2021 Winner
2021 Winners
førs studio
førs brand launch
førs is a product design studio committed to designing thoughtful and sustainable products that connect us more profoundly to each other and, in doing so, reveal their shared humanity.
førs originated from an existing ceramics line created over ten years ago and is a continuation and expansion of that exploration. They were tasked with designing all aspects of førs, from the product, brand identity and packaging to the digital experience and launch.
TheyThey faced many exciting challenges building this business parallel to running theirtheir small design studio that is constantly busy. Given they are highly detailed and passionate by nature, they needed each element of førs to represent the values they hold true, conceptually and from a design perspective.
The product itself was designed to endure unapologetic use from the hospitality industry as well as home use. They saw an opportunity to develop a product that carried both quality/ design function while highlighting the importance of the simple moments in life from sharing a meal to long conversations with friends and family.
They took over every single component of the project. They sketched out their designs, created 3D models, reiterated and adjusted and then printed 3D samples again with passionate attention to detail until the table line was produced, including the development of the identity, marketing materials, packaging and brand.
They created an identity and language that mirrored theirr values. From using sustainable suppliers in production and packaging to the clarity by which they communicated, intentionality and purpose were always considered in design.
They decided they would launch førs into the world via a custom e-commerce platform. They partnered with Shopify to create this digital experience and realized that customizing a product to live up to their needs and design standards was a whole other challenge.
To solve this, they collaborated with developers to find workarounds to the platform's constraints. The shop’s custom modular grid was designed specifically for flexibility and flow. It was important to include opportunities for variation and movement so that the “Shop” page didn’t feel repetitive and could be re-configured as needed. This custom grid provides more control to curate products and storytell through photography. They also implemented an editorial space called “Wønder” into Shopify’s backend. This functionality is not native to Shopify and allowed them to have content beyond products for their users to engage with which was fundamental to launching the brand.
The result is a product line, identity and digital experience that are meticulously designed yet playful. In terms of product, each piece is characterized by gentle curves and minimalist silhouettes; forms determined by how each interacts with other objects and feels in one’s hands.
The care and attention from strategy to design has amassed a lot of attention, in Canada and internationally. Førs product is carried internationally via Design Milk and they have even fulfilled wholesale orders for restaurants in Latin America. They will have a prominent stockist in the Fall 2021 which will only further expand their reach and scope of possibilities. They are also currently working on their second product drop which will see the line expand into new colours.
For product design, they used the technology and accessibility of 3D printing to test in the ideation stages. This was especially important as they finessed the shape of their teapot spouts. They did not want a traditional spout and even when they were on their third revision, they kept pushing forward. They played with angles, shapes and sizes and finally through the addition of a small lip, were able to achieve a spout that was functional yet in line with the collection’s aesthetic.
Having an identity that also reflects the essence of the line was important. They created a language that was unique and expressive of the line’s soulfulness, rawness and simplicity were enriched through shadows and experimented with a rough photocopy quality. Aligned to its philosophy of the economy of means and honoring of essence, they printed on discarded papers and used recycled tape and boxes for packaging. This was carried over and adapted for the website where an understanding the flow of imagery was integral to the design—tones, shapes and forms imbue an emotional fluency.
The website also required a seamless shopping experience across platforms. A lot of thought and detail went into designing and finessing the quick cart and product pages so they could effectively hold the necessary content and functionalities. Their shop page navigation was built to easily access product collections. Its drop-down categories work as product filters to create custom groupings: plates & bowls, spices & sauces, tea & coffee and so on. Since they have more than 50 product variations, making curated collections ensures the user isn’t overwhelmed and can easily find a specific product.
førs originated from an existing ceramics line created over ten years ago and is a continuation and expansion of that exploration. They were tasked with designing all aspects of førs, from the product, brand identity and packaging to the digital experience and launch.
TheyThey faced many exciting challenges building this business parallel to running theirtheir small design studio that is constantly busy. Given they are highly detailed and passionate by nature, they needed each element of førs to represent the values they hold true, conceptually and from a design perspective.
The product itself was designed to endure unapologetic use from the hospitality industry as well as home use. They saw an opportunity to develop a product that carried both quality/ design function while highlighting the importance of the simple moments in life from sharing a meal to long conversations with friends and family.
They took over every single component of the project. They sketched out their designs, created 3D models, reiterated and adjusted and then printed 3D samples again with passionate attention to detail until the table line was produced, including the development of the identity, marketing materials, packaging and brand.
They created an identity and language that mirrored theirr values. From using sustainable suppliers in production and packaging to the clarity by which they communicated, intentionality and purpose were always considered in design.
They decided they would launch førs into the world via a custom e-commerce platform. They partnered with Shopify to create this digital experience and realized that customizing a product to live up to their needs and design standards was a whole other challenge.
To solve this, they collaborated with developers to find workarounds to the platform's constraints. The shop’s custom modular grid was designed specifically for flexibility and flow. It was important to include opportunities for variation and movement so that the “Shop” page didn’t feel repetitive and could be re-configured as needed. This custom grid provides more control to curate products and storytell through photography. They also implemented an editorial space called “Wønder” into Shopify’s backend. This functionality is not native to Shopify and allowed them to have content beyond products for their users to engage with which was fundamental to launching the brand.
The result is a product line, identity and digital experience that are meticulously designed yet playful. In terms of product, each piece is characterized by gentle curves and minimalist silhouettes; forms determined by how each interacts with other objects and feels in one’s hands.
The care and attention from strategy to design has amassed a lot of attention, in Canada and internationally. Førs product is carried internationally via Design Milk and they have even fulfilled wholesale orders for restaurants in Latin America. They will have a prominent stockist in the Fall 2021 which will only further expand their reach and scope of possibilities. They are also currently working on their second product drop which will see the line expand into new colours.
For product design, they used the technology and accessibility of 3D printing to test in the ideation stages. This was especially important as they finessed the shape of their teapot spouts. They did not want a traditional spout and even when they were on their third revision, they kept pushing forward. They played with angles, shapes and sizes and finally through the addition of a small lip, were able to achieve a spout that was functional yet in line with the collection’s aesthetic.
Having an identity that also reflects the essence of the line was important. They created a language that was unique and expressive of the line’s soulfulness, rawness and simplicity were enriched through shadows and experimented with a rough photocopy quality. Aligned to its philosophy of the economy of means and honoring of essence, they printed on discarded papers and used recycled tape and boxes for packaging. This was carried over and adapted for the website where an understanding the flow of imagery was integral to the design—tones, shapes and forms imbue an emotional fluency.
The website also required a seamless shopping experience across platforms. A lot of thought and detail went into designing and finessing the quick cart and product pages so they could effectively hold the necessary content and functionalities. Their shop page navigation was built to easily access product collections. Its drop-down categories work as product filters to create custom groupings: plates & bowls, spices & sauces, tea & coffee and so on. Since they have more than 50 product variations, making curated collections ensures the user isn’t overwhelmed and can easily find a specific product.