STUDIO
MISSION
cypher13 is an interdisciplinary design team striving to improve the human experience.
RESPONSIBILITY
We recognize the opportunity for communication that we've created and with it the inherent responsibility. From this responsibility stems a commitment to enrich culture through the creation and execution of our work.
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
While design is often equated to or loosely defined as an artfully strategic approach to problem solving or to the formulation of a plan intended to prompt some effect, we believe it's much more. Design is language and is part of a greater system intended for encoding and delivering information. Like all languages, design requires extensive experience to speak fluently. cypher13 speaks design - fluently. It's the language of our work.
CLIENTS/PROJECTS
The clients we choose to align with and projects we choose to contribute to are carefully considered. We leave a portion of ourselves within every project we take on. Projects that possess integrity, convey forward-thinking, and signal social relevance are sought after, those lacking character - avoided. We aim to create lasting, significant work. In order to have the opportunity to do so we must choose our projects wisely.
TEAM/HISTORY
The cypher13 team is made up of three; Alex Henry, Lucian Foehr, and Todd Berger. The "three" have been producing professional design work as a team for a combined 25 years. The collective cypher13 mentality is simple, all for one - one for all. There is no hierarchy. The best idea always wins. The end goal is always the same - positive, transformational design.
CONTACT
Location
cypher13 Design Studio
2037 13th Street
Boulder, Colorado 80302
USA
Get in touch
+1 720 562 0193
info@cypher13.com
Check out our Flickr
Follow us on Twitter
Directions from Denver International Airport:
1. Exit 6 for E-470 Tollway toward I-70/Fort Collins
2. Turn right to merge onto US-36 W
3. Turn left at Arapahoe Avenue
4. Turn right at 13th Street
Map it
maps.google.com
A DECADE OF DESIGN
cypher13's roots go back to 1999 when Todd Berger founded his first firm. Shortly thereafter Todd met Alex Henry. The two quickly became partners and began to cultivate a vision of what the design team of the future might look like. When Lucian Foehr magically appeared the team was complete. "The three" were poised, ready to take risks and determined to create a new powerful force in the universe. They wanted something they could share equally, contribute to individually, and grow collectively. That something is cypher13.
- 1999
- 2000
- With one thousand dollars in each of their pockets Todd and Christian lease their first office, a 350 sg ft space in downtown Boulder and the dream of one day having a real studio becomes a little more tangible.
- In tandem with a fleet of custom web-based applications Todd and Christian design their own boutique online e-commerce system and business starts to grow.
- 2001
- 2002
- Alex Henry joins DogtailDesign alongside Todd and Christian. The creative direction of the firm begins to shift more rapidly with the addition of Alex.
- Dogtail is retained by Boulder, CO based (soon to be giant) crocs to create and assemble all of their initial online and offline brand assets and collateral.
- Todd and Alex begin pushing their illustration skills to diversify the teams offering. A signature illustration begins to emerge and become a unique asset of the firm.
- 2003
- Todd and Christian part ways due to creative differences. Todd maintains DogtailDesign and is determined to grow the company into something new, different, and very design focused.
- Alex Henry becomes a partner in DogtailDesign and Todd and Alex begin laying the foundation for the future of the firm.
- Multiple online website design awards are won and the teams work begins to make it's way around the web.
- Alex and Todd outgrow their current office and a new and improved 525 sq ft space is obtained. The move takes the team 3 blocks deeper into the heart of downtown Boulder.
- 2004
- Lucian Foehr joins DogtailDesign alongside Todd and Alex. Unbeknownst to "the three" the team has been formed, the triangle complete and future is set.
- The idea of really pushing clients out of their comfort zone to create the best work possible becomes a cornerstone of the work Todd, Alex, and Lucian desire to produce. Clients are pushed, work improves, and results are seen faster and on a more grand scale.
- A commitment is made to find a way to create any and all significant ideas/concepts/art, etc. The transition from small web/brand shop to design studio organically begins.
- 2005
- The design and development of fateclothing.com, a collaboration between founder Alan Ortiz and the DogtaiDesign team receives rave reviews and is featured in Create Magazine.
- Partner entity radar communications (since obtained by CP+B) brings in Todd to assist Herman Miller®'s design team in strategizing a more collaborative online work environment. The door to high-level consulting is opened.
- At the urging of his family and both Alex and Todd, Lucian heads of to design school.
- Alex and Todd begin the planning and strategy phase of morphing DogtailDesign into something more appropriate, something about to be called cypher13.
- 1200 sq ft are found in the heart of downtown Boulder. The design of the physical cypher13 studio space begins.
- Todd and Alex head to Southeast Asia for inspiration and a breather before the studio design is completed, demolition/construction begins, and the rebrand/transition to cypher13 occurs.
- 2006
- Alex & Todd complete the design of the all new cypher13 studio and integrated concept gallery space
- cypher13 design studio opens with the JoyEngine boutique/gallery in front
- Lucian leaves design school at the tender age of 18 to work alongside Alex and Todd full time. The team is once again complete.
- cypher13 is invited to participate in Andenken Gallery's "Friends Show" curated by Ray Young Chu.
- cypher13's commitment to growing culture kicks off with JoyEngine's inaugural group art exhibition, "Miscellaneous Debris." The exhibition features the work of over 30 of Colorado's top underground artists.
- 2007
- A commitment to producing more non-commercial work is made and cypher13 shows artwork in roughly one dozen different shows/exhibitions
- The studio receives its first facelift in an effort to further promote internal collaboration while at the same time better suiting the integration of artwork and hosting of exhibitions.
- Numerous solo art exhibitions are hosted at the studio including exhibitions by Markham "Shitty Kitten" Maes, sAne, Josh Holland, Scot Lefavor, Mike Graves, Rafa Jenn, John Fellows, Mike Hyp and Jon Lew.
