challenge is how to find an efficient and cool way to sew the napkin, thus providing a great product for a good value.

Our 25-ton Die Cutting Machine & Manufacturing Possibilities

2014-01-09T10:30:00.000-08:00

Last month we bought two die cutting machines, an exciting step that will allow us to directly do some of our own manufacturing. The one seen here is the 10-ton die press, which cuts 12” x 12”. This will be perfect for the Felt Coasters and smaller products. The larger 25-ton press can accommodate up to 60” x 20”. This will open up possibilities for easier manufacturing, like making the UM Bags in color!

Details, Form, and Function

2014-01-07T13:15:00.000-08:00

Check out this video of Frank Stephenson, Design Director at McLauren Automotive, wearing our Classic Orange Zip Tie. The video talks about the union of design and functionality in the purest degree in his work– similar to how we approach our own work.

“We are obsessed with detail. The collection of those details give you a rewarding and immersive experience…. It’s about form and function at the same time.”

Adjustable legs for a lamp Josh is designing. Look out 2014!

2014-01-02T10:25:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!

2013-12-20T12:51:00.000-08:00

Meet the Models: Josh Larson - Architect

2013-12-12T10:30:00.000-08:00

Josh Larson let us follow him around at Larson Shores Architecture + Interiors, his architecture firm to photograph the Classic Orange Zip Tie. Read his thoughts about being an architect after 17 years in the field.

This is the final "Meet the Models" post.

How would you describe your work?

I learn something new every day by the nature of my profession. Being a designer can be exhilarating as well as exhausting, especially because it requires many different professionals to make a project come to life. Sitting at my drafting table with trace and pencil in hand is incredibly rewarding and gratifying. I love working in a profession that allows you to design creativity into every nook and cranny possible.

How long have you been an architect?
I have been licensed as an architect for 7 years, but worked in architecture and construction for the past 17 years.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy seeing my vision realized and then appreciated by those who use it.

What inspires you when working?
Other creative architects, designers, and the nuances of living in a dynamic city filled with diversity and culture.

stopTHINKshop in NYC with Zip Ties and UM Bags: Dec 11 thru Dec 15

2013-12-10T10:30:00.000-08:00

Actual will be selling our new Skinny Zip Ties, UM Totes, and UM Shoulders. Check it out New York City!

stopTHINKshop, curated by TYTHEdesign, is a pop-up store that showcases good products that make a big impact. The holiday edition of the shop will include the newest innovations in socially conscious design and some old favorites that have been pioneering the field.

Panel Discussion on Wednesday, December 11th, 7 – 9 pm: An open discussion on Pop-up Retail and Conscious Consumerism

Cocktail Reception on Friday, December 13th, 6 – 8 pm: Vendors and Friends of TYTHEdesign Holiday Party (including wine, snacks and product demos)

Meet the Models: Andrew Thomas – Bass Player

2013-12-05T10:30:00.000-08:00

Andrew Thomas chatted over lunch about his love of the bass and what inspires him to play music. Check out his band, Transit of Venus.

You can also see Transit of Venus perform on Friday, Dec 6 at the Temescal Alleys in Oakland. Rumor has it Andrew will even be wearing his Classic Grey Zip Tie.

This is the third "Meet the Models" post.

Tell me about your history as a musician.
In high school I started playing the electric bass and learned rifts from bands like Rage Against the Machine. After starting college I realized that music was the main thing that spoke to me, so I took a year off to learn the upright bass. I went back to school for music and learned classical music. Afterwards, I moved to Washington D.C. and played electric bass in a hip hop band, but was exposed to blue grass and old time music through friends and started experimenting with it. Then I moved to California and took a break from playing music. Later some big changes happened later in my life, and I hit a point when I needed to reinvent myself. Music kept resurfacing. During this time I met my friend Mike when he was playing at the Berkeley Farmer’s Market. For the last five years we have been getting together to play music in Transit of Venus, an acoustic band that has a mandolin, guitar, and bass.

What do you like about playing music?
Music is a language that everyone speaks. It creates a connection that is deeper than everyday interactions. I feel so connected to the guys I play with. It makes me feel good, but also vulnerable. I can really dive into that emotion through music. Plus shows happen in real time, so you just have one shot to do it. I really enjoy playing with people listening. Sometimes we play gigs where we are more in the background and seeing even one person who is really listening gets me fired up to play even better.

What inspires you to play?
I love the sound and vibration. I think that at the root of everyone is a pure vibration and sound of energy. Playing music allows me to connect with a deep layer of myself. The happiness that music brings to others also inspires me.

Why the bass specifically?
The bass has a sound I can feel in my stomach. I also love that it is the anchor in the band for the rhythm and harmony.

What type of music do you play the most?
I was first drawn to music through singing in plays as a kid. I’m a sucker for a great melody regardless of the genre of music. I really enjoy playing songs that were not written originally on acoustic instruments. I like challenging myself with singing and playing at the same time because it forces me to get out of my head.

Visit Us at the Wunderfaire - Thursday December 5 in Downtown SF

2013-12-03T10:30:00.000-08:00

Come visit Josh and Katherine at the 5th Annual Wunderfaire hosted by IDEO, a celebration of local craftspeople on Thursday, December 5. Shop at over 40 local vendor booths for the holiday, learn from experts as they talk about their work, and eat yummy treats from one of the many food carts. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit Creative Growth, YBCA Young Artists at Work Program and IDEO.org.

Don’t miss Josh discuss how he experiments with felt structure at 5pm!

Thursday, December 5
4:30 pm - 8:00 pm
IDEO - Pier 28 Annex - The Embarcadero - San Francisco, CA