| In 1992 I started a company in Wellington, New Zealand. I had been doing a lot of rock climbing and making relevant things in my bedroom while at school, mostly on a sewing machine, and selling them to outdoor stores. I decided that what was then a very local and successful outdoor products scene shared by a few incumbent brands could do with a shake up. Presumptuous I know. The company Cactus Climbing Equipment still exists and I am still a Director. For the first 15 years of it's life I was at first everything then specialised in the design side as partners bought into the business and took over the other aspects. Running a small business teaches you a lot and there is not a lot I do not know about the design and manufacture of heavy sewn products. Cactus specialises in gear that wears in, not out and that has lead us to design and production contracts for New Zealand Post, the NZ Police, media companies, and most of the NZ ski fields and guiding companies. We also consulted on numerous projects where other design companies were seeking expertise in materials and processes which they were not familiar with. I'll be back here soon to write up some of my favourite projects. |
Industrial design |