- A collaborative creative relationship is entered with Timberland® to design and co-develop a new line of cypher13 inspired footwear and apparel.
- cypher13 and tres birds workshop enter into what' to become a highly collaborative and inspirational creative partnership
- Intel® coporation teams up with cypher13 to handle a significant interactive/digital component of their international brand campaign.
- Todd and Alex both hold individual solo exhibitions of their personal artwork prior to deciding to produce all future art, or otherwise creative work as one, as cypher13.
- 2008
- cypher13 is invited to be one of five Colorado artists to participate in Shepard Fairey's Manifest Hope art exhibition during the Democatic National Convention. Manifest Hope was an International group art show to raise awareness and funding for the historic Barack Obama campaign.
- Soft&Furry™(cypher13's in-house line of custom artist series toys) is brought to life. The story is set, the characters are designed, and the first 100 toys are handmade by C13 at their offsite art and toy production studio.
- Soft&Furry™ the international exhibition is held at Denver's Plastic Chapel featuring customized S&F™ toys by 100 of the most coveted underground artist/designers in the world.
- New Web Pick, the Hong Kong, China based e-zine features cypher13's portfolio in Issue #15, Fantasy.
- cypher13.com v5.0 is awarded an array of online awards and featured on most every significant web design portal on the internet.
- Todd, Alex, and Lucian introduce the concept of quarterly team photoshoots and produce, "Procreation."
- A new and highly collaborataive parntership is entered into with Collin Schaafsma of Quickleft. The alliance between cypher13 and Quickleft begins.
- 2009
- Tweeeeet.com is conceived and created with Quickleft to harness the new power of social media and becomes an overnight design twitterer sensation.
- We are invited to create art and participate in Denver's Artcrank poster show via Minneapolis, MN.
- Our studio is chosen to be featured in the Harper Collins book, Where We Work: Inspirational work environments and interiors from the world's leading creative agencies.
- cypher13.com version 6.0 launches providing the most comprehensive assessment of C13's design work ever.
- 2010
- We are invited to produce an original work for the Haiti Poster Project in an effort to help raise $1,000,000.00 to restore Haiti
- The CSS awards calls cypher13.com one of the top 20 websites of 2009 selected as extraordinary in design and inspirational in content
- We are invited to create an original work for the Denver Art Museum’s exhibition, “Skin,” a “Design After Dark” event on behalf of the DAM’s architecture & design department
- cypher13 partners with YouWorkForThem and HypeForType to distribute our proprietary fonts
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
THOUGHTS
-
Manifest Positive Change. Act Responsibly.
To create transformative solutions for today and meet the challenges of tomorrow, an iterative and multi-faceted approach, centered on interdisciplinary and collaborative thinking is required. Problems need to be addressed systemically and solved holistically. As members of a global community, we can not continue to merely address problems in a symptomatic fashion. The problems of today must be seen as tomorrow's catalysts for innovation and a means by which to create new opportunities - not just things to be solved.Those of us calling ourselves designers, particularly those with opportunities to manifest positive change in the world, have a responsibility to deliver informed, forward-looking, and inclusive thinking. If we are to act responsibly, all of our projects must be viewed as opportunities to influence and thereby contribute to the cultural fabric of the future. -
The Soft & Furry™
In early 2007 we set our hearts upon designing and producing our own, in-house, hand-made, designer toy line. But, before we could fully engage we sought to craft a narrative worthy of supporting such an endeavor. The tale of the Soft & Furry™ and the subsequent 2008 international artist collaboration to follow was the result of that thinking.
The soft and furry are very, very old.
They have been since here was here.
When here was new there were three.
LOOFT helped all to breath.
DOO helped all to drink.
And GROOND made all things grow.
The three were one.
Many creatures, large and small, of water, of air, and of land arose.
They breathed the air.
They drank the water.
And they fed on all that grew.
They took only what they needed.
One very special creature took way too much.
This creature misunderstood the natural code.
Green things soon grayed.
Blue things soon blackened.
And clear things began to cloud.
Those who were soft and furry hardened with gloom.
They may one day be soft and furry again.
But for now their hardness has saved them.
LOOFT still helps all to breath.
DOO still helps all to drink.
And GROOND still makes all things grow.
The three are one.
And none can live without them.
-
On Writing as an Exercise and Communicating as a Designer
Writing is challenging, particularly for those not formally trained in the craft, but it is vital to anyone concerned with communication and subsequently is a skill worth honing. Anyone that considers their ideas important and worth sharing, ought to vest adequate energy in developing their skills as a writer, in an effort to improve their potential as a communicator. If the thinker can not communicate their ideas, of what value are they?
Most anyone actively engaged in the practice of design is inundated with self-propelled ideas, concepts, and theories. These notions regularly enter the designer's psyche and they are either brought to life, or not. Some of these notions are nearly fully realized upon inception, but this is rarely the case. More frequently, these ideas are unrefined and possess potential for development. However, upon further reflection, the majority of these whims tend to be ludicrous at best. Quite often, it is through the use of writing that an idea is refined and ultimately manifest.
The immediate value of an idea, concept, or theory is not all important. When considering the realm of communication, it is the designer's individual ability to develop and refine an idea and then manifest it in a tangible and valuable manner that matters most. Once realized, an idea that is supported by writing will inevitably possess a greater capacity to communicate than an idea that lacks a supportive array of words.
When optimally employed, writing can serve as a tool to support the development, production, and ultimate communication potential of an idea. It is in this manner that writing is a powerful differentiator.
