WEETU CELEBRATING 7 YEARS

weetu7anniversary from weeTV on Vimeo.

Let's celebrate 7 years of creating! If we had to compare ourselves to one of the seven deadly sins, we'd be pride. We're proud of our work, and proud that we've helped our clients tell their story in ways they like to brag about. This admission will probably doom us to the least desirable of the seven levels of purgatory, but it's worth the risk. We’re looking forward to many more years of taking chances. 

7 years at a glance: Interiors, architecture, landscapes, deskscapes, truck shows, competitions, world exploration, logos, websites, photos, videos, branded environments, terror and culture (not at the same time), fashion, plant lamps, teachers, learners, explorers, Fulton Market Chicago to Garment District NYC. Blue hair, green hair, pink hair, purple hair……….no hair. Brazil, West Coast, East Coast, Middle Coast. Bangkok, Berlin, Toronto. What’s ahead for weetu? Still getting our hands dirty, more neon (hey- we started it), translucent synthetic materials and very soon the launch of a brand new website! 

Thanks to our clients, collaborators, friends and family for seven great years. Here’s to 7+ more!

Our cupcakes are on fire! 

Get your taste buds watering with weetupcakes, an inedible treat that's easy to make, and even easier to destroy. Here's a list of ingredients to a culinary sensation that will definitely not sweep the nation. 

Birthday cupcake recipe:

Black poster board

Black construction paper 

White colored pencil

Double sided transparent tape

Scissors

WD-40 or any reliable accelerant

Cigarette lighter or matches [who said to not play with matches?]

A bucket of water can be substituted for a fire extinguisher

Special thanks to Tyllie Barbosa for an afternoon of talent and patience- a photographer who makes her living taking gorgeous pictures of actual food. See for yourself at tylliebarbosa.com 

Also many thanks to weetuzooer, Amy Turilli for playing with fire and putting our little video together.

[Director of Architecture, Kevin Estrada + weetu Founder, Carly Cannell]
Celebrating in style in NYC. Cheers to another 7+ more years!

wee want shoes

Store Exterior in Soho

 weetu, in collaboration with Armand Graham Architecture, was invited to create a proposal for a new prototype boutique shop for an athletic shoe company.  The request was to infuse the store with local relevant context [Soho, NYC], as well as to accomodate their existing brand standards. The design translated aspects from the logo into 3 dimensional forms that functions as interior spaces for the displaying of product.  A large glass wall incorporates a visual history of the company, as well as a touch screen area that invites customers to interact with a runners network to share information, experiences and training regimens with other remote users.  Inspired by the locale of Soho, we developed a concept that allows the boutique to host and participate in the Manhattan cultural and athletic scene alike.

View of Retail Display from Entrance

Localization Art Installation Zone and Interactive Touch Screen

View Towards Shoe Testing Area and Dressing Rooms

gimme gimme more

Weetu Kevin attended an interesting panel discussion at the end of February entitled "Gimme More: Is Augmented Reality the Next Medium?"

To envision a future with augmented reality, while eliminating the frame through which we view it, is an intensely interesting idea.  The frame is typically a tablet or smart phone through which the view is augmented. How do wee eliminate the frame entirely? (See link for panelists).  Carla Diana, Johnathan Lee and Christiane Paul contributed to a lively conversation.  

The idea of augmented reality, and the integration into our daily living, is on the cusp of becoming mainstream.  With the release of Google Glass, and other concepts in the making, the possibilities of information access multiply exponentially.  These new modalities will in turn require new skills; how to decide to filter information, what should our level of exposure be to unlimited data, etc. weetuers ask: how can these concepts and technologies be absorbed into the design process, whether the output be digital or physical?  Stay tuned!

Carla is a designer at Smart Design in NYC.  Christiane is rooted in academics; Associate professor at the School of Media Studies at the New School, and Adjunct Curator of New Media Arts at the Whitney.  Johnathan, formerly of 2x4, leads a team at Google UXA, developing Google Glass and all of its implications.  

weetu thousand thirteen

Entering into weetu’s sssixth year, it is no surprise that it happens to coincide with the year of the snake. The Snake is the most complex force in the 12-year zodiac cycle and as history tells us the Snake Year is anything but tranquil. 

So after a year that saw the opening of weetu’s NY office extending it’s architectural reach; selection to help lead Chicago into its cultural future; the creation and launch of national message, brand and ad campaigns for some the largest non-profit organizations, the birth of a global design collaboration with Berlin’s own DesignProvocation and the release of weetu’s flatpack “plantlamp” product, 2013 is primed to be a year full of energized projects and inspired accomplishments.

So in other words it’s always best to keep your eye on the snake and, of course, weetu.

weethreedee

If you're in Manhattan soon, check out the 3D printing pop up shop that opened at the corner of 29th St and 6th Avenue, a few doors down from our NYC weetu studio.  Sponsored by 3D printing manufacturers and vendors, the shop features interactive stations for people to try out their own designs. Or, if that's beyond your comfort zone, sign up for a tutorial demonstration. For the narcissist in all of us, there is also a scanning booth to create a 3D clone of yourself (finally, wee can double our productivity for 2013). The shop shows many of the various material possibilities, ranging from translucent to different solid colors.

Occupying the glass corner storefront is a curated section displaying advanced 3D printed objects, many which have been published previously in Dezeen, Designboom etc.  Items range from fashion pieces, to jewelry, to various table top objects.  There are even some very affordable, fun stocking stuffers. With 3D becoming more readily available and affordable, stay tuned for a whole range of products from weetu!

The 3DEA pop up was created by Openhouse and will only be opened until December 27th at the Eventi Hotel, 835 6th Ave. 

WEETU OPENS DOORS OF MANHATTAN STUDIO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Kevin Estrada to Helm Architecture Services Out of NYC


Chicago-based design firm, weetu, announces the opening of its New York office. Headed by Kevin Estrada, a NY-based architect who has worked with Studios Architecture, Asymptote, and, most recently,  D’Apostrophe Design; the office is located in the city’s historic Garment District.

“This is a significant step for weetu. Not only are we now represented in two of the most architecturally rich cities in the world, but we also bring on board an innovative and experienced leader to help build out weetu’s presence.” said Carly Cannell, President of weetu. “As a long-time weetu collaborator, Kevin always embodies a strong vision and astute sense of design. It will be such a value to now have his leadership with us full-time.”

“Joining weetu was an easy decision for me. Their creativity and approach to all their projects reflects thoughtful and progressive design, ” said Kevin Estrada. “And, having the opportunity to, add an architectural component as an extension of weetu’s brand, is something I look forward to. I’ve collaborated with them over the years and they are a forward-thinking group.”

weetu will continue to be headquartered in Chicago housing the company’s day-to-day operations, branding, marketing, and product development divisions. Kevin Estrada will be at the forefront for the architectural divisions of both the New York and the Chicago offices.

About Weetu

weetu is a Chicago-based design firm specializing in architecture and branding. Founded in 2007 on a model of inventiveness, weetu brings together seasoned creative leaders from multiple disciplines and backgrounds to generate new methods, ideas and products as real solutions for real problems. Core to its design is the concept of “collaborative play” fueling weetu’s overall environments and creative processes. It is through this hands-on approach that weetu’s design teams are encouraged to explore ideas and inspirations free of construct or limitations. 

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. 

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