Interview - Your Nest Inspired

Sustainable, Minimalist Wooden Designware

Based in San Francisco, ambassador of sustainability, Anna Richtie, uses her vision and skillset to deliver a collection of functional, minimalist design products, ranging from iPhone stands to a Wooden Business Card Holder.

"I discovered my love of art in a ceramics class in high school. Realizing the architectural aesthetic of my work, I went to Arizona State University to study architecture. It was there that I realized I was more interested with what was going on inside of the space, than the building itself. I moved to San Francisco, where I got my degree in industrial design, emphasizing on furniture. Learning the process behind all things mass produced, I grew passionate about all thing handmade, and started my own collection."

Anna's focus is on natural, sustainable materials which retain their organic, weatherworn aesthetic. Her penchant for handmade products began early in her when she discovered the beauty of moulding ceramics. Coupled with the expertise gained through a degree in industrial design, Anna uses her creative tendencies to deliver ergonomically-designed, intuitive products.

"My collection began with the inspiration to bring nature - using natural woods - into homes filled with plastic technology. Each of my items are triggered by contrasts. Masculine versus feminine. Modern versus classic. Industrial versus handcrafted."

Anna's use of contrast across her range is deliberately understated to reflect the nature of the product. Your Nest Inspired is the perfect marriage between clean, minimalist design and innovative, user-friendly functionality. A sense of subltly pervades her work - nothing is overdone or forced.

"All of my items are hand cut, hand sanded, and handcrafted out of my home office. With a focus on minimal, to no waste - I keep every scrap of wood. The dimensions of my products are often defined by the leftover pieces, created from other products."

Necessity is the founding element of each concept, brought into fruition with plenty of trial and error - but minimal waste. Being sustainable is more of an extension of Anna's mindset than a mere lifestyle choice - a trait that exists in everything that passes through her hands.

"My designs are often inspired by a problem. When I cannot find something that functionally suits my needed, I set out to create a solution to that problem."