REIMAGINE WITH WEETU

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REIMAGINE YOUR [WORK + HOME] WORLD WITH WEETU

YOU'RE HOME, WE'RE HOME, and WE'RE STILL HERE FOR YOU! 

WE KNOW HOW YOU FEEL BECAUSE WE FEEL IT TOO. WE KNOW WHAT MATTERS, HOW TO DELIVER, AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP. WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT NEW IDEAS AND NOW WE HAVE EVEN MORE! WHETHER YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT WORKSPACE, HOMESPACE OR WORKSPACE AT HOME, WEETU CAN MAKE IT BETTER. THE FUTURE IS NOW. LET'S CREATE SPACE THAT KEEPS US SAFE AND HAPPY.

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weetu is invigorated and looking ahead! Our team is intensely researching, learning and engaging outside experts to absorb facts and knowledge to address new attitudes about health, safety, behaviors, and space. It's a time for new, informed ideas and a time to embrace them.

Now is the time to reevaluate, reflect and reimagine. Our hands-on and empathetic approach is more valuable than ever. For starters, we:

• Listen and Learn all about you, your company, your employees and audience.

• Study + Strategize your program, processes to improve efficiencies and synchronize work schedules to reduce overall density.

• Discuss and Evaluate human behavior shifts and cultural changes.

• Define systems to create reduced stress environments that address short and long term anxieties and overall health benefits. 

• Plan space reconfigurations inspired by evidence gathered and culture defined that makes everyone comfortable and safe!

• Create Better Spaces! Increase attraction to engage with company culture in healthy, creative spaces when not working from home.

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We're grateful for life, for you, for tough New Yorkers, for all essential workers, including all healthcare providers, Governor Cuomo and his daily briefings, all delivery, grocery and warehouse workers, and of course, wine guy. 

Everything has changed, it's still changing.
Let's make it better, together. 
We really care, we're here, when you're ready.

Get in touch.

WEETU CELEBRATING 7 YEARS

weetu7anniversary from weeTV 

Let's celebrate 7 years of creating! If we had to compare ourselves to one of the seven deadly sins, we'd be pride. We're proud of our work, and proud that we've helped our clients tell their story in ways they like to brag about. This admission will probably doom us to the least desirable of the seven levels of purgatory, but it's worth the risk. We’re looking forward to many more years of taking chances. 

7 years at a glance: Interiors, architecture, landscapes, deskscapes, truck shows, competitions, world exploration, logos, websites, photos, videos, branded environments, terror and culture (not at the same time), fashion, plant lamps, teachers, learners, explorers, Fulton Market Chicago to Garment District NYC. Blue hair, green hair, pink hair, purple hair……….no hair. Brazil, West Coast, East Coast, Middle Coast. Bangkok, Berlin, Toronto. What’s ahead for weetu? Still getting our hands dirty, more neon (hey- we started it), translucent synthetic materials and very soon the launch of a brand new website! 

Thanks to our clients, collaborators, friends and family for seven great years. Here’s to 7+ more!

Special thanks to Tyllie Barbosa for an afternoon of talent and patience- a photographer who makes her living taking gorgeous pictures of actual food. See for yourself at tylliebarbosa.com Also many thanks to weetuzooer, Amy Turilli for playing with fire and putting our little video together.

[Director of Architecture, Kevin Estrada + weetu Founder, Carly Cannell] Celebrating in style in NYC. Cheers to another 7+ more years!

WEETURVIVAL 2014: BE PREPARED

Drones will deliver our impulsive online purchases and our cars will be driving themselves to work. Yep- 2014 is going to be the year of awesome, and off to a great start. Deemed the "Year of the Robot" by our very own inside secret sources, wee can only expect the year will end in Robotalyspe! So we've taken precautions in designing WEETURVIVAL KIT 2014 so our beloved friends, family and clients can be ready, in style.

Available in weetu glowing yellow (so it's easy to find in the dark), WEETURVIVAL KIT 2014 comes with everything you need to fend off the robots without having to sacrifice the quality of life you're used to. For only three easy online payments of $9.99, weetu will even throw in a free consultation to customize additional solutions to meet your needs... okay, and a free Slanket.

Preserve yourself, preserve your business: Prepare with weetu! We think of everything so you don't have to.

NOT A WHITE PAPER ON THE FUTURE OF WORK

Wayward Arts Issue No 9 hit the streets in November and weetucarly was one of 40 collaborating contributors invited to provide thinking around the future of work. Check out the issue here and continue the conversation.

