HONOR THY FARMERS

As the good book of Guinnessis says [Chapter 12 FL OZ, Verse 40% Alcohol], "honor thy farmers". Because without farmers, there is no such thing as beer (and that's just un-American!).

Without Farmers, one in particular, there would also be no such thing as weetu Carly! Born and raised a farmers daughter in Northern California, Carly knows a thing or two about getting her hands dirty and working a long day outside in the summer heat. Though she did not follow in her fathers footsteps, many of her childhood buddies did, including, Bill Weller. 

Successful farmer and founder of Farmers Brewing Company (FBC), Bill invited weetu to create their very first label design and logo. With craft brewing on the rise, Farmers takes the unique approach of mastering a delicious and refreshing light beer. FBC started, like make great ideas, as a passionate side project. Brewed with 100% American farm grown grains and hops, this refreshing light beer is hand crafted to satiate a hard days work in the hot Californian sun. Put your lips on a Farmers today!

Prototype body label: The back would feature FBC fan submitted farm photos.

Well, not exactly today, as the brand and brewing company are still in the developing stages. Wee thought wee'd share the prototype in honor of Chicago's favorite beer drinking holiday. The brand will continue to develop with each new brew and one day will be on the shelves for lucky Americans to enjoy. Until then, Happy St. Patricks Day from the Chirish half of weetu. What better way to celebrate than to pass the beer! 

Not a White Paper on The Future of Work

Wayward Arts Issue No 9 hit the streets in November and weetucarly was one of 40 collaborating contributors invited to provide thinking around the future of work. Check out the issue here and continue the conversation.

It's estimated that by 2020 the number of independent professionals will exceed 70,000,000. With the launch of a new year, it's time to think differently about your business and weetu is here to help. When launched in 2007 by fearless leader Carly Cannell, her mission was to create a vibrant collective of experienced multi-disciplinary professionals to bring new vision to problem solving and design innovation.

Collaboration has been a major weetu ingredient from day 1. So it was a no brainer for Cannell to join up with the Baubub as they were incubating back in 2008. The Bauhub, in their own words, is a "tour de workforce. " With 305 active members and growing, it's a maxi-weetu collective of experienced marketing and design professionals to tackle projects, big and small, anywhere in the world.

"I was excited to be one of the founding members of The Bauhub," says weetucarly, "Scott's vision of the Bauhub was in line with why I started weetu. To have additional partners and collaborators in North America (and beyond) only makes us stronger. It's about putting the strongest team together for our clients to provide superior solutions. The plus side is that as experienced as we all are in various fields, we continue to evolve together and be inspired by one another. It's not a competition, it's a collaboration."

Check out Wayward Arts Issue No 9 here or contact The Bauhub for a printed issue.

WEEINVENT X4: GUERRILLA TRUCK SHOW 2013

On June 11th, 2013 the WEEINVENT TRUCK is back in action at the 9th Annual Guerrilla Truck Show!  weetu architects + designers reveal a new product line named"X4", a collection of "scalar explorations"of form[s]: same shapes, 4 scales, 4 functions.

"Come for the hotties, stay for the scalars", exclaims Kevin Estrada, weetu's Director of Architecture.

That's really all we can say for now.

For more information about weetuʼs new products, visit us on June 11th at www.goweetu.com/weeinvent

About the 9th Annual Guerrilla Truck Show:
The Event takes place at the corner of Aberdeen and Fulton on June 11th, between 5:30pm and 9:30pm. 

designprovocation + weetu workshop

DESIGN STUDIOS JOIN FORCES

(Chicago) Chicago/New York design firm weetu to unite forces with Berlin based DesignProvocation.  The product development and design labs of ‘weetu workshop’ formal collaboration with DesignProvocation positions both firms toward a new means of cultural production.  

DesignProvocation is a German-based interdisciplinary studio founded by Irakli Kiziria; a network of international professionals working in the fields of art, design, architecture, and research.  DesignProvocation pseudo-objects, products and concepts have circulated on the viral global front, tinged with under-stated humor, and inspiring new perspectives of our cultural and consumer landscapes. 

