Interview with Daniel Sheinfeld Rodriguez

Sheinfeld Rodriguez is a contemporary design studio created by myself and my partner in life, Loomis Sheinfeld Rodriguez, who is a designer and conceptual artist. Nature, technology and architecture are prevalent subjects throughout our work. Our current focus is on jewelry, with the designs mimicking raw configurations, pixelated landscapes and biomimetic forms.

For me, design is a language, a way in which creative minds can communicate their inner passion and their innermost world. Design is a way of life. Design translates ideas for the world to understand.

Furniture and contemporary jewelry are my favorite works to design.

My most favorite design is the surfboard. Once you ride a couple of waves you would understand.

A commercial office building and technological park in Caracas, Venezuela. It was an exciting project to design and then the investors fell through so it was never built.

My favorite materials are concrete, wood, and gold, and my favorite platform is the computer, which is my artist brush. My favorite technology currently is the 3D printer. With the introduction of 3D printing into our work, we have been able to transform inconceivable ideas into reality.

I feel most inspired late at night, when it there is deep silence, or when I’m surrounded by art or creative minds.

During the design process we focus on concept, materials and details. Initially we focus on the concept, which is the essential ingredient of a good design. Then the materials we utilize expand the concept into various approaches. Working with the right material and the ability to understand that material is essential as well as a gift. Last, irrespective of the concept and materials, the details are without a doubt the most important aspect of a creation. The soul of the object lies in the details.

Excitement, insomnia, passion, relentlessness, obsession, determination, joy, freedom.

I enjoy more the process than the final result; by the time a design or a project is realized I’m already thinking about the next one.

A well founded concept, understanding of the material in which it will be created, and attention to details makes a design successful.

First I consider the idea behind the object or the project, because the idea is key for a good design. Anybody can create shapes and forms, but only the design that emerges from a powerful concept can move or create a genuine reaction in a spectator.

Design is a responsible social act in itself. I believe that we have the responsibility to educate and bring environmental awareness through our creations. In today’s world, the use of responsibly sourced materials, as well as awareness of the context of the project, is fundamental for any creative practice.

The "design field" is evolving due to the Introduction of biology into construction and fabrication materials. Materials will become the new software, and artificial intelligence, the use of drones in the construction industry, nano-robotics, buildings and objects regenerating like bones, heightened virtual reality, and considerable advancements in speed, resolution and material technology in the 3d printing industry will all further this evolvement. At the same time, the design industry will see a backlash against these technologies as there is a crosscurrent of the revival of the most basic human need to interface with nature and the megacosm.

My last exhibition was in September 2016 for a group show called Idiosyncratic Fields at the Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art. I would love to have our jewelry presented at Art Basel/Design Miami 2017.

Our design style straddles art, architecture and industrial design; it walks the line between analogue and digital, chaotic and controlled, existential reality and virtual world. Living in a remote, isolated environment in Hawaii, off-grid living, and being in touch daily with raw nature greatly impacted our life and our work. Nature vs Technology is a prevalent subject throughout our work.

I would describe our design style as an interface between raw nature and technology. We began exploring this subject when we moved to an off-grid living situation on an organic coffee and fruit farm in the rural mountains of Hawaii. This style of living was a huge learning curve for us and, as well, a catalyst for the blossoming of new perspectives on humanness, life and how to live it. This sparked within both Loomis and myself the exploration of juxtaposition, and the constant search for balance between opposing subjects. We were living without electricity, sleeping in pure, untainted silence, showering out underneath the open sky rain or shine, walking outside barefoot on dark moon nights to use an outhouse, yet our work and livelihood was completely plugged in to the grid, as it depended on utilization of the most avant-garde technologies and advanced tools for manufacturing.

I am originally from Caracas, Venezuela but I’ve been living on Big Island, Hawaii for the past 14 years. The contrast of the fast paced concrete jungle life I had in Caracas, opposed to the laid-back, wild environment of Big Island has strongly influenced my work. One of the pros of living in Hawaii (there are many) is that I get to connect first hand with nature and draw an immense amount of inspiration from it; the con (partially) is that we are isolated from the world, so obtaining materials and equipment can become challenging and costly.

Even though we are physically isolated, we are virtually connected to the world. We have done collaborations with companies in Germany, Canada, Indonesia, Pakistan, London and Venezuela, without ever meeting them in person. We can coordinate any project through e-mails and/or phone conversations.

