New Tablet/Laptop Sleeves!

We have finally finished the new tablet/laptop sleeves! Perfectly fitted to a variety of Mac products, but they work for PCs too. And we can do custom sizes...

Get full info and purchase at our web store!

Oakland Makers @ OMI

I am proud to announce that the Stola Table Lamp will be part of a new exhibition in my home city of Oakland.

OAKLAND MAKERS @ OMI 
Multidisciplinary Art Exhibit by Oakland Based Artists 
At Omi Gallery at Impact Hub Oakland
June and July 2014, 9AM-6PM
2323 Broadway, Oakland CA

Please come to the exhibit to see the lamp in person as well as fine work from a selection of makers in Oakland.

Actual Blog = Construction Blog

Hello readers, I've decided to make a few changes to the blog!

I will be using the blog more as a personal sketchbook and disconnecting it from www.actualsf.com. The new name is 'construction' (because that's what it feels like sometimes), and the new URL is blog.joshjakus.com.

So I hope you will keep following my work. If you would like to keep up with Actual, please become a fan at www.facebook.com/actualsf.

Cheers,
Josh

A New Catalog: A Narrative of What We Do

Over the past months, we have been working on creating a narrative about who we are and what we do. This work has come together in a new catalog that will be shared with anyone who is curious about us. Articulating our design process and business practices has also provided us with a unique point of reflection, almost a self-study in preparation for the upcoming year.

We invite you to peruse the catalog yourself.

Details, Form, and Function

Check out this video of Frank Stephenson, Design Director at McLauren Automotive, wearing our Classic Orange Zip Tie. The video talks about the union of design and functionality in the purest degree in his work– similar to how we approach our own work.

“We are obsessed with detail. The collection of those details give you a rewarding and immersive experience…. It’s about form and function at the same time.”

stopTHINKshop in NYC with Zip Ties and UM Bags: Dec 11 thru Dec 15

Actual will be selling our new Skinny Zip Ties, UM Totes, and UM Shoulders. Check it out New York City!

stopTHINKshop, curated by TYTHEdesign, is a pop-up store that showcases good products that make a big impact. The holiday edition of the shop will include the newest innovations in socially conscious design and some old favorites that have been pioneering the field.

Panel Discussion on Wednesday, December 11th, 7 – 9 pm: An open discussion on Pop-up Retail and Conscious Consumerism

Cocktail Reception on Friday, December 13th, 6 – 8 pm: Vendors and Friends of TYTHEdesign Holiday Party (including wine, snacks and product demos)

Visit Us at the Wunderfaire - Thursday December 5 in Downtown SF

Come visit Josh and Katherine at the 5th Annual Wunderfaire hosted by IDEO, a celebration of local craftspeople on Thursday, December 5. Shop at over 40 local vendor booths for the holiday, learn from experts as they talk about their work, and eat yummy treats from one of the many food carts. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit Creative Growth, YBCA Young Artists at Work Program and IDEO.org.

Don’t miss Josh discuss how he experiments with felt structure at 5pm! 

Thursday, December 5
4:30 pm - 8:00 pm
IDEO - Pier 28 Annex - The Embarcadero - San Francisco, CA

Modestics: UM Bags in Girlie Gift Guide

Check out the Modestics "Girlie Gift Guide" for your holiday shopping.

Great gifts for the holidays, all supporting good honest companies in the USA. Thanks for featuring our classic UM Bag Collection!

New Zip Ties – Holiday Sale - $45/each

New Zip Ties are on sale for $45/each. Check out our website for more details.

Zip Ties! Classic and Skinny Styles. Four Colors. Special Price.

After tallying the votes from our color poll, photographing the ties in cool spots around the San Francisco Bay Area, and finalizing the details, new Zip Ties are ready for you! Choose between Classic and Skinny styles, and four colors: Grey, Orange, Blue, or Mustard.

We are offering a special introductory price of $45 through the end of 2013!

You can order Zip Ties from our website. Our updated wholesale catalog is available by email request.

Rob Hansen. Engineer.

Andrew Thomas. Bass Player.

Adam Cardello. Painter.

Josh Larson. Architect.

Autodesk - Design Night - Zip Tie Appearance!

Instagram - ActualSFDesign

Actual now has an Instagram! You can find us at ActualSFDesign and follow us as we brave new frontiers in the social media realm. Check out this photo of Josh learning Instagram.

stopTHINKshop - Thank You!

Just wanted to give a shout out ‘thank you’ to stopTHINKshop for showing our Zip Ties at their store in New York City this past May 2013. Great shop, smart designers, and just a fun time.

Meet the Large Stola Table Lamp & Photo Contest

Actual is excited to announce a larger Stola Table Lamp! At six inches taller than the original, the bigger lamp creates an entirely different atmosphere. Sitting beside two feet of light envelopes you in the ambient glow of the lamp, and its elegant shape will complement any room.

Photo Contest: Where would you put your Stola Lamp? 
If you had a Large Stola Table Lamp, where would you put it? Post a photo of your dream spot for the lamp on our Facebook page and you could win one for free!

The Final Vote Count: Mustard for the Win!

After a whirlwind of activity and voting last week on our Facebook Page, the results are in! The final tally leaves Yellow at 10 votes, Magenta with 20 votes in third place, Teal at 23 votes, and Mustard finishing first with an impressive 28 votes! Thank you to all who voted, commented, and enjoyed the Zip Tie color selection process! Stay tuned for the introduction of our Zip Ties in the new colors: Grey, Orange, Blue and Mustard.

Vote on the New Zip Tie Colors & Win a Tie in Your Favorite Color

Actual is excited to announce that we will be producing the Zip Ties in colors. Josh liked a custom order orange tie so much that he started to experiment with a variety of colors, and we have decided to add the best ones to the line.

We need your help! To accompany the existing Grey Zip Tie, we have already chosen two new colors: Orange and Blue. We want you to choose the third color in an online vote.

If you vote and 'like' our Facebook page, you will be entered to win a free Zip Tie in your favorite color. We will be giving away one tie of every color.

Here is what to do: 
1. Visit our Facebook page and ‘Like’ us.
2. Check out the possible colors: Yellow, Magenta, Teal, and Mustard.
3. Decide which one you like. 
4. Vote for your favorite color.
5. You will be entered to win your favorite color Zip Tie!

Actual at SF Design Week

Actual has been invited to participate in FormFactors, a celebration of San Francisco’s thriving design scene in conjunction with SF Design Week and IDSA SF. Check out our Stola Lamps displayed at Taylor Stitch, 383 Valencia Street (between 14th and 15th) in the Mission.

Zip Ties at Design Week!

The Zip Ties will be part of the stopTHINKshop pop-up during NYC Design Week! If you will be in town then please stop by to see the ties, plus lots of good design from other makers.

Celebrate the Journey at the A+D Museum of Los Angeles

I am honored that my UM Tote will be included in the auction to benefit the A+D museum of Los Angeles!

The auction is part of the museum's gala called Celebrate: The Journey, featuring travel items from around the world of design. Check it out online or go to the event on May 18th.

SF Popup - this Friday!

We will have a few lamps in this fabulous pop up in SF, curated by our friends at Handful of Salt! Please come for the opening on the evening of May 3rd, or visit the store during that week.