Carly Cannell, weetu founder, “This merging of efforts and ideas is a thrilling physical expansion of weetu into the European market. I’ve long admired DesignProvocation’s bold creative thinking and design risk-taking. Irakli is [not] just an architect and designer. He’s a DJ, trendsetter, and social icon. The clear differences of each workshop both strengthen and complement one another. It's a great opportunity and we already have several concepts in the works. I look forward to this long term experiment and our new Berlin presence.”

DesignProvocation recently won a design competition for creating original wallpaper, available at Jeder M2 DU. The collection, called “Family Wallpaper” comes in Family Basic, Family Love and Family War. 

(image below is from: http://www.jeder-qm-du.de/platte-kreativ/platte-gestalten/tapeten/family/)

When asked, why this cross-Atlantic alliance? “We like to work with interesting people/professionals we know and trust," says Kiziria, "Call it a flux of social, cultural, geographical, economic and political phenomena. [Together] our studios can overcome geographical and cultural boundaries, while creating new ways of looking at the world around us.  We look forward to this alliance as it will strengthen and unite our ideation teams, further expanding the breadth of what we bring to the world, and with intent, make it a better place.“

about weetu

weetu is a design firm specializing in architecture and branding with offices in Chicago and New York.  Since its founding in 2007, weetu has worked across disciplinary boundaries – bringing together experienced creative professionals from distinct backgrounds – to generate new methods, ideas and products as real solutions for real problems.

Inventive solutions are developed through a design process revolving around the concept of “collaborative play.”  It is through this hands-on approach that weetu's skilled teams are able to envision and explore ideas free of construct or limitation, while still grounding their work in the expertise derived from years spent within their respective fields.   

For additional information on weetu please visit www.goweetu.com, e-mail at info@goweetu.com, call (312) 624-9592. Follow us on Twitter @weetu. 

about designprovocation

designprovocation is a German-based interdisciplinary studio and a network of international professionals working in different fields of creative industry. 

For more information, please visit www.designprovocation.com.

weetu puts the fun in fundraiser

Chicago Artists Coalition Charges Design Firm to Re-imagine it’s Starving Artist Event

Art patrons and food lovers can expect the unexpected at this year’s CAC Annual Starving Artist fundraiser after a weetu redesign turns the already popular art event into an “art foodies” dream. The event takes place October 6th at Chicago Artist Coalition’s Fulton Market Gallery (217 N. Carpenter St).

Designed to inspire and engage, the event concept “collective participation” was created to highlight featured artists and chefs while creating an interactive environment for the evening’s attendees. 

The Experience:

Staged participation through layers of projection and audience interaction fueled the overall concept of the event. An overtly visual and physical element of “continuity” was envisioned to wrap the interior and exterior surfaces of the gallery. The cultural artifact that was to remain at the end of the performance[s], would be a continuous ‘drawing’ of the event itself, created by attendees. 

In addition to the evening’s overall level of participation, weetu designed four key intervals of interaction to celebrate an artist and chef collaboration. The idea was to create a special moment for each pairing and to eliminate the hazard of their creations getting lost in the crowds. Also to support this concept, weetu proposed "food processionals" at these moments in time to eliminate "competitive eating", or the stressfully long lines that can build up around a banquet table with delicious cuisine. Instead, each food creation is paraded into the audience from multiple directions.

“We didn’t approach the design [for this evening] merely to provide a beautiful and successful fundraiser for CAC, but more as a way to create  an experience that is authentic and impacting, celebrating invention & reinvention, while engaging the audience to participate in the most unexpected ways. The CAC is about building opportunities for artists to thrive. We wanted this event to be accessible to artists, collectors and community alike. These were the driving forces behind our concept.” said Carly Cannell, weetu founder and Chief Creative Officer. 

Adding, “Our designs reflect the ‘dream big’ approach that weetu aspires to in all its projects, big and small. To be able to collaborate with a such a vital arts organization makes the work that much more fulfilling. We wanted to drive home the message that 'you’ll want to be part of this, on October 6th and beyond.'”    