I suggest establishing clear communication from the beginning. Working with integrity and authenticity are vital for success. Having a good website, portfolio is key. I don’t believe in resumes, a designer’s work will speak for itself.

When it comes to designing jewelry, we conceive each piece as a micro-architectural project, meaning concept, planning, understanding manufacturing process, function, ergonomics, and aesthetics are all explored. The process begins with a concept, and different ideas are sketched on paper. Using those ideas we further refine and sculpt the design using various design software. Once we’re satisfied with the initial rendering, we create a 3D-printed prototype. 3D printing technology offers us the opportunity to create intricate, beautiful objects that would otherwise be impossible to fabricate solely by hand. When we are satisfied with the prototype, we render and 3D-print a castable wax mold. The wax mold is then sent to our family of generational bench jewelers in Indonesia to create a silver master mold through an ancient wax casting process. Once they’ve finished the silver master mold, they cast the pieces in 925 silver and noble metals, and finish the pieces with the use of traditional tools and techniques.

Our Form2 3D printer, a kitchen table we designed and built about 7 years ago, our Artemide Tolomeo lamps, Loomis’ Japanese Kiritsuke Usuba knife, my bright yellow Robert August 8’ longboard

We wake up early in the morning to do yoga or to go surfing before sunrise. Mornings are dedicated family time. Whether enjoying a home-cooked breakfast or relaxing at our favorite local coffee shop in the tiny mountain town where we live, work doesn’t begin until about 9:30. From mid-morning, we are in a constant creative flow, working on various projects, so throughout the day we may be doing anything from rendering to 3D printing, photographing and cataloguing designs, writing, collaborating with other designers, casting concrete jewelry boxes, the list goes on. We make it a priority to truly enjoy family and the place where we live so on any given day we may drop office work to take an adventure to an interesting place on the island. Whether we are in the mountains or at the ocean, it’s hard to miss a sunset here. Dinner is always freshly prepared with the best local ingredients, often enjoyed with friends, and after getting our 6 year old son to bed, one or both of us continues working usually until about midnight. Life is good.

At all times stay true to yourself, keep yourself motivated, surround yourself with positive, creative people. Go to museums and art galleries, travel the world, experience other people’s cultures, act with integrity and live in authenticity. Constantly research and stay up to date with technology, learn to build and fabricate projects yourself - using your own hands, and learn to read and write contracts.

Have a strong concept; understand the material and pay close attention to detail

A designer needs to be an autodidact; the ability to teach oneself anything leads to self-discovery and creative growth. Aside from this, having manufacturing and construction skills will help designers better understand their own designs.

We use a sketchbook, ink pens and graphite during the design process. Inside our toolbox we have different tools for different projects; we use drills, sanders, planers, grinders and other manual tools for sculptures and furniture. For Jewelry design we use a wide array of software including but not limited to Rhino, 3DS Max, Grasshopper, Coding, Processing, Realflow, Z-brush and more, a Form2 3D printer, and wax as well as rubber molds to manufacture our prototypes.

Time is life, meaning a person’s use of his time is actually his life. My life is design. Everything is easily managed when I’m spending time doing what I love.

It depends on the type of project, the scale, and the level of inspiration. It could take from 45 minutes to 6 months.

How much?

Creating a contemporary jewelry company with my partner Loomis.

Designing rings. I see it as an indirect way to communicate with people around the world, a way to have a piece of your work in the hand of a person at all times.

Future plans are to design and build an environmentally sustainable off-grid workspace and retreat on a large agricultural property here on Big Island. We are currently working on the next Sheinfeld Rodriguez jewelry collection, slated for release in November 2017. Aside from expanding our jewelry concepts we would like to create more industrial design pieces and furniture. I will personally be focusing on developing new work for an art show in LA.

I am one-half of a team – which consists of me and my partner Loomis - with each of us bringing to the table varied skills and perspectives. As well, each of us has our own personal work and creative projects.

Our next jewelry collection is an exploration of the behavior of water.

The best way to contact me is through e-mail: info@sheinfeldrodriguez.com, our Instagram account @sheinfeldrodriguez or through our website www.sheinfeldrodriguez.com

Thanks, aloha