Jonathan Igharas of Alexander Suvajac are the duo behind one of the coolest things on wheels in Vancouver, the DJ Tricycle, but they do many things besides. Their company, Makeuse, is a multi-disciplinary design studio, experimental laboratory, and creative think tank that re-explores the primitive acts of ‘making’ and ‘using’ in the 21st century. They are makers of meaningful products, purposeful environments and productive habits that enable balanced well-being, activity and leisure; global citizens working towards becoming evermore engaged with – and conscious of – the world we experience daily. Say hello to J and A…

Scout Q&A

Three things about  your neighbourhood that make you want to live there:

A. Just three, hey? Well…one, people have and use clotheslines to dry laundry. Two, the entertainment value of a stroll down Main Street. And three, the independent businesses that make the place vibrant – locally owned, run and supported – that’s Riley Park.

J. I’m temporarily staying at a friend’s house but if I were to choose a neighbourhood to live in it would definitely be Strathcona. What attracts me to Strathcona are the progressive thinkers and creative individuals that reside there, its community-oriented atmosphere, and its proximity to the heart of Vancouver–I love being able to walk or ride my bike anywhere I need to go.

Why Makeuse?

Makeuse is the combination of the words: make + use.  Makeuse for us implies two fundamental meanings: One, to make use of something (as in being resourceful) and two, to make something useful (as in giving purpose).  We wanted our name to suggest the primitive act, or back-to-basics mentality of what we both are passionate about, which is the creative act and process of designing; making and using artifacts that are not only beautiful but also purposeful.  We admire simplicity and truth in materials and take pleasure in things that work well.  Overall, Makeuse is our philosophy, filter and approach to keeping us resourceful and practical, yet innovative and contemporary–several “musts” in a rapidly changing world that has an overabundance of “stuff”.

What inspires you?

J. I find inspiration everywhere, on road trips that take me through expansive landscapes and mountainous terrain, in museums to see and learn about ancient artifacts, film and photography, BBC’s Planet Earth series, books and magazines, live music shows…the list could continue, but what inspires me the most in life is traveling and being immersed in other cultures and natural environments around the globe.

A. It’s difficult not to be inspired by the internet–it’s a looking glass into the world.  Inversely, plants and natural systems intrigue me.  To experience them, I need to be as far away from the internet as possible.

Where do you source materials for Makeuse?

As close to home as possible: back alleyways, garage sales, The Salvation Army, thrift stores, antique shops, and our most favourite of all, Craigslist, especially from the free section!  A recent discovery for finding cheap odds and ends is at the DNC (Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council) Street Market & Fair at Pigeon Park that is held every Sunday afternoon.

What is your absolute favourite Makeuse creation?

J. The Unwind Table. I feel that all of its elements, from concept to completion, exemplify the Makeuse ethos.  How the idea was conceived, what materials were chosen, method of assembly and execution, and finally, end aesthetic demonstrate our approach to thinking and making.  It’s a mix-mash of ideas and materials that are reminiscent of, and informed by, my past and recent experiences. Semiotically, each element is linked to a memory, time or interest that I’ve had in life.  The cassette tapes, for instance, remind me of when my younger brother and I were kids and used to pretend to be radio DJs.  We would play music and record our voices onto mixtapes using an old stereo boombox that our parents had bought us.  The textile surface, which was made by pulling out the ribbons from each tape and hand-weaving them together with strips of mis-printed Tetra Pak paper, reminds me of our time interning in the Philippines.  There, we researched bamboo and other indigenous materials for four-months while living on the top floor of a loom-weaving factory.  Another reason for this being my favourite Makeuse creation is because it was pure fun.  I made it when I was studying in the Netherlands, where I was surrounded by lively, creative and talented individuals.

A. Our studio workbench ranks up there.

A dream project – the thing you are dying to create:

J. An eco-cultural community centre and village of studios centered around art, music, craft and design on an island filled with bamboo somewhere in the Philippine archipelago.

A. Architecture in harmony with nature that inspires people to personally explore the creative passion within.

Is there a local designer that you admire?

A. Peter Pierobon and Joji Fukushima along with Jessica Vaira from Twigg & Hottie. I’d like to give a nod to anyone else designing his or her life in a way that puts passion before a paycheck.

J. I believe everyone is a designer in some way so I would say that I admire the “everyday” designer.  This could be someone living on the streets, someone working at the post office, or even your next door neighbour.

