Could you tell us about the name of your company, Havok Designs? How did you come up with it?
Well, initially when my husband and I started the company we were trying to come up a name together. Havok was a name that my husband and his old skating crew used to use, spelt with a “k” rather than a “c” of course. He offered that up as a suggestion and I thought that Havok Designs sounded good, and from a designers perspective would work great for logos and other branding designs. But whenever asked about the meaning of our name, I always reassure
them that it is “only the good kind of havok.”
I noticed that you started your Etsy shop making iPad/iPhone covers and cozies. How did you transition from sewing to designing such intricate lazer-cut jewelry?
The shop opened during a transitional phase. After moving across the country and then having to move again in just a few months, the beginning stages were a little wobbly. However, I knew that I really wanted to get the ball rolling and I had already started teaching myself how to sew…you gotta start somewhere, right? But woodworking was always the main concept behind the business from the beginning, so in December of 2011 a laser engraving machine was purchased and for some reason I was mostly drawn to design jewelry. Though I had never designed a piece of jewelry in my life and had never thought in a million years that this is what I’d be doing, it all happened very naturally.
I first stumbled upon your shop through the “You’re My World” keychain with the orbiting heart and thought it was so cute (and totally appealed to my inner geek)! Could you walk us through your design process for your pieces?
It all starts how most things do, with an idea. A concept will pop in my head, followed by the visuals. Sometimes I sketch out the ideas, sometimes I go straight to creating it in Illustrator. No matter what though, the idea gets written down. I have booklets of ideas written down on scraps of paper held together with paper clips scattered around my desk. After the idea is drawn out in Illustrator, I send it over to the computer that is connected to the laser machine. I have to then change the lines and details of the design in a simple language of color and stoke in Corel Draw so that the machine can understand my vision. Once that is done, I click “print” like you would print out a word document, the file is sent over the machines software. I then input the correct power + speed settings and double check that everything else looks appropriate, then press “G” for “Go” and watch as the laser create a 3D object of my design. I then decide if it needs any tweaking or if it is good to go. If it needs tweaking, I go back to the original file in Illustrator and fix what I want. If it is all good, it then gets weeded {the process of pealing off the masking paper that protects the wood from the resin that comes out when laser engraved} and start the finishing process. After that, I hand assemble each piece accordingly.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
Everywhere! Music, movies, space + astronomy, nature, artwork, random conversations overheard at coffee shops + bars, mid-century style design, graphic design, and just life in general. But a lot of times it just comes to me – the ideas just pop in my head. I love to work with type so when a good phrase or quote from a song, movie or individual moves me I write it down then figure out ways to make it into a workable design.
Is there any other form of art you dabble in aside from sewing and laser cutting/engraving?
Yes, I really love making 3D mixed media sculptures, painting, and drawing. My favorite changes all the time… right now it is mixed media, but I love the feeling of painting so whenever I have the opportunity to paint one of my products I do. Plus, I love the pop of color(s) one the wood! Any day that ends with paint all over your hands is a good day in my opinion.
What can we expect from Havok Design in 2013? Any sneak peeks you can share? ;)
Oh, yes! I have lots in store for this year. You can expect lots of new wall hangings + décor to be made. I will also be making pieces that are a mixture of the wood with inlayed gemstones. Some fun + colorful porcupine quill jewelry
pieces will be hitting the shop. And I am really hoping to take some of my favorite photographs that I have taken while living here in Montana and sell them as prints to display as art pieces in your home or office. So yea, I think this is going to be my break out year!
P.S. If you’re stumped on any Valentine’s gifts, Kristen has a bunch of really sweet love letter magnets, his & hers keychains, and pins (omg how cute is this pocket protector?) available. I’ve definitely got my eye on a few. ;)