-
Getting into Design
We're often asked for recommendations regarding getting into design by young aspiring professionals. Funny sorts of questions really, since we consider ourselves still aspiring. Having not formally studied design in school, we're in a rather unique and sometimes uncomfortable position making recommendations. Regardless, we do our best to lean on the years we've spent working professionally and the experiences we've had to try and inform and inspire those trying to enter the field.
We can remember when we were asking ourselves the very same question, "How do I get into design?" It seemed like such a nebulous arena to enter. Where did one start? And, once you've started, then what? While, we in no certain way claim to have cracked the lock on some magical door, behind which lies the secrets to becoming the designer of tomorrow - we have learned a few things over the past decade.
For starters, like entering any field you may be interested in, you ought to know that once you're in, you're going to have to take some lickings. But, since they'll come fast and furious, and seemingly out of left field, we won't dwell on them for now. A better vantage point from which to start would be way, way out. And, by way, way out, we mean, outside of the industry.
With design being a very interdisciplinary field it can be quite difficult to narrow in on a specific area of focus. While some individuals know precisely what it is in design they wish to accomplish, or why design is the field of their choosing, a great many others do not, and just wish to enter a space where creative opportunities are bound to arise.
Regardless of whether one knows the sort of work they'd like to create or not, everyone should begin their entry into the practice of design by studying those that have come before them. With the advent of the internet, this has become increasingly simple. Between the blogosphere and the ease of on-line book buying it's not very difficult to stumble upon, literally, thousands of design resources. And, don't forget about the library. Some of the resources you find will inevitably be more valid then others, but that kind of deciphering is all part of the process of becoming a designer.
Begin by seeking out work that you enjoy, be it graphic, interactive, fashion, industrial, conceptual, or purely artistic. By loosely informing yourself on all of the areas of design it will soon become apparent that similar thinking is shared throughout and across disciplines. Once you've found work that's in your interest, learn all
that you can about its creator. Look for interviews with the designer, books they may have written or been published in, and review the portfolios linked on their websites. In essence, study their thinking. You may find that it's similar to your own or you may find that it is not. Either way, you'll learn a little bit more about the sort of things you might like to design, the sort of problems you'd like to attempt to solve through design while also learning about those you would not.
One of the surest ways to begin to hone in on the specific area of design you'd like to work in, is to determine those areas in which you would not.
Once you've begun to take interest in a specific discipline or direction, focus on learning what it takes to succeed in that space. Understand that there are tools you'll need to obtain and learn to use. And that most likely there are rules, perhaps already in place. Learn these rules. Try to understand why they were created. Never forget that design is a communications profession, and like all forms of communication, it hinges on language, and languages are based on standards and rules. Before one can begin to break the defined standards or rules of any given language, or in our case, design discipline, one must have a firm understanding of why they were created in the first place.
Learning what you like and what you don't is a very important step to becoming a confident designer. Striving to understand why we like what we do is what tends to makes us better designers. In all likelihood the work we enjoy most is the result of some masterful use of the appropriate tool or tools coupled with some form of either an immediately visible or more subtly hidden adherence to a set of rules, with just the right amount of worldly individuality added. In this manner, things are uniquely designed, and ideas are uniquely communicated.
Remember, there are no shortcuts. Being a designer is a life-long process. The more one pays attention to the world around them, and the greater their awareness, the more likely they are to succeed at whatever it is they choose to accomplish.
-
Logo ≠ Brand
When considering a logo, soon to be or existing, it must be understood that a logo is not a brand. A logo is just a mark or symbol, be it iconic or typographic or a combination of the both that is created with the intent of representing or embodying an ideology or a set of principles larger than the sum of its inherent parts.
A logo, poorly or well-executed can come to stand for a great many things. All of these seemingly embedded definitions or characteristics lie far beyond the logo's built-in aesthetic nature. For a logo to take on such layered meaning it must be supported by ideas, actions, outputs and ultimately human beings. It's at this juncture that logo and brand intersect.
A brand, in time, can come to define a logo. And, human beings, in time, can come to define a brand. A logo on its own can not define a brand. A logo can represent or identify a brand, but not define one. It's the thoughts, actions, and output of the human beings behind a brand and thereby behind a logo that come to define a brand and ultimately imbue a logo with meaning and value.
