SYLVANUS URBAN Sylvanus Urban - "The Energy Issue " | Page 48

Shop Talk
DESIGN FOR GOOD
Los Angeles based artisan and creative mind behind urban tactical
accessory brand DR-14 Sheron Barber speaks about inspiration, good
design, and ownership in a creative industry.
"
Innovation is tucked
mind that may not ha
and it may be what yo
them to create what’s
ON INSPIRATION ON BREAKING THROUGH
This is funny but very
random places. I won’t look at
what a stylish person is doing as
far as style. I’m looking at people
riding the bus, riding the train
seeing what kind of functionality
they need to get them through
their day. They are living a
tactical lifestyle – urban tactical.
I'll pay attention to how they are
layering their garments. Places
like that. Just everyday people
trying to get through their day as
seamlessly as possible. My personal breakthrough moment was when I realized that my gift
was in design and the production of things. The industry breakthrough
moment was the chest rig (bag) that I created. It was the first thing I
built that made people look at what else I was doing and what I was
capable of.
ON FAILURE
I’ve had so many failures. I try
things. I never design for money.
I always do it for self-fulfillment.
My ideas may not make sense
financially.
There are so many
things that I’ve been passionate
about and I put thousands of
hours into it, and then I realize
that it’s not a scalable business.
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ON DESIGN
Try to solve problems. A lot of people design things because they
want to make something cool or want to make something with a logo
on it. That’s great to do, but I believe the foundation of good design is
creating things that solve a problem for humanity. If I can make a shoe
that makes it better for you to walk long distances, I’m designing a shoe
that contributes to the fabric of society in some way. My advice is always
create something that has a purpose and solves a problem, even if it’s the
most minuscule problem.
ON OWNERSHIP
The mindset that I stay away from is ownership. When it comes
to design, I try not to own stuff. People will come to me and say "look,
that person is copying you or that person is copying you." I think that’s a
mentality that we need to move away from. Innovation is tucked inside
of someone's mind that may not have done anything yet, and it may be
what you create that inspires them to create what’s next.
The Energy Issue
S y l v a n u s - Ur b a n . c o m