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Name: Steven Enns
Title: Leatherworker
Company: Hand and Sew Leather Goods
Tell us a bit about your background and how you came to design.
I've always been interested in art and design in one way or another. I went to school for Engineering for a year before realizing that it wasn't exactly for me. I then spent a few years studying general fine arts before finding out that Industrial Design existed. I just graduated from the Industrial Design program at Emily Carr in April. I found leatherwork during a design project in 2012 and I've been stitching ever since.
What's your personal design philosophy?
For me, design is all about the end experience. Whether that be a texture, aesthetic, feeling, or anything else. I think that absolutely every decision should clearly answer the question of, "Does this help achieve the end user interaction?"
How do you approach a new project?
I first look at the personal interaction. Who is using it? What is their age, marital status, job, income, mental state,etc? Where, when and how are they using it?
Which materials do you use the most?
Leather. It's so amazingly versatile. It can be hard, soft, smooth, rough, limp, stiff, fire-resistant, an amazing insulator, etc.etc. There's so many aspects of leather outside of a "value material" that haven't been explored.
What parts of your work do you do by hand?
All if I can. The only time that I go to machines for any of my projects is for precision cutting with the lasercutter + fast material remover with a sander. Everything I do is all stitched by hand (without sewing machine), and hand-finished
What is your most cherished tool?
My awl. It's a fantastic little tool that I use for absolutely everything. Poking, scratching, hole making, marking, measuring and everything in between. I carved the handle so that it's more comfortable to hold in a precision grip, and won't roll off of the table.
How does laser cutting play a role in your design process?
More than anything, they allow for quick iteration. Especially for me, the laser cutter makes cutting perfect squares an ease. However, due to the way that the laser works (burning) I actually don't use it to make any final products. For prototyping however, it's super useful.
Which of your designs or projects are you most excited about right now and why?
I'm very excited for my Transfold Bag design. It was my thesis year project, and I put a lot of time, thought and effort into the development. As a material and process, the origami leather has SO many unexplored opportunities (think...furniture, home-goods, outdoor gear, clothing, etc.) that I wish I had the funds and time to explore.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your design process?
I like to think that these three things are a fantastic way to govern any process (be it design, or life in general)
Hardwork: there is nothing better than putting in the time [10,000 hrs rule]
Consistency: don't strive for greatness; strive for never-ending perfection
Patience: know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. Life is about managment.
Sketch; Product
Workspace; Tool
Inspiration; Portrait
