Todays interview is with Steven Shaver, jewelry and furniture designer. He never imagined that the career direction he would ultimately choose would take him down an artistic path of creating functional art, furnishings and awards made from car parts and other recycled industrial artifacts. Please feel free to leave him a comment or ask more questions. I Bet we could get him to answer more.

SD: When and how did get into jewelry design?
SS: I just got into jewelry design last month so its a new venture for me. I’ve been creating all kinds of things for about 15 years – mostly clocks, lamps, furniture and awards made from car parts and other industrial objects. I had a box of defective conveyor belts from a factory and they were sitting around for about a year in my shop before I decided to make jewelry with them. I liked the colors, textures and flexibility of the material as a change to designing with hard, greasy car parts that I usually work with. This led to also looking for vintage tags, small car parts and other industrial items to utilize as jewelry.

SD: Describe for us your creative process? Is it the same you use for furniture?
SS: My creative process is similar for all items make. It’s like solving a puzzle, but starts from being inspired. If I am creating something for a company or event, then the process involves finding the right parts and materials based the theme of the occasion. On the other hand, if there is no occasion then I might go on a treasure hunt to a salvage yard, search Ebay or call companies to get their recycled parts and then figure out the artistic purposes that suit the found objects. Sometimes I’ll render a design on the computer if a client needs to see something, but usually I just start tinkering around with the found objects in hand until I figure out a design direction. I try to work with the inherent characteristics and form of the found objects and not alter that too much. I don’t weld, but use adhesives and nuts and bolts and hand tools and machines for drilling and cutting. I’m usually roaming the aisles of the hardware stores looking for the right stuff and the store staff knows me all too well! As for the process of generating ideas, I get ideas when I least expect them and in the strangest places. I’ve created enough things that I have gained the confidence and knowledge to make it some how come together successfully before the final hour – particularly when there is a deadline for a project!

SD: What is your favorite item you have designed?
SS: Probably the trophies I created from chrome car parts and Swarovski crystals for the 2006 ESPN GM “King of Bling” celebrity car show or the gift I made from Mercedes car parts for Hugh Hefner at the Playboy Mansion. I was also fortunate enough to get to attend the celebrity events!

SD: If that item could talk, what would it say?
SS: The item(s) would say “you were a king for a day”.

SD: What inspires your designs?
SS: Finding interesting and otherwise unnoticed recycled parts and materials with history and story to tell – particularly vintage car parts or anything mechanical – and the challenge of figuring out what new artistic purpose I can give them inspires me. When I get something into my hands the ideas begin to come to life. I am branching off into many areas of recycling and upcycling so there is no limit to what I can be repurposed! I am also designing t-shirts inspired by my interest in bicycles and everyday symbols. On a personal level, if I am creating something specifically for someone, it really inspires me when I know about their interests and that it will have meaning for that person who receives it.

SD: Are you self taught designer if not, where and what did you study?
SS: I am a self taught designer. I have a B.A. college degree in International Business, which helps on the business side of things. I’ve also completed a few design and art classes along the way.

SD: Do you find the trend to recycle and reuse for the health of the planet a big influence, or do you think you would have the same passion for making art out of found objects without this urgent trend?
SS: I started using recycled car parts for making art about 12 years ago before recycling became an urgent trend for the health of our planet so I already had the passion for making art from found objects. Before I was mostly interested in how cool the recycled part or material was as a potential art piece and the story behind it, but now the importance and impact of recycling and reusing to help our planet is a big influence.

SD: What does your average day entail?
SS: On an ideal day, I am working on a couple of different custom projects that I am doing for companies or events in addition to fulfilling orders from different websites and stores where I sell my art. After breakfast and coffee, checking my email and making calls I am usually in the shop working on something. I try to go exercise at the end of the day and enjoy the evening with my wife. No matter what, I try to make something new or at least come up with a new idea each day.

SD: What is the one item in your wardrobe you can’t live without?
SS: Probably my shorts.

SD: How would you describe your personal style? And who or what influences that style?
SS: My personal style is kind of casual or minimal. I am a t-shirt, jeans and shorts guy since I live near the beach and work in the shop. Black or blue are my favorite colors of choice to wear. I guess an occasion or being comfortable influences my style.

SD: What is your fashion obsession of the moment?
SS: I don’t have one for myself. However, right now looking for the right maternity clothes for my pregnant wife will be a 9 month fashion obsession! Then comes the baby clothes obsession!

SD: If there was one designer on Smashing Darling that you could ask a question to who would it be and what would you ask them?
SS: I would ask any of the designers on Smashing Darling who are successful with their art what are their keys to success.

You can view his jewelry here and his trophies and furnishings here.

Today Steven lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife Ana and his creations have been featured in major newspapers and magazines, shown on television and made for some of the best companies and CEO’s including Mercedes Benz USA, GM, Volkswagen, Honda, Red Bull Racing, IBM, Wachovia Securities, Texas Instruments and the San Francisco Environmental Dept.; and presented at upscale events to celebrities such as Hugh Hefner, Jay Leno, Nicolas Cage, Dwayne Wade, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris and Cedric the Entertainer.

Again, please leave a comment or ask Steven more questions. Like don’t you want to know what he presented to Hugh Hef or Jay Leno?

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