For the second year in a row, WorkOf — the online marketplace for homewares by independent designers — has partnered with Detroit-based brand Shinola on a collection of one-of-a-kind holiday ornaments. The two companies, which both have a mission to support American design, tapped 34 designers from New York City and Los Angeles – including Chen and Kai, Wolfum, Asher Israelow and more — to create ornaments for the cause-based project.
‘These are all designers that we admire, respect and in many cases help to support. Collaborations like this one with Shinola are an opportunity for us to draw focus to this amazing pool of contemporary talent and equally as important [is that] everything ultimately goes to a valuable cause,’ says WorkOf creative director Isaac Friedman-Heiman.
The designs, ranging from a painted banana by Fort Makers to a tiny ceramic mug by Helen Levi, are being auctioned off at Paddle8.com through December 17. All of the proceeds will benefit Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, an institution dedicated to presenting art at the forefront of contemporary culture.
Each of the 34 designs feel totally unique and were created using the special techniques that are related to each designer’s craft. ‘The only control for the designers was limiting the size of each ornament to roughly 4 in x 4 in,’ explains Friedman-Heiman. ‘Beyond this, there was total creative freedom for each studio to produce whatever they wanted. What is so interesting about the resulting ornaments is that they all end up being singular and truly emblematic of the designer who produced them – and their larger design practice.’