Special thanks to weetu collaborator Linnea Gits of Uusi for the beautiful graphic art that promotes this event.

Starving Artist is Chicago Artists' Coalition's annual benefit that pairs some of the city's most inspiring visual artists and innovative culinary talents.

Redefining the age-old concept of the "starving artist," CAC's event puts four local artists in the spotlight, pairing each with a like-minded chef. Their assignment: to inspire each other to create an edible "installation" to be enjoyed by the crowd and a new work of art, which will be auctioned off the night of the event.

For more information about the Starving Artist event or to reserve tickets, please visit http://chicagoartistscoalition.org/starvingartist/

My only Tattoo

Flash back fun of 2011- During a holiday stay at the Hard Rock Hotel, weetu Carly discovered her carpet on the floor. Well, not "her's" per se, but a collection she and Kevin designed for Durkan Commercial (part of The Mohawk Group) a few years back. Part of the "body" collection, this particular pattern called "tattoo" (for obvious reasons) was notably one of Durkan's top sellers the year it was released (or so we were told).

What was not expected was how the pattern would be motifified (new word) all over the room. The repeated tattoo pattern was extracted for pillow adornment, as well as into a giant wall graphic.


It can be assumed that a similar pattern has been utilized for tramp stamps all over the world... so perhaps not falling under any trademarks or copyright law... so we'll just take it as flattery. Glad it worked out for the room designers of the Hard Rock Hotel. It looked pretty "hot" (Paris Hilton circa 2003).

DBD in the news

Some additional coverage for DIFFA's DBD and our installation.

Thanks Chicago Pride!

Apologies to the weetuzoo for being singled out as a husband and wife team. They were clearly standing near the table at the time, but we all know that there is more wee than tu.

wee dined, wee designed- but not in that order

weetu and ERG International teamed up for a reflective collaboration at this years Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) Dining By Design Chicago Benefit at the Merchandise Mart (November 3–5, 2011). This weekend long event included a cocktail party, public/student viewing and a gala dinner.

This seamless partnership resulted in a highly celebrated design that not only integrated ERG's manufacturing capabilities, but multiple talents from the weetu zoo. "Our main objective was to not only create a unique experience, but also tie into DIFFA's mission", states weetu Carly.

The concept:

From Narcissus’s doomed love of his own reflection to the mirror veiling tradition in preventing the recently departed from staying on earth to Hitchcock’s complex set of infinitely reflecting mirrors in the mother's bedroom of “Psycho,” the mirror has long been a symbolic element of self-reflective searching into one’s inner psyche and at times other worldly realms.

weetu/ERG’s Dining by Design concept utilized a canopy of reflective surfaces to create an environment of altered perspectives, thus reinforcing the shifting views of people living positive and our society’s ever changing perception of AIDS.

The video projected (created by weetu zoo's Tyler, Jorge and Martin) was to give the impression of hiding in one's medicine cabinet, watching as individuals prepare themselves for the outside world. (Thanks to actors Michael Bever, Daniel Knobloch, Renate Martin and Fawzia Mirza-You guys rocked!)

Also thanks to Claudia Peebles for bringing ERG & weetu together; Rode Bros for lending the gorgeous flooring and all the weetu peeps for continued collaboration, play and enthusiasm.

For more info on the event and to view other fantastic designs, check out online coverage by BizBash and Chicago Shopping.

(all weetu photos by Tyler Mallory Photography - copyright 2011)

Guerrilla ReCap

Finally a truck show with no rain! Thank you sky! The 7th Annual Truck Show had an amazing turn out and lots of talented designers and artists. It was such a blast to be a part of it all that we were able to forget all the blood, sweat and tears that went into getting there. The atmosphere carried an energetic vibe and lots of positivity. Weetu's weeinvent truck was proud to host a steady stream of traffic. Thanks to everybody who came out and the support from afar for those who couldn't make it.

