The Laser Cutter: Who makes us studio_eQ, besides yourself?
studio_eQ: Jess Campion, Chris Burdick, Joey Fonacier = studio_eQ
TLC: So, Where are you from?
seQ: The three of us are originally from New York. Chris from
TLC: How long have you been… what title do you preferred title?
seQ: The existential answer is that we’ve been designers our whole lives, but the real answer is we met in architecture school almost 9 years ago where our formal design careers began. We all went to work professionally in the architecture industry but it seems that we all have creative ADD and through the years have branched out into any other fields of design that interest us. I’ve concentrated heavily on graphic design and computer animation. Jess and Chris in addition to architecture have branched out into furniture design, marketing and (other stuff). Currently, Jess is the only one the works professionally as an architect.
TLC: Where did you attend college?
seQ: The three of us met in architecture school at Syracuse University. Jess received her masters in architecture at USC and I went to Columbia University for a masters urban design. Currently I’m at Gnomon School for Visual Effects to formally switch my career path from architecture to computer animation. While our combined educations provided us a good foundation for the fundamentals of design, it’s really our inability to stay focused and our need to experiment with different things as well as our need to soak in design knowledge from as many places as possible that really helps us grow as designers. It’s also what keeps us passionate about design. We’re a young company trying to grow and really some our most valuable experiences have come through experimentation and getting thrown into the deep end of the pool and figuring out how to swim.
TLC: When did you first begin using a laser cutter?
seQ A: We were first introduced to a laser cutter in our last year of college. Our school had just bought one, but it was promptly broken by one of the freshmen who didn’t know how to use it. Jess, who is our master model builder used a laser cutter extensively with her firm. We had a pretty good summer last year in terms of work and we were able to buy our own. It’s sitting in Chris and Jess’s kitchen/studio.
TLC: How do you set up your files?
seQ: Because we’re architects we typically use AutoCAD to set up our files, but we’re starting to experiment with other programs, Photoshop, Corel, [Adobe] Illustrator. We’ll try any program just to see what kind of stuff we can get out it.
TLC: What’s your favorite material to laser cut?
seQ: Acrylic or plastic is a superior material for laser cutting or etching, the results are finished polished edges and incredible visual depth when etching, but we enjoy the unique materials the most, colored museum board, leather, canvas, various fabrics.
TLC: Do you have any laser cutting horror stories to tell?
seQ: In our very first attempt to cut the scarf, we had the brilliant idea of buying cashmere for like $25 a yard. What we quickly figured out was that cashmere is actually hair and smells like burning hair when its put under the laser cutter. We got our first prototype done but you could smell burnt hair for blocks.
TLC: Where do you get you inspiration?
seQ: If you were to ask us individually you’d probably get a hundred different answers. Our inspiration comes from everywhere. We keep an INSPIRATION folder on our server which is literally a couple of gigs of images and videos that we drag off websites. We compulsively search the internet for anything that that we find to be cool or beautiful.
TLC: Do you have any future laser cutting plans TLC may be interested in?
seQ: These scarves are our first attempt to create a product with the laser cutter. We think that we’ve just scratched the surface of what this thing can do. We have millions of ideas, the biggest problem is trying to find time to work these ideas out and getting them out of our heads. We have some crazy ideas rattling around.
TLC: So where can the readers reach you?
seQ: studioeqdesign.com is the website for our architectural or service work. We offer architectural firms computer renderings, physical models and laser cut marketing materials, such as business cards.
Veqdesign.com is our consumer online store where we sell our laser cut scarves and eventually our full line of products.
studioeq.blogspot.com is our blog. It has some of our latest work but we mostly use it as a inspirational exchange of ideas. Most of it is stuff that we think is cool and we want each other to see.
TLC: One last question… Is there any smell better than freshly laser cut wood?
seQ: I love waking up to the smell of laser cut wood. I’d wear it as a cologne if I could
The Laser Cutter: So, Where are you from?
Lauren Nicole: Currently Minneapolis. I moved here in 1994 to attend the Minneapolis College of Art & Design.
TLC: How long have you been an artist, or do you prefer designer?
LN: In 1999 I graduated with a degree in Fine Art/ Interactive Multimedia. So I guess that puts me at about 10 years as a working professional designer. I originally went to school for fine art but switched majors during my junior year so that I could actually pay the rent.
TLC: Do you have any formal training as a jewelry maker?
LN: I am a self taught jewelry designer... but my most valuable training has come from working in the graphic design industry. Minneapolis is one of the top cities for graphic design & MCAD has a fantastic design program. Between work & college I've had some awesome mentors that have helped me refine my creative skills.
TLC: When did you first begin using a laser cutter? Who taught you? Where do you get access?
LN: About a year ago I decided I wanted to make graphic based jewelry. I liked the look of laser cut acrylic so I researched various vendors and outsourced the cutting. It's really not much different than screen printing, letterpress, or print. Once you design the graphic, you spec the materials, and find someone to make it for you.
TLC: How do you set up your files?
LN: I use Adobe Illustrator.
TLC: What’s your favorite material to laser cut? To etch?
LN: I like the look of stainless steel. When it comes to etching I prefer felt. The burnt edges can add a nice element to a design.
TLC: Do you have any laser cutting horror stories to tell?
LN: Not really. If I owned my own machine most likely I would have several stories to share. The worst part about laser cutting is the smell.
TLC: Where do you get you inspiration? Web sites?
LN: Music, urban subculture, street fashion, and art history. My source of inspiration changes constantly. I would have to catalog the sources by year. I watched a lot of MTV growing up and have always been inspired by album cover art.
Here's a few sites that I dig.
TLC: Do you have any future laser cutting plans TLC may be interested in?
LN: I am always coming up with new ideas. At some point this year I would like to design a series of laser cut clocks.
TLC: So where can the readers reach you?
LN: Shop: 1000markets.com/users/infraredstudio
Blog: infraredstudio.wordpress.com
Web: infraredstudio.com
TLC: One last question… Is there any smell better than freshly laser cut wood?
LN: Burnt felt. It smells like burnt hair.
