Category: People

Designer David Rasmussen, maker of custom-crafted wood furniture and products for the kitchen, grew up in New England, where he was exposed to a rich tradition in furniture making from a young age.

From the outset, his study and work – both in furniture making and beyond – has been “driven by artistic design and aesthetic value.”

And it shows in everything he does.

Through his training in composition and construction under the tutelage of master crafters, as well as his focused study in Danish, Ming Dynasty, and contemporary American studio furniture, David developed his own avant-garde style of design and function.

Today, all that thoughtful training and study has translated beautifully into a collection of goods for the home, including kitchen accessories.

Once we adopted some of his pieces into our own collection, we wondered about the driving force behind his work today.

“I really enjoy creating objects that are a joy to use,” David told us, “with the hope that they are of good enough quality that they will be cared for and become heirlooms.”

Which probably explains why all of David’s pieces are made in small batches and not mass-produced.

In addition to artistic integrity, quality plays another key role in David’s success. In order to ensure that each piece lives up to his high standards, David works closely with his hand-picked staff of highly trained craftsman to produce elegant wares for clients across the US.

Our favorite pieces? These, of course:

Chroma Small Bite Plate

According to David, this striking piece is great for parties. And we couldn’t agree more.

With its versatile size and black or white color options, you’ll be hard pressed to find a moment when it doesn’t come in handy—and add a splash of distinctive style to the scene.

Chroma Blk Cheese Board Set

A best-in-class gift item, according to David. And a gorgeous piece of serve ware to bring out for special occasions, family occasions. or no occasion at all.

Chroma Red Tray

“Great for serving apps or as a catch all for jewelry or wallets on a dresser,” David suggests. And yet another example of form-meets-function craftsmanship.

Not to mention a healthy splash of red, just in time for the holidays. ‘Tis the season indeed.

We’ve had the pleasure of working with artist Hillery Sproatt for some time now, and the results are never short of wonderful.

No matter the medium, her work is always unique, thoughtfully crafted, and marked by a dose of whimsy. In the end, her spirited pieces seem to invite smiles and brighten the mood of the home.

So we were delighted when Hillary invited us to take a peek around her own home. And we were fascinated when she shared a bit more about her background and inspiration as an artist. Take a listen:

Unison: What got you interested in designing goods for the home?

Hillery: My background is in fine art, with an emphasis in printmaking and drawing. I’ve always made work that is two-dimensional and often for the wall. So I am thrilled to be exploring art objects as well as functional textiles for the home. I spend much of my time at home and I want it to be a place I love and can love in. I hope my work brings a bit of joy into the lives of those who live with it.

Harvest Black Throw Pillow, Harvest Denim Throw Pillow, Harvest Peach Throw Pillow

Unison: With home being so important to you, how would you describe your own, personal style?

Hillery: I have a deep appreciation for many different aesthetics. Perhaps my personal style is simple and thoughtful, in so much as I enjoy functional things that are well designed and I like to have just enough without having too much. I enjoy things that have a history or a story to them.  I am very drawn to playful and colorful objects as well as pattern. Relationships or how things look next to one another has always been of great interest to me. I am definitely not concerned with matching and often steer clear of sets.

Unison: And when it’s time to get creative, what spurs you to create new work?

Hillery: I’ve always enjoyed making things. Perhaps it’s the surprise of seeing something into existence that excites me or quieting my mind a bit and letting my hands do the talking.

I draw inspiration from nearly everything I take in; places I’ve visited, conversations I’ve had, books I’m reading, or a flower by the side of the road. All of these things find their way into my work.

Unison: And once inspiration strikes, what is your artistic process typically like from there?

Hillery: When painting or drawing my art practice is intuitive. I almost never begin with a plan. When making my dolls and mobiles I am more exacting. I find I put my energy into being efficient with my process and thoughtful with my craft.

Unison: How about us? What has the experience of collaborating with Unison been like for you?

Hillery: I’ve enjoyed it immensely! It’s allowed me the opportunity to interpret my work into textiles, which has been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.

In particular, I was very pleased with the way my Unison Rag Dolls turned out. Unison’s beautifully bright hand printed geometric fabrics lend themselves so well to being mixed and matched. I think these dolls are whimsical, lovable, and so special.

If you’re not drawn to the work of artist Matthew Hoffman, then you haven’t seen it yet.

His message-themed artwork is not only uplifting; it’s thoughtfully simple, frequently profound, and consistently true.

Known around the world for his You Are Beautiful project, Matthew’s work appears on billboards, stickers, and public installations in every corner of the globe.

When we met him at one of our store events, we were instantly hooked – and impressed with his wide range of collaborations, both large and small. So we went to his studio and workshop to get our heads together and develop unique, positive messages for the holidays (and beyond).

We love the finished pieces, which are all made right in his Chicago studio. But we also love the guy: Matthew is one of the nicest people around. Despite the fact that his work is so influential, he is humble and persistently creative. Check him out:

Unison: Do you have an overarching design philosophy?

Matthew: Keep it simple. Keep it positive. Make meaning by making things.

Unison: What do you find particularly important about your work/art? What drives you to continue creating?

Matthew: To me, it’s the interaction with people on a human level. I like to write phrases that I get something out of, and share those in the public. Where the viewer takes it is completely up to them. Hopefully, they get something out of it too.

I love that conversation with people through my art. It certainly keeps me going.

Unison: What’s special about the design community in Chicago?

Matthew: I love the art & design community in Chicago. It’s very collaborative, and everyone works really hard to help each other when they need it. I think this holiday catalogue is the perfect example of that – there are many outstanding Chicago designers & artists involved.

The collaboration with Alicia & Robert [of Unison] has been so rewarding. It was so great to brainstorm on what things could be, and run loose creating sample ideas. Their eye is very refined, and they did a great job curating down the collection into something really fantastic.

Unison: Well then, let’s talk specifics: any background on the Good Times Wall Piece?

Matthew: It’s all about having a good time.

Unison: Clearly. How about the silver pedestal?

Matthew: I love this little guy. I especially love how the text almost looks floating.

Unison: Agreed. And the You Are Beautiful silver wall piece is a favorite of ours, too.

Matthew: A classic reworked for the holidays.

We’d been looking for a line of USA-made ceramics for some time when we came across the work of Nobuhito Nisigawara. As soon as we discovered his line of functional, casual ceramics, we knew our search was over.

Nishigawara designs and produces beautifully informal ceramics with a clean-lined, handmade aesthetic. This simply gorgeous look stems largely from his background: born in Nagoya, Japan, Nishigawara fuses the tradition of Japanese artisan ceramic production with his work as a contemporary artist and his formal education in North America.

The result: a show-stopping look for your everyday table.

If we weren’t already in love, what we learned next would have sealed the deal: every single object from this line is hand crafted in Nishigawara’s studio in Orange County, California. Which means that every piece is uniquely one of a kind.

“My inspiration is also what drives me to continue the tradition of handmade ceramics,” Nishigawara told us recently. “I am inspired by the Japanese Mingei movement, an arts and crafts movement that focused on creating objects by hand that are affordable with the intent to be used.”

“With my line, I focus on simplicity in design,” Nishigawara explained. “It’s important to me that the dinnerware does not visually overpower the food.”

Mission accomplished. But even so, we can’t help but call these pieces yummy.