The Artifact Blog
Material Parables: Stitching History into a Dopp Kit
Posted by Chris Hughes on

We turned a batch of original WWII era U.S. Army shelter halves—rugged canvas tent panels—into one-of-a-kind dopp kits. Each bears the marks of time, field repairs, and use. In this Material Parable, we explore what it means to preserve history through craft and give materials a second life.
Handmade in the AI Age (Part II): Useful Work
Posted by Chris Hughes on

A look at William Morris and the Arts & Crafts Movement—how a call for meaningful, beautiful work in the 19th century still resonates today. From English workshops to American reform pottery, this essay explores how handmade labor remains a cultural response to automation.
Handmade in the AI Age (Part 1): A Human Touch
Posted by Chris Hughes on

In a time of digital acceleration and AI-generated creativity, what does it mean to make something by hand? This opening essay in our Handmade in the AI Age series explores the enduring value of craft—as work, as meaning, and as quiet resistance.
Where Utility Meets Story — Material Parables, Episode 1
Posted by Chris Hughes on

After years of daily use, a workshop apron returns to our studio. In this first episode of Material Parables, we follow designer and woodworker Jonathan of White and Red Works—and the story stitched into his gear.
Retail Reimagined: Europe's Inspiring Home, Garden, and Hardware Stores
Posted by Chris Hughes on

Traveling through Europe offers an inspiring glimpse into a retail philosophy distinctly different from America's big-box landscape. European shops emphasize intentionality, craftsmanship, and thoughtful visual storytelling.