-
Business Earth: A 20-Point introduction to Ecological Economics
1. Business Earth
Given the modern consumer-centric world we now live in it could be helpful to look at Earth in the context of business. As a series of ideas, Business Earth aims to provide a simplified view of ecological economics to hopefully present some eye-opening perspective on the value and ever diminishing abundance of Mother Nature's free goods and services.2. Natural Capital
The thinking behind Business Earth is contingent upon the idea of natural capital, the application of the economic notion of capital as applied to environmental goods and services. Earth's natural capital is made up of all of its ecosystems and the valuable goods and services that flow from them.3. Forests, Fisheries & Aquifers
Some examples of natural capital include forests, fisheries and aquifers, These forms of natural capital all yield natural income, things like timber, fish, and fresh water.4. Natural Income
Waste assimilation, erosion prevention, flood control, and uv protection via ozone are all services provided from natural capital. Along with the capital assets mentioned previously, these life-support services could also be considered natural income.5. Intact Ecosystems
When considering natural capital and it's byproduct natural income, we must consider ecosystems. Ecosystems can be viewed as the factories from which natural capital is output. Business Earths' continued production of natural capital hinges on intact ecosystems, or sound factories.6. Types of Capital
Natural capital can be broken down into three categories: Renewable capital stocks - replenishable capital stocks - and non-renewables capital stocks.7. Renewable Natural Capital
Renewable natural capital stocks includes living species and ecosystems. These capital stocks are self-producing and self-maintaining and if managed sustainably can provide an indefinite flow of assets and services.8. Renewable Example 1: Trees
Trees are renewable capital. In looking at trees from an economic perspective they provide us both immediate visible products - things like timber, food, and medicine and less immediately visible services, things like oxygen production, and CO2 reduction.9. Renewable Example 2: Fish
Fish too are considered renewable. Like trees, they are a product of their larger economies, streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans, providing us with food. They also help ensure that their factories, or ecosystems remain structurally intact.10. Replenishable Natural Capital
Replenishable natural capital stocks are non-living but can be continuously restored. Replenishable natural capital includes things like surface and ground water and stratospheric ozone.11. Replenishable Example 1: The Ozone Layer
Ozone is a replenishable. It is a naturally occurring product contributing to the creation of the stratospheric ozone layer. The ozone layer provides us with income in the form of a service - blocking harmful utraviolet rays which would otherwise lead to sunburn, skin cancer and cataracts.12. Replenishable Example 2: Soil
Similar to ozone, soil, is also considered replenishable. It provides continual services in the form of water purification and catchment helping to reduce flooding. It also provides the primary nutrient base for most terrestrial plant life.13. Non-renewable Natural Capital
Non-renewable natural capital stocks are analogous to physical inventories. They are made up of things like fossil fuels, and mineral deposits. Use of non-renewable natural capital requires extinguishing a portion of a finite stock. Once it's all used - it's gone. There is no more.14. Non-renewable Example 1: Petroleum
Petroleum is a prime example of non-renewable natural capital. Unlike trees, fish, ozone, and soil systems, this inventory is finite. In human time Petroleum is in essence a product without a factory.15. Non-renewable Example 1: Coal
Coal like petroleum also exists in a finite stock. It is non-renewable. It needs to be ordered millions of years in advance.16. Life Support
so, from mankind's perspective Business Earth is really in the business of supporting human life. It will continue to produce it's assets and services far into the future. However, both it's existence and ours hinges more on its renewable and replenishable capital than on its non-renewable.17. Not Just Resources
Hopefully at this point we're not just looking at Earths' natural capital as merely an inventory of industrial resources and services. Without the natural capital of Business Earth there are no economies, no businesses, and subsequently no human resources needed because, put simply, there are no humans.18. No Customers Needed
While Business Earth provides us everything we need to live for free - we're the ones dependent upon it. It's existence is not dependent upon us. Business Earth is a very unique business in that it will continue to operate without it's primary consuming demographic, mankind.19. Natures Dollar Value
A 1997 study led by Robert Costanza and other leading scientists and ecological economists estimated the value of Earth's free natural capital and services to mankind at 33 trillion dollars per year. At the same time the value of all of the economies of the world combined (total world GNP) only amounted to 18 trillion dollars - Half the value of one year of Earth's free services.20. Want to Find out more about the thinking behind Business Earth and the idea of Natural Capital?
If you're interested in learning more about ecological economics and the ideas shared in the previous 19 points, pick up the book Natural Capitalism by Amory Lovins, Hunter Lovins, and Paul Hawken, or the book Our Ecological Footprint by Mathis Wackernagel and William E. Rees. And, be sure to look into the work of the ecological economists, Herman Daly and Robert Costanza. -
20 Interconnected and Semi-dependent Factors Contributing to the Creation and Promotion of Sustainable Culture
1. Compulsion for Creation:
We have an innate compulsion to create. This compulsion perpetuates our very existence. It also potentially hinders our longevity. Our propensity to create has taken us right to the brink of sustainability. Now, as like never before, we need not only to create, but to create responsibly.2. Trust Your Vision:
The desire to create is deeply connected to our capacity to visualize the future. The ability to trust our vision is tantamount to creation. The greater our ability to visualize our ideas, the greater the likelihood we'll bring them to fruition.3. Belief is Power:
The clearer our vision the deeper our belief. Belief empowers us and provides a platform from which action can be taken. It contributes to our feelings of confidence. The confidence arising from belief provides power and leads to action.4. Willingness to Risk:
With both vision and belief willingness to risk is increased. The clearer the vision, the greater the belief. The greater our belief, the more confidence we experience. Confidence leads to increased risk taking, and essentially, a heightened sense of power. The more willing we are to take risks the more powerful we become.5. Failure is Necessary:
Failure is typically associated with a negative outcome, or the idea of underachieving ones aim. It becomes a much more valuable idea when flipped and applied to the more positive concept of suboptimal, but necessary experimentation. Regardless, of how we perceive and define failure, we must entertain the concept as our willingness to risk increases. It is from failure that ideas are honed, visions clarified, and the power of belief deepened.6. Determination Drives Progress:
The more determined we are to improve, or offer alternatives, the more likely we are to progress. The closer our failure, or suboptimal, but necessary experimentation comes to producing desirable results, the more determined we become. Determination propagates creation and results in progress.7. Equality Promotes Growth:
Progress in the context of sustainable cultural creation is anything that improves the human experience and has the potential to impact all within the realm of influence equally. As resource allocation and opportunity are brought into balance equality becomes a reality and growth begins.8. Strength in Community:
As determination increases and progress is experienced, equality arises and community can be formed. Community like progress rests upon the premise of equality. As community grows, a new, reinforced platform for both ideation and creation is established.9. Value in Collaboration:
