Exciting Times are Around the Corner

I've been sort of 'away' for the past few months doing work for a local engineering / industrial design firm here in Silicone Valley, which has evolved into a full-time in-the-office gig. But as the title suggests, new and exciting projects are cued up in the pipeline. I've been in talks with a local battery technology company here in the valley, and if all goes well (which it looks like it should), I'll be working on form studies for batteries that could end up in upcoming hybrid vehicles. (Prius, to be exact). But let's not jump to conclusions.

In the meantime, I'm still doing a little work here and there for Satarii, and wish the guys the best of luck in getting their start-up fully funded and off the ground.

I promise to bring you more frequent updates within the next few weeks.

New FMF Business Cards

New Postcards

Peerless Lighting Concepts

I conceptualized these fixtures during my industrial design internship at Peerless / Acuity Brands Lighting in Berkeley last year. Now that the non-disclosure period is over, I can finally show them. (Peerless is producing a third concept I can't show here just yet, due out by the end of summer.)

Both fixtures utilize two energy-efficient T5 bulbs and a single ballast that run the length of the fixture. I like to refer to the first one as the "Architect," since that was the target client for this project. Due to the nature of the product, the general form factor was confined to a rectilinear form. But "Architect" plays with slight asymmetry, creating dynamic angles that give the viewer a different impression from either side of the fixture. "Architect" is a very efficient, 100% indirect suspended lighting fixture.

The second fixture is 10% direct / 90% indirect lighting. The concept behind this unit was to create a negative space that orbits the underside of the form, allowing a controlled amount of light to escape through the crevice and produce a soft ring of light. The sharp angles of the fixture combined with the roundness of the end caps create a harmony between soft and industrial aesthetics. The fixture gives off a variety of impressions when viewed from different angles and distances.

Both fixtures are now featured on the FMF site here.

KELP: Petal-Inspired POP Fixture

KELP is a point-of-purchase fixture for displaying Fedaboa's clamshell belt buckles. The inspiration behind the buckles and their belt line come from pearl divers, so when they said they wanted a plant-like structure that could be built-up and expanded on, I came up with the Kelp concept.

Kelp is a simple structure optimized for inexpensive manufacturing. Standard 1/4" and 1/8" acrylic (or sturdy plastic alternative) can be easily laser-cut and assembled. Extension and trunk tubing can be manufactured from standard 2" acrylic tubing. The dome cap and tubing can be threaded for easy screw-on and screw-off assembly. Retailers can easily assemble the fixture in-store with limited instruction.

Hanging Tessallated Rabbit Curtain

I've been wanting to create a hanging tessellated curtain for a while now, and finally had some down time yesterday to put one together. It would be great to be able to sell these, so I've been thinking about getting a prototype made. Have a quick look!

Tessellations are a thing of beauty, and it's puzzling that you don't see more custom organic tessellations incorporated into modern interior design. Tiles are most often kept within the boundaries of a square, trapezoid, hexagon or octagon -- all geometric, rigid forms.

The organic tessellation you're seeing here is inspired by rabbits and their multiplicity (and their beady little eyes)! The curtain's dimensions are 30" wide x 72" in length, fitting a standard doorway. Multiple curtain units can be linked together to divide larger spaces, such as lofts or shared work spaces.

The same tessellation pattern can be used as tiles to cover a wall in a modern home setting, a suave club environment, or a swanky hotel. Imagine water cascading over the tile's relief, creating a shimmer of texture and bouncing light.

The dome of the rabbit's 'eye' captures the environment it inhabits, compressing everything it 'sees.' Placed against a window, the domes encapsulate what's outside, creating a kaleidoscopic view while providing a bit of privacy for those on the inside. The individual tiles are flat on the back and have a domed relief on the face.

I added a new page to my website at http://www.FormMeetsFunction.com/tile.html to feature the tessellation.

Independent Contractors: Estimated Quarterly Tax

I know that at least a few of you out there are Independent Contract Designers, or "Freelancers." Have you gotten all the information you need to start paying your quarterly taxes? If you're independent, your employer is not paying quarterly taxes to the government on your behalf. (Yes, this is my home office in the picture :)

I thought I'd point out a few of the resources I discovered while trying to figure out my tax responsibilities as an independent contractor. First, here are the tax quarter break-downs and due dates according to my tax advisor:

April 15
(Jan - March 31st payment)

June 15
(Apr - May 31st payment)

Sept 15
(June - Aug 31st payment)

Jan 15
(Sept - Dec 31st payment)

You'll need to pay both Federal and State estimated taxes if you live in California. Here are links to sites that allow you to make your quarterly payments to the IRS, free of charge (and paper-free):

EFTPS (Federal)
CA Franchise Tax Board

Normally, an employer also pays half of your Social Security and Medicare obligation for you. As an Independent Contractor, you'll have to pay both your half as well as your employer's half (for a total of 15.3%), doubling what you would normally owe if you were conventionally employed. My tax guy advised me to pay around 25% of my income to Federal and 10% to State. We'll see a the end of the year whether I owe more or receive a refund based on these percentages.

All of this information is what I have come to understand while researching my own tax obligations. Before taking my word for it, make sure you do your own research and come to your own conclusions. It's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to taxes, so double-check these figures. If you know something I don't, please post it here so we can all benefit from the information.

If you need help getting started, you might want to take a peek at the small business section of the IRS website.