Scroll down to check out some images from the event:

These were a big hit... Fük’n Frok’n digitally printed bed sheets.

Showing some process behind the Weetree Illuminated Vertical Gardens- prototypes and patterns
weetu's Diamond Plant-Lamp - The first prototype in a collection of flat-packed, snap assembly, dual-function home decor.

weetu even designed their own froks for the event, all with hidden zippers and pockets. Carly's frok is also equipped with safety yellow and a big hoodie in preparation for rain.

Jorge in his weetee. Carly, Carmen and Zoe in the Fük’n Frok’n house froks.

The weeinevent truck after the sun went down.

Thanks to Morlen Sinoway, DIFFA and all the event sponsors - including Ravinia who sponsored our truck! Great job weetuzoo!

ICFF BIG APPLE THROWDOWN

Well it all started something like this, "Hey Mallory, it's Carly. I'm challenging you to a photo throwdown at ICFF. You in?" And, indeed he was...

This weekend weetu's Carly Cannell and Tyler Mallory will go head-to-head in a photo contest covering ICFF in New York. Jorge laid down the challenges and both contestants accepted the assignments. Images will be posted on the weetu blog and weetu facebook next week so viewers can choose who will take home the glory– umm, bragging rights.

Here is the full list of challenges and stay tuned for an update early next week:

----
1) Give me shiny, shiny objects. (Objet d'art Category)

2) The most interesting use of plywood. (General Product Category)

3) Now that's a designer! (People Category – Voted Most Über-Design-Person)

4) There is no way I'm sitting on that naked. (Seating Category)

5) I want this more than anything, ever! (Best in Show category)

6) Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. (Coolest Lighting Category)

7) Just one generation away from walking on its own. (Anthropomorphic Category)

8) Oh those crafty Europeans. (Best European Design Category)

9) USA, USA, USA! (Best American Design Category)

Rules: This is a general interpretation project as it relates to categories. Composition matters but content is important too. So, make it pretty but keep the context. We'll let the people of facebook decide which image set best exemplifies the statement/category.

###

why do people throw money in holes? Cologne 2010

Upon landing to Cologne, napping and getting settled in, Weetu Carly hit the Gloria Theater with friends Frau Schneider (of The Sustainable Love Corporation) and Irakli for the SMILE Party, featuring DJ's Marc Lansley, Denis Stockhausen, Okinawa 69 and Motor City Drum Ensemble.


Today we went on a walkabout to the Kolumba Museum.
The Kolumba is one of Helen's (Frau Schneider) favorites in her now hometown. The architecture is fantastic, but the exhibit has been the same for a while. We were happy to discover that installations have turned over... and they were so cool. The Kolumba – Archdiocese of Cologne was recently completed by Peter Zumthor. The new building was to conserve the existing pieces of two thousand years of architectural history, while uniting it into a single building: the archaeological excavation finds with the foundations of the earlier Romanesque church, the ruins of the late Gothic Kolumba Church, as well as the Chapel of the Madonna in the Ruins, which was consecrated in 1950.

This is definitely a place where you should take the stairs.


The new architecture is a stunning backdrop to the work and ruins. Simple, yet amazingly detailed. Weetu Carly lusted after the lighting alone. Dario Villalba's La Espera, 1974, was one of the favs. The shadows cast, as it spun in the room, changed with each angle, resembling a peapod to someone in the fetal position.


Another crazy room was an installation by the artist Krimhild Becker. The room allows nature and art to connect where different cultures meet. That ensures that serious & happy; found & thought up things and art & kitsch not be separated from one another. It's playful and astonishing all at the same time. A plastic dinosaur in an atrium with a skull beneath it? Monkey faces and creepy kewpie doll heads? Get some Halloween ideas peeps!