Community rests upon and contributes to reinforced bonds between its members. The connectivity brought about by community leads to collaboration. Communal bonds are in turn renewed, and strengthened through collaboration. Collaboration increases vision, deepens belief, builds power, hedges risk, mitigates failure, heightens determination, perpetuates equality, and adds real value to work, its' byproduct.10. Work Speaks Volumes:
Culture comes from work. The more sustainable the production of work, the more sustainable the culture. The stronger the community, the greater its collaborative potential to do work. Work done right, be it individually, collectively, or communally - speaks volumes.11. Responsibility is Required:
As the scope of our work grows and its impacts are felt on a larger scale, a greater degree of responsibility is required. We need not only take responsibility for the final outcome of our work, but for the entire creation process to create responsible, sustainable, culturally significant work.12. Forget About Money:
Concern for money, while valid, has a tendency to hinder the creation and attempted execution of some of our best ideas, ideas that lead to the production of exceptional work. We occasionally need to forget about money, albeit responsibly, and follow our hearts if we're to prompt sustainable creation.13. Honesty Breeds Integrity:
The first step to being honest with others is being honest with ourselves. Forgetting about money in the context of creation is often a very important and necessary step to being true, or honest with ourselves. Honesty is conveyed through our actions and it's through our actions that we convey our integrity.14. Magic is Real:
When we're honest, unencumbered by money, assuming responsibility, working collaboratively within our communities, promoting equality, determined to progress, ready to risk, full of belief, and looking ahead, magic happens.15. Communication is King:
Whether or not you're ready to believe in magic, we can all agree on the importance of communication. Communication is the interchange of thoughts, opinions, and information. To promote and create anything sustainable an ongoing exchange of information is necessary, both publicly and privately. The ability to communicate clearly and concisely is central to creating and maintaining sustainable relationships. Sustainable cultural creation can not happen in a vacuum.16. Commitment Conveys Legitimacy:
The more committed we are to our ideas, our community, and to sharing and communicating to the best of our ability, the more open we become. Openness leads to honesty, and honesty breeds integrity. Honesty, integrity, and visible commitment collectively contribute to establishing legitimacy.17. Transparency Shows Authenticity:
Once an individual, group of individuals, or community achieves validity, it's the provision of transparency that shows real authenticity. The greater the access we're provided, the more likely we are to connect, believe, promote, and be inspired.18. Trust Breeds Influence:
Individual belief and vision are necessary to achieve communal belief and vision. The idea of individual equality is vital to communal equality. The work of the individual is as important as the work of the community. We can not have communal responsibility without first possessing individual responsibility. The community can not honestly put the concept of money aside for the greater communal good without first conveying the commitment, legitimacy and authenticity required to evoke the trust of its' members. Be it on an individual level or a larger communal level, trust must be earned. With trust comes the potential to influence.19. Education Cultivates Sustainability:
Possessing Influence enables an individual, group of individuals, or community the power to educate. The exchange of new information is the cornerstone of sustainability. The more informed we are, the better our decision making and the better our decision making the more likely we are to make choices that promote sustainable outcomes.20. Love is Everything:
To properly consider the idea of sustainability and sustainable cultural creation we must address the concept of love. To love another we must first love ourselves. To love our fellow man we must possess a greater communal love for our surroundings and all of the entities within. After all, it's our innate ability and longing to love that initiated and continues to the sustain the creation of all those who create. -
Managing Electronic Waste
We are producing and consuming more than our resource rich spaceship can sustain. We have turned a corner and committed to technology to help us solve this problem. And, our technology-based faith has provided us with a yet another resource, electronic waste (e-waste). To manage this resource sustainably we must reuse it, recycle it, and sometimes dispose of it. Regardless, we must first collect it.
While working through our recent submission to the Design The 4th Bin contest with our friend Mike Moore of tres birds workshop, we stopped to assess and discuss the Flow of e-waste. We broke it down accordingly into a 10 Step cyclical process.
Step 1. Humans (we) we deem it important to responsibly dispose of and safely reuse / recycle the elemental components of e-waste to make our future products and infrastructure
Step 2. e-waste is disposed of at e-waste repositories in both public and private spaces
Step 3. e-waste is collected by municipalities or other independent collection entities
Step 4. e-waste is securely delivered to transit centers
Step 5. e-waste is safely separated, sorted, and bundled into its basic elemental components for redistribution
Step 6. e-waste is delivered to or collected/obtained to responsible entities capable of reclaiming/reusing or otherwise reselling separated materials (ideally to new alternative material industries)
Step 7. New materials are created resulting in new eco-e-waste-driven product industries Note: The potential to create new plastics or Post Consumer Electronics Recycled Plastics (PCERPs) for a variety of uses is immense at this Step
Step 8. Materials are distributed and both new and existing products are created from this new and semi-sustainable resource
Step 9. Products are consumed and used and in most cases either resold or gifted or rendered useless
Step 10. Products are again disposed of responsibly and the e-waste life cycle begins again
Parts of this practice are currently in play. Plastics and metals are being recovered and reused domestically. However, we are currently exporting the most toxic and hard to handle elements to China and India. In the Far East, under loose to no regulation, these elements are poisoning soil and water systems and radically reducing the quality and longevity of human lives. We must take responsibility for our waste domestically and implement more appropriate means of collection, disposal when necessary, and e-recycling.
-
High Performance Workspaces
We spend a great deal of time in our studio. If you are reading this, odds are quite good you do the same. Some recent opportunities have prompted us to consider the design, layout, flow, and thinking behind our studio on a whole new level.
Determining what makes a workspace inspirational and productive is most certainly a science. Regardless, we've always considered spatial relations, the ensuing human integration, and the resultant output of a physical space on a much more intuitive level. At some point during our recent studio assessment we stumbled upon the idea of "high performance workspaces."
While both the idea and the phrase, "high performance workspaces" are probably not new, we are going to focus on what we feel is a high performance workspace, since we believe we have one. While optimizing performance was certainly a consideration in the design of our space, we were intuitively naive to some of the performance enhancing components we subconsciously incorporated. At least, we've come to that conclusion upon closer inspection.
It seems to us that the creation of an effective workspace hinges on understanding what keeps an individual or team motivated, productive, and performing collaboratively. A high degree of communication and subsequent knowledge of both individual and team psychology is required to maximize the design and build of a workspace. Listening to individual needs and desires, considering them thoroughly, and then possessing the capacity to manifest those needs into a physical space seems to be a prerequisite to designing what could arguably be called a "high performance workspace."