Tell us about your favourite space to work:

J. I can’t say that I have a favourite space to work, but I know that I am most productive when I’m traveling. Being transient keeps my mind and body active and my soul inspired.

A. Yeah, Jon and I are pretty fluid as far as what defines workspace. When I can’t tell the difference between work and life, I’m in my favourite spot.

The strangest ‘repurposed’ item/material that you have employed?

It’s a toss-up between zippers on lighting or turntables on a tricycle. It’s like wearing a tuque in the middle of summer–sometimes it just works.

Most exciting adventure the DJ Trike has seen:

J. June’s Critical Mass ride in celebration of Vancouver Bike Month.  The first stage of the adventure was from the Vancouver Art Gallery to Lion’s Gate Bridge.  At the apex of the bridge, cyclists gathered and blocked traffic from both directions.  When we reached the moment of “critical mass”, we proceeded to throw a flashmob-style dance party for hundreds of bike lovers and enthusiasts that lasted for at least half an hour.  The scene DJing on the bridge and view overlooking downtown Vancouver was so epic!  The second stage of the adventure was from the bridge back down to Third Beach in Stanley Park where we watched the sunset, started a bonfire, and partied the night away with the DJ Trike rolled up right in the sand.  By the time we arrived back at our studio in Gastown the sun was just beginning to rise.  We were exhausted but knew that it was totally worth the journey.

A. Agreed!

One of my favourite Makeuse creations is the Takeout Chandelier. What came first, the lonely take-out container sitting on your counter or the idea for a chandelier?

J. The take-out container.  I was eating at a hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant one day in Chinatown and saw a stack of paper take-out containers sitting behind the cashier’s counter.  I noticed the tab system used for closing them and instantly had one of those ah-ha! moments.  The following day I went to a craft store that carried similar take-out style containers and bought as many as I could afford in three different sizes.  I then began experimenting by connecting them together in as many configurations as I could imagine.  After messing around with them for a while, I found that the containers fit perfectly side-by-side so I began connecting them together until they naturally formed a ring.   From there, I made several more rings in varying sizes, connecting each by stacking it on top of its partner, finally playing with the number of containers used in each layer to reach a form that I was happy with.

What sort of music do you listen to when you are working?

It really depends on the task and at what particular phase a project is in (ideation, model-making, computer work, workshop, etc.).  Music is movement for us so the more physically demanding an activity is, the faster and heavier it gets.  In general, together we listen to an eclectic mix–anything from old-school hip-hop, Motown soul, funk, oldies, reggae, and world beats, to indie rock, electro-house, trip-hop, lo-fi, downtempo electronica, and a bit of dubstep.  These days we’re really into DJ mashups, electronic remixes, and a lot of alternative, off-beat type stuff.

Why is Vancouver a good city for design?

J. Vancouver’s design scene is constantly growing and I feel there is a new wave of creative energy as well as a heightened awareness of the importance of design borne from the aftermath of the Winter Olympics.  Additionally, being on the West Coast of North America permits opportunities to work cross-culturally in many regions around Asia, which has had an enormous impact on this city over the years and will continue to do so in the future.  Overall, it’s an incredibly exciting multicultural city to be living in and I find there are a lot of creative people with forward-thinking ideas wanting to make a positive impact.

A. Because of what is north of us.  We are a global metropolis on the edge of wilderness.  It’s an important time to connect with what’s really important.

Describe your favourite part of a typical Makeuse day:

A. Our days are natural evolutions but if on that day something was made then that’s the nectar.

J. Taking the DJ Trike out to Victory Square Park during Lunch hours on a sunny day and playing tunes for all sorts of people we meet or bump into living and working in the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood.

If you could pick one of your creations to sum up the Makeuse vision, which one would you choose?

It would definitely be the Makeuse partnership. We first met and began working together on a four-month internship program in the Philippines in 2007, learning about design in an international development setting and researching bamboo and other indigenous materials. The internship enabled us to explore and better understand the broader scope and implications of design. Through our many travels and shared experiences overseas, under some unique circumstances, we ended up developing a dynamic bond and brotherly trust with each other. Those memorable experiences have informed Makeuse’s philosophy, approach and vision. That said, we like to say that we have joined forces in creative exploration and expression and are both excited about Makeuse’s evolution.