Today we’d like to introduce you to Parker Fredlund.
Parker, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Polyfaction began shortly after becoming a father for the first time. I’ve been a designer for over 15 years and am always exploring new things to create. I remember pushing my daughter in her stroller when she was about seven months old and sketching some shapes on my phone. I created a simple extruded circle shape, which I realized would make a great necklace pendant. My daughter was holding a toy of hers, and on it featured three distinct shapes, which I realized were also easily seen in my company name, thus solidifying my desire to develop the shape in a circular form, a triangle, and a square version. Upon creating these designs later in 3D, I realized they had a deeper meaning. For me, this first pendant was really a metaphor for my journey into parenting, and I used that starting point to develop more pieces. Each design has a unique meaning behind the shape, and I find people can relate to them in many different ways. My jewelry is made in gold, rose gold, and rhodium plated metals, steel, solid silver, and even concrete as a material. As I continued to explore, I expanded into other jewelry categories, and later home decor items. I love creating things and seeing them brought to life quickly with 3D-printing tools, I can develop an idea within a few hours and have a prototype in my hands later that day.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A lot of my struggles comes from learning what people are attracted to. I have done a lot of small trade shows and local events and you need to capture people as they walk by. Having a well-designed booth gives you a higher chance that someone will notice your brand. There are a ton of jewelry brands out there, and once people take a moment to learn the stories behind each piece, or see the quality in the jewelry, they happily take home one or two pieces. Another early struggle was the time it took to see a new design, as I was outsourcing the printing of my jewelry designs. This required me to create a design, and wait two weeks to receive a plastic sample part. This wait time was painful in the beginning. My amazing wife, who supports me daily in this journey, bought me a simple Monoprice Select Mini V2 3D-printer, and I put that to use quickly creating my sample parts. I could literally design a piece, and within minutes begin printing it to test things like the size, proportion, or design. Once I know I have something I like, I’ll place an order to receive high-quality parts in silver, plated brass metals, or steel.
Please tell us about Polyfaction.
Polyfaction is known for geometric, minimalist designs using eco-friendly 3D-printing methods. I embed stories from different life events into the shapes of each piece, such as my Nexus collection which is a metaphor for personal relationships, or my Origin pendant, created to announce the pregnancy of my second daughter. I always try to create designs meant to last generations, in concept and in material. Creating in metal or concrete means these pieces will perhaps be a legacy item for my customers, and I love the idea that they could be shared in meaningful and personal way. I have designed, 3D-modeled, and hand-assembled every jewelry item all the way down to the tiny jump rings and clasps. I hand pour each concrete home decor item using silicone molds I make from my 3D-printed parts, which provides me a sustainable way to make multiple parts. I take a 100% hands on approach and I feel many of my customers have resonated with that as well. I do outsource the creation of the metal and steel jewelry pieces as these are made on machines costing hundreds of thousands of dollars…I don’t quite have the facilities to house those machines on my own just yet! I do hope to get Polyfaction into retail stores this year, to help expand my ability to reach customers and grow the brand.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Recently I was recalling a story about where I first began to love drawing. My mother used to take my sister to her violin lessons, and during this time I would sit with my mom while we waited. She would find something in the room and draw it, and I would have to find it in the room….which could be an object, a pattern on the wallpaper, or something else. I then would take a turn and do the same, and she would have to identify this item (from my scribbles on paper!). It was a memorable learning game and I’m sure encouraged me to continue to draw from that point forward, later becoming a Designer and 3D Visualization artist.
Pricing:
- Jewelry items range from $45, $75, and $95
- Concrete Home Decor items range from $20 to $60
- Custom Design Services start at $100 + materials and shipping
Contact Info:
- Address: Los Angeles, CA
- Website: Polyfaction.com
- Phone: 626-536-3512
- Email: parker@polyfaction.com
- Instagram: @polyfaction
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/polyfaction/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/polyfaction
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Polyfaction
Image Credit:
Ruby Lewis, Gorm Taube, Rebecca Taube
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