Our meaning of high performance is probably different than most, at least today, where a "high performance workspace" more likely implies a comfortable, clean, healthy, family-friendly environment where one pleasantly spends their weekly forty hours. Our meaning of high performance is a little different and more closely incorporated with the notion of heightening and improving both individual and team output. In essence when we say, "high performance workspace," we're talking about a workspace that contributes not only to the total output, but more importantly to the quality of the output from within its walls.
Without attempting to determine all of the subtle nuances inherent to a "high performance workspace," it seems these sort of inspirational spaces utilize space in a manner which maximizes potential energy. These work spaces seem to possess a degree of motivational tension. It's from this tension that the potential energy of a space morphs and becomes a more arguably kinetic creative energy. It is from this transition and exchange that creative impulses are heightened and great ideas are born. Without necessarily intending to do so we have realized that we designed and manifested a type of energy generating reservoir into our studio. It seems to most closely resemble a damn. It possesses all of the components of power generation, but requires to be fed. It needs fuel. We feed it. It fuels us. We feed it back. And, so goes the cycle of design in a high performance workspace.
Manifest Positive Change. Act Responsibly.
To create transformative solutions for today and meet the challenges of tomorrow, an iterative and multi-faceted approach, centered on interdisciplinary and collaborative thinking is required. Problems need to be addressed systemically and solved holistically. As members of a global community, we can not continue to merely address problems in a symptomatic fashion. The problems of today must be seen as tomorrow's catalysts for innovation and a means by which to create new opportunities - not just things to be solved.Those of us calling ourselves designers, particularly those with opportunities to manifest positive change in the world, have a responsibility to deliver informed, forward-looking, and inclusive thinking. If we are to act responsibly, all of our projects must be viewed as opportunities to influence and thereby contribute to the cultural fabric of the future.
ETCETERA
-
KidsPatch x C13 - childrens creativity workshop
Biennial of the Americas, Denver, Colorado - July 24 & 25, 2010A weekend of multi-media art making inside the Nature of Things exhibition with the KidsPatch team and 4 groups of children ranging from ages 5-12.
-
Limitless Potential - panel discussion
Biennial of the Americas, Denver, Colorado - July 8, 2010An interdisciplinary creative conversation envisioning the opportunities lying at the place where art, design, sustainability, innovation, and community-centered thinking intersect.
-
The Nature of Things - exhibition
Biennial of the Americas, Denver, Colorado - July 1, 2010United, a vinyl coated polyurethane foam-based sculptural seating arrangement comprised of 50 parts collectively making a map of 35 nations of the Americas.
-
Computer Arts Projects Issue #137 - publication
Bath, United Kingdom - June 1, 2010Build a Geometric Typeface: cypher13 shows you how to make a strict hexagonal grid work hard.
-
HelvetiNote™ - iPad Application Release
Boulder, Colorado - May 20, 2010HelvetiNote™ is the first and only iPad app designed and built specifically for designers to take notes in Helvetica. buy now
-
2|EDGED Issue #6 - publication
Athens, Attica, Greece - May 4, 2010Cover feature and in depth interview with cypher13 on process, ideation, and what's next. read the interview (page 166)
-
Create Denver Week - exhibiton
CDW Headquarters, Denver, Colorado - April 10, 2010Design, build and integration of sculptural, "Rainbow Magic" intervention.
-
LogoLounge Master Library, Volume 1 - publication
Rockport Publishers, Beverly Massachusettes - March 29, 2010Multiple cypher13 identities included amongst 3000 Initials & Crest Logos from LogoLounge by Catharine Fishel and Bill Gardner.
-
Sketchbot Custom Show - exhibiton
My Plastic Heart, New York, New York - March 26, 2010Creation of "Evil" Sketchbot for the official launch of the new Sketchbot figure by NYC artist/animator Steve Talkowski.
-
Haiti Poster Project - exhibiton
San Diego, California - March 17, 2010Design, production and donation of an edition of 40, 7-color screen prints utilizing earth friendly inks on 80lb 24" x 16" recycled paper. visit
-
C13 HEX Release - typeface
YouWorkForThem - March 10, 2010Extra geometric in nature and intended predominantly for display and logotype utilities, C13 HEX was built atop an isometric triangular grid. buy now
-
Best Websites of 2009 (cypher13.com) - recognition
The CSS Awards, Best Websites of 2009 - February 4, 20101 of the top 20 websites of 2009 selected as extraordinary in design and inspirational in content. see the list
-
RMCAD Studio Visit - lecture
cypher13 design studio, Boulder, Colorado - February 12, 2010Student lecture/discussion focusing on design philosophy, full systems thinking, and the importance of process.
-
Biennial of the Americas - curation
McNichols at Civic Center Park, Denver, Colorado - July 1 - 31, 2010Conceptual development of inaugural Biennial curatorial strategy and artist acquisition.
-
Denver Art Museum - Design After Dark, Skin - exhibiton
Redline Gallery, Denver, Colorado - January 22, 2010Creation and donation of Magical Khufu : 823 for fundraising auction on behalf of the DAM's Department of Architecture, Design & Graphics.
-
Site of the Day (cypher13.com) - recognition
The CSS Awards, Best Creative Website Portfolios of 2010 - January 18, 20101 of 25 of the best creative website porfolios of 2009 - full of illustrations, inspirating layout and dynamic effects. see the list
-
AAF Utah Addy Awards - judging
Salt Lake City, Utah - January 7 & 8, 2010One of five judges reviewing and scoring print, broadcast and interactive media for the 2010 Regional Addy Awards.
