John Robertson is a highly skilled professional designer, craftsperson and brainchild behind VerticesEdge. A brand that recently caught the eye of #TeamCoco and we had to go along to find out more.
Here, John chats to us about his brand, plans for the future and so much more…
When did you launch the brand and what was the reason behind it?
I haven’t had a launch date but started my own company to produce items/pieces to showcase my 20 plus years as a skilled designer and craftman. I want my customers to own unique exquisite pieces from VerticesEdge Ltd.
What is your background?
My training in creative arts has included the widest spectrum of subjects including fine art, textiles, photography, jewellery and sculpture, stained glass, CAD modelling, animation, graphic design, the art foundation at Central St Martins and studying Jewellery, Silversmithing and Applied Crafts degree at Guildhall University.
I started my professional CAD career 3D CAD modelling the £50M SegaWorld theme park, Trocadero Centre, Piccadilly Circus, London, for creative media company Artewisdom and Architects RTKL, using the software 3D Studio v2 in MS DOS, creating 3D renders and animations for the approval process and news media broadcasts, these were published in architectural journals and reference books including Social Spaces Volume 1.
I went on to establish the Rapid Prototyping department in one of Europe’s largest Platinum jewellery casting companies. This placed them as one of the first Rapid Prototyping bureau services in the Jewellery industry in Europe. The design collections I produced for are now regarded as modern design classics published in industry catalogues, and supplied worldwide.
I was then commissioned in 2005 by the Goldsmiths’ Company, one of the oldest Livery Companies of the City of London, to write publications on CAD for 3D Printing, consisting of two technical reports aimed at demystifying the Computer Aided Design (CAD) process and its associated terminology, it was designed as a reference guide for British companies when embarking on a CAD system for their design and production process.
The reports were combined and published by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and entitled: An Introduction to Computer Aided Design (CAD) for the Jewellery and Silversmithing Industry, in ebook, CD-ROM and Print. The book was highly successful.
The wealth of knowledge and experience I have gained in these specialist areas has enabled me to present creative industry talks on 3D printing on diverse creative 3D subject matters.
Projects included providing the full colour 3D printing solution, expert technical advice, support services and consumables for the iMakr Mini-You 3D scanning and full colour 3D printing service.
Collaborating on the Stop Cyberbullying Day 2014 campaign ad for the charity Cybersmile, working with photographer Max Oppenheim prosthetic makeup artist Bill Turpin, and award-winning retouching house and animation studio Happy Finish.
What is the hardest challenge you have faced since you started the company?
Setting up the company, I’ve been working almost all round the clock to ensure every aspect in detail is up to a very high standard. I am my own critic and I judge everything I do to ensure there is always to the highest quality. Aterah Meltz my chartered manager is very focused and leads with her quality, this helps make things a bit easier for me.
Tell us one fact about you that people wouldn’t know?
I have been collecting vinyl records since I was at school, hunting through record shops in London for rare grove, jazz, funk, soul, many of the records are the original recordings which where sampled in the early hip hop days. George Clinton mastermind of Parliament and Funkadelic once draw for me a picture of the dog in me with colourful Crayons, cherishing this drawing to this day. I love all Music, Music is life.
Where do you plan on taking the brand?
Having 3D modeled the architectural interior fly through of SegaWorld theme part in Piccadilly London for the architects, and set up the 3D printing department for one of Europe’s largest platinum jewellery companies, I have an all rounded creative background and will be using my extensive creative skills in every area to make and produce interesting, unique and exquisite pieces of jewellery, art, objet d’art pieces and much more. Keep on the looking out for upcoming designs.
To date, what has been the highlight since launching?
There are many, I am honoured to have received the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) Design/Craft Membership recently. The Coat of Arms is a Mark of Quality I will proudly display. NAJ membership is the mark of professionalism for retailers, trade members, service providers and designers.
Which city do you feel most at home in, London, Paris or New York?
London is my home and base. As a youth going to Art collage in central London, I’ve known all the routes and alley ways by foot. There are lots of surprises and interesting things to see in such a city of great history.
Best thing about London to you?
The galleries, exhibitions and museums, also the public green spaces are all things I find interesting, could not choose between them.
Best place for a coffee?
I have a favorite patisserie shop in Soho London I go to and have a pot of tea and a nice slice of homemade cake.
Most memorable piece of advice given to you?
Patience is virtue. When you are a teenager or youth you tend to want everything to happen as fast as possible. With time and experience you realise you gain knowledge daily and is up to you to use it wisely in making your goals.
Guilty pleasure?
I’m a gamer, in my spare time (but don’t seem to have much lately) I spend a couple hours playing classic and new games.
If you could spent 24 hours in anywhere in the world, where would it be?
The Caribbean, where there is lots of sunshine and a layback life style. I would love to lie under a palm tree on a beautiful sandy beach, drinking fresh coconut water.
Find out more…
You can find us on all social media with the company name VerticesEdge and on the following Websites, Etsy, facebook, instagram, twitter, google+
www.verticesedge.com
etsy.com/uk/shop/VerticesEdge
facebook.com/verticesedge
instagram.com/verticesedge/
twitter.com/verticesedge
plus.google.com/103053471939265497403