We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kari Merkl. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kari below.
Kari, appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
I don’t think of myself as a risk taker but I have taken many risks over the past 15 years in business. Sometimes I think of them as strategic risks but if I really think about it some of the risks have been intuitive risks. Following a curiosity vs following the numbers. Some of these risks have been successful and some have not. I read something years ago about someone throwing a line out and following that line. I have done that a lot in my business. I think the biggest risk I often take is being too scared to pivot and change course and in the bigger picture that can be a passive risk as a business owner. Trying new things has to be part of a creative business and this often means some level of risk.
Kari, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Merkled Studio is a design and manufacturing company based in Portland, Oregon. Owned by designer and craftswomen Kari Merkl, Merkled Studio creates contemporary furniture, fixtures, and products for residential and commercial spaces.
Merkled Studio is a process driven studio that values simplicity, quality, handcraft, and materiality.
I have been designing and creating objects of function for the past 20 years. My study of architecture eventually led me to the world of industrial design. This background in spatial aesthetics informed my sense of conceptual design and hands on fabrication, allowing me to move freely between both worlds. Merkled Studio’s work reflects my own appreciation for materials, mechanics and craft.
Merkled Studio’s work has been shown at galleries and retail stores around the world including the NY MOMA Design Store, ICFF, IDS, and NeoCon
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I think I am most proud that we have been able to maintain that all of our products are crafted in the U.S. We fabricate and assemble all of our products in-house and work closely with a valued network of local vendors.
Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?
We do manufacture all our product in house along with working with a valued network of local vendors. We have worked with some of these vendors for over 15 years.
Working collaboratively with our vendors means a lot to me and our process. I value the expertise that my collaborators have and often these collaborations inform the design or production of some of our pieces.
I have a background in architecture, metal fabrication and soft goods design. All of this knowledge comes into the design of Merkled Studio products.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I am a very loyal person and do prefer to work with companies for years. I really appreciate a short hand in the process. However, I have had to learn in the past few years that sometimes pivoting to working with new vendors has to happen. If communication becomes too hard then it might be time to find new and better partnerships. I have had to learn this the hard way unfortunately.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.merkled.com
- Instagram: @merkledstudio
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merkled/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/merkledstudio/
Image Credits
*Product Photo Credit Merkled Studio / Process Photo Credit Ali Gradischer