-
SBD001 Release - typeface
HypeForType - January 5, 2010SBD001 is a technical display typeface based on a simple premise, "Live by the grid, die by the grid." SBD. buy now
-
C13 LCD Release - typeface
HypeForType - January 5, 2010This super technical display typeface is now available through HypeForType LCD. buy now
-
Interview du Studio cypher13 - interview
CYPRIEN.BE, Couvin, Belgium - December 14, 200914 year old, up and coming Belgian design star, Cyprien Delire, interviews cypher13. in french / in english
-
C13 Six Pixels of Death Release - typeface
YouWorkForThem - December 14, 2009Boasting a six pixel cap height and a five pixel x-height, this minimalist typeface was designed to execute only the most covert web opps. buy now
-
Square Footage 2 - exhibiton
Plastic Chapel, Denver, Colorado - December 12, 2009Inclusion of "Grids" 16 - 12" x 12" grid-based paintings on wood. All of the grids utilized were designed by Carsten Nicolai for his seminal work Grid Index.
-
Bordo Bello 2 - exhibiton
Andenken Gallery, Denver, Colorado - December 11, 2009"Skateboards Make For Smiles" installation at skateboard art fundraiser for Youth Design Denver and Access Gallery's local initiative, promoting the power of people with disabilities.
-
Start Your Own Studio - interview
Advanced Photoshop, Dorset, England - November 16, 2009Inside information from cypher13 in issue #63 regarding how to start and manage your own design studio. read the interview
-
C13 LCD Release - typeface
YouWorkForThem - November 18, 2009A super technical display typeface born of a desire to improve upon the mundane typography rendered via traditional liquid crystal displays. buy now
-
Information Technology & Communication - lecture
University of Colorado, Boulder | TAM program - November 12, 2009A lecture on the evolution, work, workflow, and communicative progress of cypher13.
-
Brown Bag Lecture series | cypher13 - lecture
Metropolitan State College of Denver, Denver - November 4, 2009A lecture on the evolution, workflow, and progress of cypher13.
-
Understanding Identity by cypher13 - lecture
University of Colorado, Boulder | ATLAS - October 21, 2009A lecture on the nature of cypher13's thinking particularly as it pertains to their identity creation process.
-
Site of the Day (cypher13.com) - award
The CSS Awards, Best Websites in the World - October 19, 2009The CSS Awards are given to the best CSS websites in the world.
buy now -
AIGA (Re)designAwards 2009 - awards design/creation
MCA Denver, Denver, Colorado - September 23, 2009Design/build collaboration with Kristian Kluver. Creation of 26 handmade laser-engraved flatpack stools from reclaimed materials.
-
Business Earth - presentation
Ignite Boulder 6, Boulder, Colorado - September 16, 2009A brief introduction to ecological economics aimed at highlighting the value of Mother Nature's free goods and services.
-
Creative Studio, cypher13 - interview
SiteInspire, London, England - September 9, 2009Questions on origin of firm, Boulder, Co, ideal client, etc. read the interview
-
Design The 4th Bin - competition
Valiant Technology, New York, New York - August 2, 2009Entry in an international competition to design a logo and a collection bin for electronic waste (e-waste) collection and recycling.
-
PechaKucha Night Denver Vol. 6 - presentation
Buntport Theatre, Denver Colorado - July 21, 2009Bruce Mau opened and we closed with our presentation on "Creating Sustainable Culture."
-
Where We Work - publication
Collins Design a division of Harper Collins - July 17, 2009Inclusion of cypher13 workspace in book of inspirational work environments and interiors from the world's leading creative agencies.
-
Logo Lounge 5 - publication
Quayside Publishing - June 19, 2009Inclusion of logo work in book containing 2000 international identities by leading designers.
-
Vans: Off the Wall - publication
Abrams Publishing, New York, New York - June 11, 2009Stories of sole from Vans originals - Inclusion of two pairs of cypher13 handpainted Vans Sk8 Hi originals.
-
ArtCrank - exhibition
The Shoppe x The Fabric Lab x Neopolitan x The Plastic Chapel, Denver, Colorado - April 11, 2009Series of six screen printed Bicycle themed posters.
-
Bordo Bello - exhibition
Access Gallery, Denver, Colorado - December 6, 2008Featured skateboard designers for mentorship-based student design initiative charity auction sponsored by AIGA.
-
Square Footage - exhibition
Plastic Chapel, Denver, Colorado - November 8, 2008Creation of 12, 12" x 12" paintings for inclusion in "sq ft" themed group show.
-
Artism - Art for Autism - publication
Birmingham, United Kingdom - October 3, 2008Illustration to help raise awareness on the topic of autism on behalf of The National Autistic Society.
-
White Space - live painting exhibition
Design Within Reach, Boulder, Colorado - October 24, 2008One of five artists invited to produce a live painting as a charity fundraiser for the Boulder, Museum of Contemporary Art.
-
Talks on Design | Volume 1 - panel discussion
MCA Denver, Denver, Colorado - September 19, 2008A creative conversation featuring Chris Beatty (Cultivator), Todd Berger (cypher13), Ian Coyle (Superheroes), and Norm Shearer (Cactus).
-
DIY Custom Toy Show - exhibition
The Super Block (3100 E. Colfax) Denver, Colorado - March 8, 2008Inclusion of Intergalactic Space Traveler v2.0, custom munny guards and our very own "Goodbye Kitty."
-
Soft&Furry™ - exhibition
Plastic Chapel, Denver, Colorado - September 13, 2008Creation and customization of 100 custom toys by acclaimed international artists/designers on the S&F platform.
-
Manifest Hope - exhibition
Andenken Gallery, Denver, Colorado - September 12, 2008Sculptural addition to International group show to raise awareness and funding for the historic Barack Obama campaign.
