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Emily Siwek
Influencers 16 years ago No Comments

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Get ready to slap yourself upside the head V-8 style and say “Now why didn’t I think of that”” Emily Siwek has beaten us all to the punch with a brilliant solution to a problem that every designer faces every day. emilysiwektitle.gifThis graduate from both the University of Michigan (Bachelor of Arts) and Eastern Michigan University (Master’s in Interior Design) has founded Sample Scrap, a company that takes discontinued and surplus samples from both A&D firm libraries and manufacturer warehouses to a) re-package them in sample kits for students and educators, b) make them available to artists and crafters, and c) re-purpose them into new creations of her own. (Do we hear some of those head slaps out there”) We’re delighted to tell you how Emily, self-proclaimed Head Scrapper, is actually doing something about an issue that has weighed many a designer down with either sagging library shelves, eco-friendly guilt, or both.

 

Have you always been drawn to the creative fields or did you ever see yourself doing something else”

Well, at one point I wanted to be a professional athlete – but don’t we all” I took a more liberal arts path in college but struggled to find something that would provide a creative outlet as well. All the while I was constantly arranging and emilysiwekweb.jpgre-arranging my dorm room and treating interior design as more of a hobby until I made the decision to go back to school and make it a career.

What interior design focused positions have you held”

I have been lucky enough to work in many different sectors of interior design: institutional, residential, and commercial. My first position was at Eastern Michigan University’s physical plant where I worked mainly on a dormitory renovation. Next I moved onto Momus, Inc, a high end firm focusing primarily on residential work in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where I learned a lot about fine finishes, architectural details, and the impact of color. From there I was able to obtain a position at a retail architecture firm and have been involved with the design for regional mall renovations, new construction, and lifestyle centers.

How did the idea for Sample Scrap come about and how long have you been at it”

The idea for Sample Scrap came about, ironically, just as I was finishing school. I had long been a hoarder of samples and was always gathering extras or taking home discontinued samples from work for my school projects. As I completed my Masters I found myself with a ton of samples that I didn’t have the heart to throw away. It struck me how that in the workplace so many materials are discarded due to lack of space while, in school, these samples – especially unique or current products – were highly valued.

I started thinking that maybe other students would be interested in my stash and then got the idea to contact other firms and manufacturers to see if they had samples to donate. The manufacturers were especially receptive to the idea because it gives them a chance to avoid throwing discontinued items away and providing exposure to the next generation of designers.

How are you getting the word out about Sample Scrap and where do you see it going”

I started by connecting with my former professors, coworkers, and students. I also opened a shop on Etsy and have enjoyed interacting with a community of crafters and business owners. I think there is great potential for material sampling to grow in all markets as I imagine that nearly all design firms find themselves with items to donate. I hope that Sample Scrap will become a centralized source for students to obtain high quality design samples for their projects.

In addition, Sample Scrap is also diversifying into the reclamation of discontinued fabrics from textile manufacturers and COM remnants from furniture manufacturers, such as Worden in Holland, Michigan. This is a sustainable measure that not only diverts these materials from the landfill, but also provides exposure of trade only materials at a reasonable price to students, designers, and artists.

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Describe a day in the life of Emily Siwek.

Everyday I try to reach out to new manufacturers and the design community for donations, add new fabrics for sale, research marketing opportunities, and develop new packaging options for the samples I receive.

Compare the skills and wisdom that you learned in school to those that you have you learned only through your experiences.

There are so many practical things that I think you can only learn through experience. That said, I have had great teachers at work and in school that have helped me to better myself by focusing on my strengths. When I first started out, I tried to do everything. In the workplace, however, I’ve found that there is a benefit to allowing designers to play to their talents and draw from coworkers who have different skill sets.

How can the interior design industry establish better communication and collaboration between its academic world and its practitioner / manufacturer world”

I hope that Sample Scrap can help to bridge that gap somewhat. It is not always feasible for manufacturers to offer samples to students and, as a result, students are often only familiar with what can be found in their school’s library, which is often out of date and lacking inspiration. I also think this site (PLiNTH & CHiNTZ), and professional organizations [such as IIDA] are a great way to share information on the “real world” of design.

What is the best advice that you could give a student emerging from school”

Try to get your hands into every aspect of the business – not only will you be more valuable to an employer by understanding how other departments run, but it will help you to discover your own niche.

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Is there any other information that you would like to mention that we haven’t covered”

My other passion, besides samples of course, is color! It was the focus of my thesis research, and I love learning about color trends and theory. [Emily has also founded Colorsmith, a consulting firm offering expertise in color selection.]

Now for the lighter side…

Poolside or sandy beach”
Definitely poolside… no sea creatures for me.

Favorite ice cream flavor”
Anything with chocolate, peanut butter, or a combination of the two.

If you could only see one movie this summer, what would it be”
Well, I love movies, so it’s hard for me to pick just one. Right now I am trying to convince my husband to see Mama Mia! with me instead of Batman. Wish me luck.

What’s the one thing that you wish you knew more about”
I would really like to learn how to sew. So far I have a sewing machine but no clue how to use it. I am working on it though… especially now that I am surrounded by fabric!

If you are feeling scrappy or are a fellow French Bulldog lover (Emily is involved with the French Bulldog Rescue Network in honor of her two frenchies, Barkley and Beau), feel free to drop her a line at emily@samplescrap.com.