Teague Rethinks a Cultural Icon
I got this press release from Sarah Matheny from Teague. Thanks Sarah!:
Innovative new program offers designers a creative outlet to inspire new ideas
SEATTLE, Wash. – October 22, 2007 – Seattle-based design firm, Teague, recently completed the first project in a new program established to nurture the company’s creative culture. Dedicated to inspiring new ideas, the program affords employees the freedom to create products of their own design by providing fundamental resources including time, capital and publicity.
“This program allows designers the time to challenge themselves without limitation,” said John Barratt, president and CEO of Teague. “Creativity without restriction expands the mind; feeding the imagination is what drives design forward.”
The Paperclip Lamp, designed collaboratively by Teague’s associate creative director, David Wykes, and industrial designer, Benoit Collette, is the first Teague sponsored design. Taking advantage of an opportunity rarely found in the corporate world, the two opted to unite on the project. “Collaboration is a core part of our philosophy,” noted Barratt, “our designers truly embrace that.”
Interested in exploring familiar, everyday objects, Wykes and Collette found inspiration in the form of a ubiquitous office essential, the paperclip. An object that undoubtedly runs the risk of extinction as the move toward a paperless society continues, the designers focused on giving the cultural icon a new lease on life.
“As designers, we’re inherently full of new ideas, but these days it can be difficult to find the time to realize them,” Wykes said. “Time is definitely a luxury; it’s also a necessity for cultivating our craft. This program acknowledges that,” added Collette.
The Paperclip Lamp made its debut by winning a place at the Seattle DWR Northwestern Lighting Exhibition. Now gaining international recognition, the lamp is shedding its light at the Korean Gwangju Design Biennale 2007, a festival recognizing new design trends of the 21st century.
About Teague:
Founded in 1926 by Walter Dorwin Teague, Seattle-based Teague is an award-winning industrial design firm, internationally recognized for the past eight decades as a thoughtful team with a talent for creating evocative designs. Forging long-term, committed relationships with clients – such as their design partnership with The Boeing Company, which has spanned more than six decades – Teague’s interdisciplinary Studios are sought out for their unique perspectives and truly collaborative spirit. Maintaining a relevant and compelling design vision, Teague innovates with work for the likes of Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Panasonic, Samsung and Nike. Additional company information can be found online at www.teague.com.
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