Friend and design legend, Bradley Munkowitz (GMUNK), came to Michael Williams and I with a music video concept for the well known musician and designer, Tycho. Knowing our interest in creating design executed in the practical and physical world, Bradley offered us an amazing opportunity to let those passions grow. Mike and I spent months designing and fabricating a number of props to be utilized by the protagonist in the music video.
Premise
In Tycho’s “See”, the main character travels through breathtaking landscapes and alternate realities as she pursues a mysterious cloaked figure. Throughout her journey, she encounters and interacts with a variety of unique objects that help guide her way and tell her story.
We took on the challenge of designing and fabricating these objects. We approached them as characters within the story, each with a unique personality, but unified as ancient relics with vital roles in a timeless and mysterious ritual.
The objects needed to convey intention and deliberate design, as well as a tactile connection to life and nature. The bold wood grain on each object roots its history in the natural world, while its perfectly sculpted geometric edges hint at a mystical and unexplainable origin.
We offset this “organic history” with elements of sleek simplicity, implying their connection to a mysterious, otherworldly existence. Each was designed according to its purpose and utilizes clean, geometric forms. These forms were kept minimal and natural, while also possessing enough irregularity to add depth and interest.
Result
Between the two of us, we had very limited experience in woodworking. For several months our weekdays and weekends were consumed with cutting, gluing, sanding, and measuring in the woodshop at Autofuss. Sometimes returning home with just enough time to change, brush our teeth, and rest for the next day of work. Everything we learned and accomplished during this rush will remain with us forever as a proud, and pricelessly educational experience.
