I first came across a feature of Stanley Ruiz’s work in Surface magazine’s annual Avant Guardian Portfolio via jewelry artist Happy David.
To understand the scale of this accomplishment, Surface is a New York-based magazine about fashion, design, and architecture. Every year they publish the Avant Guardian issue featuring works of emerging designers and photographers.
For their 2010 issue, a Surface editor wrote Stanley and invited him to send RAW, a clock that he designed incorporating a CNC-milled maple wood with a leather strap. The same clock is currently being sold at Urban Outfitters in the US.
“I am glad to be recognized here. That feature was definitely one of the highlights of 2010 for me,” said Stanley.
It seems the recognition doesn’t end there alone. Just recently, some of his products were featured in a newly launched design book called 1000 Product Designs, which highlights the most innovative designs across the globe.
Exciting times for Stanley, and there’s more to expect from him in 2011. Not only will he be part of the American Design Club’s booth at the New York International Gift Fair in January, he now joins a group of designers called EPOCH that will design for companies in CEBUNEXT, the furniture show in Cebu this March.
Come April, he will be demonstrating his design process by constructing a chair live at the Museum of Arts & Design in Manhattan.
In May, he will mount his first solo exhibition at the Vilcek Foundation, to coincide with the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York.
Paying homage to his homeland, he will be showcasing a chair made entirely of rice; a table using indigenous fabrics from the Philippines; plus a lighting installation made of porcelain, cast from Philippine baskets.
On The Radar chats with Stanley about his work, his music, and life as a creative in Brooklyn:
ON THE RADAR: How long have you been doing industrial design and media art? Are you equal parts designer and artist or do you spend most of your time designing rather than producing art or vice versa?
Stanley RUIZ: I’ve been practicing industrial design professionally since 2001, and media arts since 2005. I would say I’m more of a designer than an artist, not only because I was trained in design; it’s also about how I approach my work.
Most of my projects deal with function, form, materials, and serial production — topics that are mostly design related. The media-based works I produce are more of an exploration of how technology mediates between artwork and viewer. Outside of regular commissioned work for clients, I’m trying to deal more with the meta-qualities of design rather than the usual functional and aesthetic considerations.
By injecting meaning into object creation, the boundaries between art and design disintegrate.
You went to UP College of Fine Arts in Diliman. What course did you take up there and how did you find your way to Brooklyn?
I majored in Industrial Design. After college I landed a job in Bali, Indonesia where I lived for more than three years. In Bali, I trained in traditional crafts, pottery, and ceramics by working directly with artisans.
During that time, I designed products for a multinational export company whose clients included major retailers in the USA, Europe, and Australia. Due to that experience, I was offered a job by an ex-colleague who lives in New York. So I moved.
Brooklyn is a hotbed of artists and creative types, what’s it like living there? It must be very inspiring!
Brooklyn is a very dynamic place with a great mix of people that’s as culturally diverse as its neighborhoods. It is quite inspiring to be around a lot of creative types, and the constant flow of energy keeps me going. Brooklyn’s industrial districts are also a great counterpoint to Manhattan’s skyscrapers. I like the grit of Brooklyn, its raw, almost primal vibe. There’s a constant influx of people migrating from within the US and abroad, which makes it more interesting but at the same time impacting some communities negatively due to the rapid pace of gentrification.
Where do you hang out in Brooklyn? What’s your aesthetic like in terms of life & style?
My favorite neighborhood in Brooklyn is Park Slope — lots of restaurants, stores, and close to Prospect Park. In terms of bars and music and hanging out with friends, Williamsburg and Bushwick are the place to be. My studio is located in the Gowanus section and across the street is a bar/music venue called The Bell House. It is a great space where some amazing bands play. I seldom shop, but when I do I try to go for practical pieces, the ones I can use in multiple settings. I notice that I tend to like flannels and sneakers, maybe being nostalgic about the early-mid ’90s, ha!
I try to live simply and not buy too much stuff, but this is easier said than done.
It seems a lot of your work is made from wood, is that deliberate or just a coincidence? Is that (the material) what inspires your work?
I really like wood for its warm and organic quality. I’m generally fond of using natural materials because I was exposed to them at an early age, and this familiarity makes it easier for me to translate them into objects. I guess it is through natural materials that I can express myself fluently — it is a medium that I use to communicate my ideas better.
How does it feel to have your stuff sold in a popular hipster place such as Urban Outfitters?
It feels good, especially because they have a wide reach and can help establish my brand. I know that Urban Outfitters is known as a hipster mecca, but they are also one of the more fashion-forward and innovative retailers around. I’ve been to their headquarters in Philadelphia — it is a fantastic campus by the Navy Yard that they share with Anthropologie. Needless to say they have a battalion of designers out there, which seems fit for the location.
Tell us about your band. How do you find time for your music?
I play in a band called Gunung Sari (Mountain Essence in Bahasa Indonesia). I call our music “mountain style electronic noise.” We combine homemade instruments and custom-built electronics with off-the-shelf gadgets and sometimes use the computer for live audio-video processing. Our sound is primarily inspired by gamelan and other folk music of Southeast Asia, but played with contemporary elements.
Music has been an integral part of my life, and I’ve been playing in bands even before I started art school. It is very important for me to find time to play. We don’t play very often, but when we do it’s a cathartic experience for me.
You are an advocate of sustainable design and socially responsible production. How can the average person on the street support such practices?
It’s a tough one, especially when most sustainably produced goods are more expensive than their counterparts. One suggestion would be to buy local whenever possible. This will help micro-industries flourish, and hopefully will bring about positive effects to the communities involved.
* * *
For more on Stanley Ruiz, visit http://www.stanleyruiz.com.