Though most everything is closed on Sunday's in Cologne, we stumbled upon a pretty entertaining flea market. Scales, Fur and Beads dominated the selection. Oddly enough, I could say the same thing after walking into the H & M in Chicago. Though severely tempted by some sunglasses, lace mask and green quilted house frock, no purchases were made. Sorry economy.

smell like cologne

Carly Cannell is headed to Cologne, Germany on October 21 for more exploration and collaboration (and gummy treats). In addition to hitting the Orgatec trade fair, she'll be working with The Sustainable Love Corporation on elements for the "Notes From The Cleveland Underground" exhibition. If you'll be attending the show and want to get on her calendar about your interior/architecture or identity/brand needs, send her an mail at carly@goweetu.com

For a virtual experience, be following her tweets and blogs. Or, and blogspot of TSLC.

the power of wee

Carly Cannell and Jorge Orozco-Cordero of weetu and weetree are recognized as a dynamic collaborative in the Fall issue of CS Interiors, which you can read online (page 92-93) at media.modernluxury.com. Always demonstrating that multiple minds are better than one in striving for innovation, the versatile weetu + weetree studios continue to explore new ideas, especially in a sluggish market. Cannell, a Californian native, shares, "I have a hard time welcoming winter, but I do enjoy the idea of throwing on my leopard print snuggie* and getting my hands dirty in the workshop. We have a long list of internal projects to create."

The next generation of the weetree wall is also in the works. Spring should be an exciting season to see what the wee groups produce.

*Cannell does not currently own a snuggie, and it cannot be confirmed if it's on her wishlist this coming holiday season.

trespress

Tres makes press in the August 2010 issue of Hospitality Design as well as in the fall/winter 2010 NEWH Magazine, the Hospitality Industry Network. Trespass stole #3 (so much cooler than #1) in this year's Radical Innovation Competition held at HD in Las Vegas. As quoted in the article by judge James Woods of Keen Partners – "Trespass was the best proposal I've seen to address a major and increasing blight on the suburban landscape," say Woods.

Judge Simon Turner, President of Global Development at Starwood Hotels and Resorts adds – "These concepts are very timely as we, at Starwood, continue to see increasing non-traditional development opportunities in urban environments and, an increased focus on incorporating green practices into existing and new build hotels as a clear trend. The current challenging economic times have placed more of a premium on striking a balance between innovation and practicality than in past years". For more, check out the article here: HD August 2010


The NEWH online version is not yet up, but you can probably find it here at some point soon.

using her giant noggin for good

On August 20th, Weetu Carly was invited to participate in the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) DESIGN FUTURES: THE INTERIORS ENTITY REGIONAL THINK TANKS, hosted at Harrington College of Design.

IFI’s Design Futures: The Interiors Entity initiative seeks to clearly understand the core need for the Interiors discipline and to better understand its value, relevance, identity and responsibility. This global IFI initiative intends to explore Interior Design as currently positioned and understood, within the fullest parameters of the discipline (including research, education and practice). This is a collaborative and consensus focused effort which will involve members, experts and generalists from around the world. The Harrington College of Design’s Think Tank is one of nearly two dozen being held in North, South, Central and Latin America representing the Americas. Additional Think Tanks occur in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

The all day forum included professionals from both large and small firms, educators, researchers, and associated trades people from the midwest region. This diversity in both profession and experience provided multiple perspectives around Interior Design and what it may hold in the future. Needless to say, Carly's brain was sore for a few days following, but it was worth the effort to be a part of such a thoughtful and enjoyable group.

VivalasWEETU, HD 2008

The dynamic duo from WEETU went west for the HD 2008 show in Vegas. Finally WEETU was actually ASKED for their critical judgment! The kind folks at HD invited Linda and Carly to comb the exhibition halls in search of the best exhibit booths. It was a grueling task, but WEETU was in good company with Jillian Van Dresser, (The Van Dresser Company) and Jeffrey Williams (BBG-BBGM). Following hours of review, the judges submitted their scores and WEETU retreated to the hot desert sun for an hour of people watching and pooling prior to jumping back into the HD festivities.

But that’s not all! WEETU also gave a seminar presentation on Saturday, May 17th. Special thanks to those hard-core early risers who came with sunglasses and coffee. WEETU felt your pain and appreciated the support.