-
cypher13 Presents Soft&Furry™ - interview
ToyCyte, Jeremy Brautman, San Fracisco, CA - September 12, 2008Jeremy inquires about Soft&Furry™
read the interview -
Nocturnal Mockery 6 - exhibition
Edifice Gallery, Colorado Springs, Colorado - July 5, 2008Three paintings exhibited in group show of Colorado street and graffiti artists.
-
Fantasy - publication
New Web Pick Issue #15, Hong Kong, China - April 25, 2008Inclusion of illustration portfolio and feature studio interview.
-
Night Owls - exhibition
D-Note, Arvada, Colorado - April 10, 2008Addition of three paintings based on blank character design for show guest curated by Markham Maes.
-
cypher13 Friendly Collaboration - interview
The 99% - The Behance Network's think tank - September, 1, 2008Questions pertaining to our collaboration and workflow.
read the interview -
Design the Modern Board - exhibition
Design Within Reach, Denver, Colorado - March 27, 2008Four snowboard designs for K2 and Design Within Reach snowboard design contest.
-
Shred Ready - exhibition
Traveling Exhibition, USA - March, 13, 2008 - June 20, 2008Three customized kayak helmets based on shred ready blank helmet template.
-
The Greater Good - exhibition
Texture Media, Boulder, Colorado - November 7, 2007Painting donated to charity fundraiser.
-
Shoe Shine - exhibition
Block Building, Denver, Colorado - November 3, 2007Fours pairs of hand-painted sneakers and three sneaker themed paintings for non-profit fundraiser.
-
This is How We Roll - exhibition
Installation Shoe Gallery, Boulder, Colorado - July 5, 2007Custom grip tape, sneaker and skate accessory show to benefit injured skateboarder Jeremiah Brooks.
-
Nocturnal Mockery 5 - exhibition
Edifice Gallery, Colorado Springs, Colorado - June 11, 2007Six paintings exhibited in group show of Colorado street and graffiti artists.
-
Toofy Film Festival - live art exhibition
JoyEngine, Boulder, Colorado - September 6, 2007Live wheatpasting of Toofy themed art themed art for film festival pre-party.
-
Space Travelers &Other Affiliated Shit - exhibition
Installation Shoe Gallery, Boulder, Colorado - August 30, 2007Solo exhibit of personal works by 1/3 of cypher13.
-
Untitled - exhibition
Cafe M, Boulder, Colorado - May 31, 2007Solo exhibit of personal works by 1/3 of cypher13.
-
Haute Fashion - exhibition
The Fabric Lab, Denver, Colorado - March 31, 2007Addition of fashion-themed paintings into group show.
-
The Friends Show - exhibition
Andenken Gallery, Denver, Colorado - November 3, 2006Multiple paintings exhibited in group show of underground Colorado artists.
PORTFOLIO
- 130 & Less
- 15th Street Coffee Haus
- 4th Bin
- 8030 Realty
- Action Marketing Group (AMG)
- adidas
- AIGA
- American Explosion
- Andy's Girl
- Artcrank
- Ault Park Development
- Avenue Snowboards
- AVX
- BAMF
- Biennial of the Americas
- Black Panda
- Blast Ramp
- BMoCA
- Bordo Bello
- Boulder Library Foundation
- Carrot Clothing
- Category One
- Chegg
- Comcast
- Comm-Tech
- Community Carbon Project
- Computer Arts
- Constance Peck
- Create Denver
- cypher13 / internal
- David B. Smith Gallery
- Democracy
- Denver Art Museum
- Design Network Associates
- DJ ISIS
- DJ Trees
- Econscious Market
- Elephant Journal
- Enthusiast Group
- Equipo Roca
- Extreme Ice Survey
- Fairground Media
- Fate Clothing
- Flat Out
- Folsom Custom Skis (FCS)
- Ford
- Fuser
- Generation Think Tank
- Giantnerd®
- GIF.LY
- Gimpt
- GOOD Magazine
- Green Spirit Produce (GSP)
- Haiti Poster Project
- HelloTurbo
- HelvetiNote™
- Hi Local
- Icarus Frames
- IdeaFixa
- Ignite Boulder
- ii kanji
- Ink Monstr
- inyangi
- Jason Thielke
- Joe's Espresso
- John Süchsland
- JoyEngine
- Kakoona
- Kicking Mule Workshop
- KidsPatch
- Laser Tag Cartel
- Lo+Pro
- LOHI Flats
- LUM GmbH
- Mag Power
- Mal Pais Media (MPM)
- mibuds
- Michael Robson Photography
- Michele Filoia
- MileHi
- Mindfish
- Mindful Mama
- Mito Media
- Miz Astrid
- Mocapay
- Morgan Creek Ventures
- MTV
- Myriad Gallery
- nevercloud™
- Next Level Conditioning
- NoBo Neighborhood
- O2 Zone
- Olade
- OneRiot
- Organic Food Brokers
- Paul Russo
- Pegshot
- Plastic Chapel
- Pnuma Project
- Quick Left
- Rainbow Maker
- Randall Scott
- Residences at Highland
- RIDE2RANK
- RockeTalk
- Sapphire Click
- Sketchbot
- Soft & Furry™
- Stellar Sounds
- Studio Joseph Shaeffer
- Sumo Rainbow
- Tee & Cakes
- The Great Experiment
- The Lighting Agency
- The T-BAR®
- The Walnut Boulder
- Thrive HFM
- Timberland
- Toofy International Film Festival
- TouchRiot
- Toyota
- Trek
- tres birds workshop
- TWEEEEET
- Vanguard Project
- Vecchios
- Yahoo!
- YesPleaseMore
- Yonder Mountain
- Full
- Medium
- Image Large
- Image Medium
- Image Small