A designer's road leads to Umbra

By Lydia McNutt
May 26, 2014
Umbra designer Alan Wisniewski knew from an early age that creating was his calling, and lucky for him (and the rest of the world's décor enthusiasts) the road led him to the Toronto-based housewares company. Umbra was founded by two childhood friends in 1979 and today sells more than 2,000 products through 25,000 retailers in 75 countries. This inspiring design environment encouraged the concept of “free thinking” and today Alan is creating some of Umbra’s most-memorable designs to date.Umbra Designer Alan Wisniewski“My parents always told me I was a bit different growing up – taking things apart, examining them and putting them back together,” Alan recalls. But it wasn’t until his high-school art teacher encouraged him to explore industrial design further that he seriously considered his hobby to be a potential career. “After doing some research and talking to some people in the industry, I knew this was what I wanted to do.”

The door to Umbra

Getting his foot in the door at Umbra wasn’t easy, nor was it expected. “I actually heard of Umbra through my girlfriend’s mother, who is very into design,” Alan explains. “She had bought a Bungee card case and I was amazed by the concept, aesthetic and quality. From there I contacted the company persistently looking for any opportunity.”That persistence overcame resistance, so to speak, landing Adam his dream job, as he calls it. “What I love about our team is that the creativity is always flowing and they really encourage us to just let our minds go wild. No matter how ridiculous the idea, it can lead to something huge.” And in Alan’s case, it has!Alan’s inspiration crosses the nature-technology divide, which keeps him on top of the trends while staying true to his style. “I find design inspiration everywhere, from nature and my surroundings to magazines, blogs and other media. My mind is always in design, even when trying to sleep. I really love to come up with new ideas and have fun doing so.”Alan’s design philosophy is to live design all day every day, not just 9 to 5. “My mind is always examining and thinking, looking at everyday objects and trying to reinvent them. I love what I do and take real pride in the products I design. It’s so thrilling to see an idea go from a thumbnail sketch to being in people’s homes.”Alan’s designs for Umbra achieve the delicate balance between fashion and function, which is not an easy feat. It's what makes them so popular. “If a product has too much of either, it may not speak to people. If a product performs its function well and looks great doing so, I consider that a great product.”

About Lydia McNutt

Lydia McNutt is an award-winning writer and editor.

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