Struktur Event 2017
We recently got back from attending this year’s Struktur Event, and we gotta tell you, it was a blast! For those of you not in the know, Struktur is a creative conference held each spring in Portland, OR (this year’s event was held from April 25th-27th). Now in its fourth year, Struktur has always sought to create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere where designers and industry professionals can gather to share ideas, build relationships, and tackle the important topics of today, tomorrow, and beyond.
With the largest attendance record to date, this year’s event boasted an impressive lineup of speakers, workshops, panels, and activities, which provided attendees with an unforgettable experience.
Whether you couldn’t make it out, or you just want to relive the awesomeness over and over again, check out our short photo essay of some of our favorite moments from Struktur Event 2017 (including some shots of the Hemmer Design Experience Wall) below!
Looking Fresh
Every once and a while, you just need a new look. Sometimes it’s a new outfit, other times a new haircut, and sometimes it’s new headshots! Well, we were lucky enough to recently get together with our extremely talented friend Marlene Rounds to get just what the doctor ordered—some fresh-faced headshots—and we couldn’t be happier!
Marlene is a Cincinnati-based commercial photographer that specializes in food, interior, and product photography. She’s always had a love for photography (she’s been at it since grade school), and her work truly shows it.
Marlene went on to develop her photography chops at the Ohio Institute of Photography and Technology. Here, she earned her Associates Degree in product photography and lay down the groundwork for a burgeoning career.
After a short stint in Chicago, Marlene relocated to New York City where she honed her skills even further and became the talented photographer she is today. While in NY, she spent four years “teching” and six years shooting everything from editorial to ecommerce and advertising, all while earning a Bachelor’s of Business from the State University of New York.
In 2015, Marlene left NY and returned home to the city where she was raised, a city she knew and loved, the city of Cincinnati!
Marlene’s work is striking. She delivers a product that combines both art and advertising in a way that draws the viewer into the composition. She effectively marries form and function in a way that other photographers promise, but few can deliver on. And, above all else, she’s simply a pleasure to work with.
Long story short, her work is definitely worth checking out. So, if you haven’t already, head on over to her website, http://www.marlenerounds.com, and see what all the hype is about!
**All photos in this post were done by Marlene Rounds**
The Struktur Event 2017--Focusing on the Future
Spring is certainly in the air! The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming, and creatives from all different parts of the active, outdoor, and urban design industries are gearing up to head out to Portland for the 4th annual Struktur Event!
Struktur is a creative conference held each spring in Portland, OR (this year’s event will be held on April 25th-27th). Founded four years ago by the creative duo of Michelle Rose and Sam Ward, Struktur has always sought out to create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere where designers and industry professionals can gather to share ideas, build relationships, and tackle the important topics of today, tomorrow, and beyond.
Year over year, Michelle and Sam have done an amazing job landing some of the most interesting speakers in the industry, and this year’s event is no different. Keynote speakers like Amy Ross (Lead engineer at NASA on the Mars spacesuit), Michael DiTullo (Chief Design Officer at Sound United), and Jan Chipchase (Futurist at Studio D Radiodurans) not only pack serious credentials or promise attention-grabbing presentations, but also define the theme of this year’s event: Inflection Points.
Futurists describe inflection points as moments when the range of possible futures suddenly shifts. These shifts in the range of possible futures are especially important to designers who have to prepare themselves for success in our rapidly changing world. As technologies continue to advance active, outdoor, and urban design, industry professionals must work at the intersection of innovation and technology to create novel products for the future.
Struktur points out on their website that “against the backdrop of disruptions in climate, trade, and manufacturing, new practices of generative design, bio-materials, and automation are moving into focus. Sustainability and ‘Made in America’ stories are shifting from novelty to necessity. As technical and performance gear continue to merge into the mainstream, the active and outdoor industries are well positioned to be a major influencer in what we wear.”
This year’s event focuses on identifying these inflection points, sharing ideas about how to get ahead of the curve, and creating new relationships that will help lead to new design solutions.
So, if you’re looking for an event that’ll help you set yourself up for future success, make sure to check out Struktur Event 2017.
And, if you’re already planning on attending, make sure to find the Hemmer Design team and say hello! We’ll be curating a fun, interactive, experience project, and we’d love to see your smiling faces!
For more information about Struktur, check out their website here, or this more detailed preview from Trend Insight.
Cincinnati Ballet's Club B: Grace + Grit
THE HOTTEST DANCE PARTY OF THE YEAR
With two amazing art museums (the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Contemporary Arts Center), one of the highest ranking design schools in the country (UC’s DAAP), the always wonderful SCPA, the world-renowned Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and the just-as-highly esteemed Cincinnati Ballet, it’s safe to say that Cincinnati takes art and design pretty seriously.
