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Matt Johnson is an industrial designer and member of the Coalesse Design Group in San Francisco. A new member of the Coalesse team, Matt sees design as a nuanced and challenging way to connect with all sorts of people. We asked Matt to share some of his favorite sources of inspiration in the newest installment of our My Favorite Things feature.
Where do you go in the Coalesse Studio when you need time to focus?
I often retreat to our mezzanine workspace. It’s quiet and has great light.
Me pretending to work in the mezzanine. Source: Bettie Cott
How do you relax after a day at the studio?
When I can, I commute home on one of San Francisco’s phenomenal ferries. The trip has the opposite effect of navigating through gridlocked traffic.
Leaving the city on the Vallejo Ferry. Source: Matt Johnson
How do you relieve stress?
Hanging out with my pup Tuffy is my best medicine for stress, no doubt.
Tuffy lounging in the backyard with her Frisbee. Source: Matt Johnson
What’s your favorite place for inspiration?
Everywhere. For me inspiration isn’t about a specific place— it’s about a state of mind.
What’s your favorite place to eat lunch?
Darwin in the SOMA neighborhood of SF. Great sandwiches and salads, with a sunny little seating area outside.
Parklet seating outside Darwin on Rich St., San Francisco. Source: The Seattle Shared Streets Blog
The Roast Beef at Darwin. Source: seriouseats.com
What’s your favorite book?
“Codex Seraphinianus,” by Luigi Serafini. It’s an illustrated encyclopedia of imaginary objects, places and events, annotated by texts with no meaning, which are written with an imaginary alphabet of letters. What’s not to love?
Spread from Codex Seraphinianus, illustrating imaginary objects. Source: Bobby Doherty/New York Magazine.
Who’s your favorite designer?
Michele de Lucchi. A truly prolific designer, whose experimental and provocative body of work includes products, furniture and architecture.
Table centerpiece by de Lucchi. Source: Produzione Privata
What’s your favorite item in Coalesse portfolio?
I’m fond of our Emu Collection. The versatility of the line is fantastic. I also love how the structure of each piece is so visually interesting.
What’s your favorite item you’ve helped design?
I’m still pretty new at Coalesse, so the list is short. But I would definitely say that I was thrilled to help develop a screen concept for our Exponents line, which was shown at this year’s NeoCon.
Exponents Screen Concept, Coalesse showroom, NeoCon 2016. Source: Matt Johnson
What’s your favorite place to visit?
The Badlands in South Dakota. One of my grandfathers grew up there, so I’ve been visiting since I can remember. It’s an incredibly harsh and alien landscape, but its desolate qualities also make it peaceful and stunningly beautiful.
Badlands formations near Interior, South Dakota. Source: National Park Service
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