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We are a little
obsessed with the product line made by Seattle’s Three
by Three, especially their
tiny yet mighty
magnets and colorful Big
Dot magnetic boards. You’ll find both all over the fred
flare offices! Recently we chatted with founders Anita Nadelson and Gwen
Weinberg to find out more
about their company and to learn what these talented ladies are "stuck" on
these days. Read on to
discover more about Three by Three Seattle.
How did Three by Three Seattle
begin and what's the origin of the name?
Our company began as two college friends who wanted to start a business
together: one who
was good at making things, the other good at selling them. Our silly answer
to the origin of the
name is: We're both triplets! The long answer is: When we started our company
ten years ago,
we were looking for a neutral name that wouldn't tie us down to any specific
type of product,
since we had no idea what direction our line would eventually take. We
also wanted a name
that we wouldn't hate after answering the phone a million times. At the
time, Gwen was making
a 3x3x3 box – it sounded right – and VOILA, Three by Three
was born.
How did you start designing
and producing magnets?
We had always worked with metal and wanted to design a frame where the
photos were easily
changeable; magnets were the solution. We were inspired by mid-century
designs and colors, and
from this came our Color Dot magnets and our Refrigerator Frames. People
loved the magnets so
we started packaging them separately, and we've continued to add to our
magnet line ever since.
What's your current fave Three
by Three product?
A: Anywheres. I love the concept of creating a tiny magnetic bulletin board
anywhere you like.
They're totally functional, and the colors add a decorative touch to any
surface.
G: I am really liking the Big
Dot Bulletin Boards right now... I like the
way they create a bold
graphic image on the wall. Who doesn't love a giant dot? It's great when
people tell me they're not
really using it as a bulletin board, but just as a big bright dot on their
wall. (And PS: one of the girls
featured on your site, Angela, named this product when she was here in
Seattle! Her exact quote
was: "Oh my God, it's a Big Dot!")
We love the simple geometry of your
products! Are you girls good at math or what?
Why yes, we are SO good at math, we've even coined a new geometry word
for our favorite
shape combination, the circle-in-square: SQUIRCLE. You like it? (We get
$.05 every time someone uses it. Squircle, squircle, squircle.)
What inspires you?
Caffeine. Also, trying to get to that point in designing a product when
you know it's just right,
when you know it's finished and you can put it out there for everyone.
Who are your design idols?
Verner Panton, George Nelson, and the Roman who designed the floor of the
Pantheon.
We always like to ask... What
music do you listen to at work? Give us the current playlist.
The music rotation is usually based on who stands closest to the stereo.
Currently in the CD
player: Half-Japanese, The GoGos, Rosie Thomas, Pixies, Built to Spill,
and Velvet Underground.
What were your looks in the
80's???
Bangles and bangs.
We've never been to Seattle,
but would love to visit someday. What are some of your fave places
there?
Discovery Park, Golden Gardens, Alki (view and sunset spots)...Hybrid (great
vintage mid-century
furnishings), Dish Urban Market (we eat there daily!), Le Pichet (tres
francais), Cinerama, Lighthouse
Roasters… Come visit!
Any advice for aspiring product
designers?
Only make something you yourself would use, or at least would give as a
gift to your hip
sister-in-law.
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