Geoffrey Finkel

First Project

I don't remember my first project - I do remember a significant project - an Executive Office in Beverly Hills. We had many challenges and were inspired to use our skills to take the Interior Designer's vision - and create one-of-a-kind furniture items for a very demanding client. We were breaking new ground, with imposing layout; engineering, and manufacturing requirements. The design aesthetic was clear and well thought out - we had worked with this designer for many years and developed a vocabulary - requiring very little effort to take his design concept from paper to reality. The materials were complex choices, focusing on picking the right wood veneer for the right application: a Quartered Ebony and Birdseye Maple geometric puzzle, with dramatic contrasts, comprised of radial and angular forms. I, when we first received the requirements for a full sized layout from our veneer face maker, took it upon myself to get a piece of Birch plywood from the shop - take it home, and over the period of a weekend, laid out - by hand - all of the radial lines; diamonds and triangles; veneer pie segments; and intersections. On hands and knees, I took pencil & straightedge, compass points & arcs, and merged them into a perfect balance of precise geometric art-forms. The rest was up to the face maker and the plywood laminator. We sought out the best technology of the time and found a veneer face maker - who was using a service provider - who had a laser. We had recently heard that lasers had been developed that could precisely cut veneers without burning or discoloring edges. The plywood template was shipped to the Mid-West and left to artisan hands to accomplish. When the loose veneer segments arrived - we inspected the precisely cut parts - with sharp points and crisp, clean, and straight edges. The parts were then shipped to the plywood laminator. Piece by piece the faces were assembled - detail by detail - edge by edge - point by point. When finished, we all marveled at the symmetry, the precision of the fabrication, and the cleverness of the design. The ultimate reward was the satisfaction of a client - as a patron of the arts; of a Designer / Client - who provided the impetus and initial design direction; and from our colleagues who complemented and supported our work. Each day I see images of the finished work, I marvel at how this project matured me - by challenging me to take on difficult tasks - and by giving me the opportunity to manage a complex project, through, from a concept to a beautiful reality. (see example of the finished table - below)