Which is why we were both flattered and humbled when we recently got the opportunity to partner up and help out with the Cincinnati Ballet’s Club B: Grace + Grit event! Grace + Grit was promoted as the hottest dance party of the year, and we’ve got to admit, it definitely lived up to the hype!
This year’s Club B event sought to juxtapose the two driving forces it takes to be a ballet dancer in our contemporary world: grace and grit. Ballet dancers need the grace to display perfection on stage and the grit to survive the grueling training behind the curtain.
Club B: Grace + Grit successfully brought these opposing forces to life in the form of Cincinnati’s hottest dance party. The night consisted of dinner, dancing and cocktails. Upscale casual dress was accented by a backdrop of rough-and-tumble details while MadTree Brewery set an industrial backdrop.
In true Cincinnati Ballet fashion, the event sold out and went off without a hitch. The flash mob coordinated by Danfix and choreography displayed by the Cincinnati Ballet’s Second Company were simply amazing!
If you happened to be one of the unfortunate few that weren’t able to make it out to this year’s event, you’re in luck! We put together this beautiful photo essay to show you some of our favorite details, so you don’t make the same mistake next year!
SETTING UP
THE BIG NIGHT
WHAT DRIVES US
Sometimes we get asked why we wanted to start a collaborative design studio that focuses on apparel innovation in Cincinnati, Ohio. When we hear this question, we often give the expected answers: “Cincinnati is a great place going through an amazing renaissance of creativity,” “Innovation is at the heart of the growth of this city,” and, “We want to help support the local economy.” What we don’t often say is that Cincinnati has had a bright and prolific history when it comes to fashion and apparel.
Don’t believe us? Check out these three companies that call(ed) Cincinnati home.
3 INFLUENTIAL CINCINNATI APPAREL COMPANIES
Arthur Nash - The cover of "The Nash Journal" (Volume 1, #52, November 28, 1927)
ARTHUR NASH CORP
The Arthur Nash Corporation was founded by Arthur Nash in 1918 with a focus on making men’s clothing. In 1919, Nash was approached by a local garment manufacturer about purchasing his operation.
Nash agreed to the purchase and soon found himself the sole-proprietor of what would turn out to be, unbeknownst to Nash, a sweatshop. As soon as Nash was made aware of what he purchased, he decided to give everyone in the company a raise citing the Golden Rule from the Bible as his reason for doing so.
Nash’s company went on to be hugely successful. He found that the better he treated his employees, the harder they worked and the more loyal they became, which lead to the Arthur Nash Corporation becoming a heavyweight in the garment manufacturing industry.
Eventually, Nash even traveled around the US promoting his book, “The Golden Rule in Business,” and giving speeches, which helped to spread his revolutionary business practices around the world.
For more information about Arthur Nash, click here.
KORCHMAR
Founded in Cincinnati in 1917, Korchmar is a family-owned manufacturer of high-quality leather goods including briefcases, travel bags, and accessories. Although no longer centered out of Cincinnati, OH, Korchmar is still going strong! These days, Korchmar is headquartered out of Naples, FL, but that doesn’t mean the company has forgotten its roots.
Photo Credit: Korchmar.com
Four generations in, and Korchmar is still creating the high-quality products and practicing the same commitment to excellence as they sought out to pursue when they first founded their company in Cincinnati a century ago.
For more information on Korchmar, click here.
STANDARD TEXTILE
Founded in Cincinnati in 1940, Standard Textile has gone on to become a vertically integrated business that specializes in creating durable, long-lasting, affordable textiles for the healthcare, hospitality, and workwear industries.
Standard Textile prides themselves on the business culture they have created over the past 70+ years, which focuses on both innovation and quality of service. With more than 70 patents currently to their name, it’s difficult to overlook the mark they have made in the textile industry.
Leveraging textile design, manufacturing and laundry expertise, as well as their global infrastructure, they serve customers in the institutional apparel marketplaces worldwide.
For more information on Standard Textile, Click here.
Here at Hemmer Design, we believe in the power of learning from others. And, we feel that there is a wealth of information that can be learned from the history of Cincinnati, especially from the successes of the companies mentioned above. Which is why we believe that by taking these lessons to heart, we can show the world what Cincinnati is truly capable of! Bringing the apparel industry back to Cincinnati may not be easy, and yes, it may take a lot of hard work. But we’re committed to this vision, and we hope you will support us along the way!