It's estimated that by 2020 the number of independent professionals will exceed 70,000,000. With the launch of a new year, it's time to think differently about your business and weetu is here to help. When launched in 2007 by fearless leader Carly Cannell, her mission was to create a vibrant collective of experienced multi-disciplinary professionals to bring new vision to problem solving and design innovation.

Collaboration has been a major weetu ingredient from day 1. So it was a no brainer for Cannell to join up with the Baubub as they were incubating back in 2008. The Bauhub, in their own words, is a "tour de workforce. " With 305 active members and growing, it's a maxi-weetu collective of experienced marketing and design professionals to tackle projects, big and small, anywhere in the world.

"I was excited to be one of the founding members of The Bauhub," says weetucarly, "Scott's vision of the Bauhub was in line with why I started weetu. To have additional partners and collaborators in North America (and beyond) only makes us stronger. It's about putting the strongest team together for our clients to provide superior solutions. The plus side is that as experienced as we all are in various fields, we continue to evolve together and be inspired by one another. It's not a competition, it's a collaboration."

Check out Wayward Arts Issue No 9 here or contact The Bauhub for a printed issue.

WEEDUCATING PARSONS

WEETU’S KEVIN ESTRADA, SHAPING NEW-TO-DESIGN MINDS AT PARSONS

New York, NY –  This Fall, weetu’s most professorial member, Kevin Estrada, will be taking his talents over to a classroom in the School of Constructed Environments at Parsons the New School for Design.  Kevin will be teaching an Interior Design (ID) Studio, a course introducing students who are new to design to the fields of ID and space-making.

Like these students, many of whom will hold undergraduate degrees in other disciplines, Kevin’s background in architecture and design will make his classroom a uniquely diverse creative environment.  And, by incorporating his own interests in NYC culture, materiality and new technologies, Kevin’s students will be exposed to more than just the basics of an introductory studio course. “Nobody does translucent like Kevin”, says super fan and supportive partner, weetu’s founder Carly Cannell, “Not only will his expertise prove to be extremely valuable to these students, but his imaginative perspective is unmatched. Personally, I can’t wait to participate in his studio reviews.”

Leaving the weetu office and heading to buy fresh felt tips, Kevin told weetu, “The spheres of academia and professional practice can and should influence each other.  One should not be isolated from the other.”

WEETU REVEALS X4 PRODUCT EXPLORATIONS AT THE GUERRILLA TRUCK SHOW

Keeping the Fun in Function? WEETU ARCHITECTS & DESIGNERS REVEAL X4 PRODUCT EXPLORATIONS AT THE GUERRILLA TRUCK SHOW  June 11, 2013 5:30PM

4 new products: same shapes, 4 scales, 4 functions

Fingerscapes: For Protection
Deskscapes: For Organization
Plantscapes: For Illumination
Tentscapes: For Habitation

weetu's x4 collection was inspired by Eames "Power of 10", combined with the desire to bring more small scale architecture into the working environment. The first prototypes were designed by hand, as analogue paper forms with no predetermined scale. The groups were then translated digitally where weetu played with multiple scales, deciding on 4 to provide various functions: to be worn on the body (fingerscape), organize a tabletop (deskscape), illuminate an interior environment (plantscape), and to be inhabited (tentscape).

Each piece in the x4 collection is designed to perform autonomously or as part of a community of similar multiples.  The groupings can be explored in solid or translucent materials, as well as different material effects. In addition to varying functions, each product line was fabricated differently. “This is the first round of prototypes”, says weetu founder and chief creative officer, Carly Cannell, “the team has worked very hard to explore the best materiality and fabrication processes for each X4 Product. I look forward to a brass set of X1 so I can be vicious and stylish”. 

X3 is the newest "Plant-Lamp" in a collection of flat-pack, snap-together, dual-function home accessories. 

Special thanks to Tyllie Barbosa Photography for a fun day and awesome shots of x4 products!

FLATLOT 1ST ROUND FINALIST

As many of you know, weetu keeps our design prowess sharp by participating in multiple design competitions each year. Not so long ago we submitted a concept for the Flatlot competition in Flint, Michigan. Well, weetu didn't get to say wee-won - but- we were recently alerted that we are acknowledged as one of 57 (out of 220 submittals) projects.

Shout-out to the "Apomixis" wee-team (Carly Cannell, Kevin Estrada, Helen Schneider, Olga Bukur). APOMIXIS PAVILION Apomixis, meaning: Reproduction, where viable seed or spores are produced without fertilization.

Signs throughout Flint read, “Cities of Promise: Demolition means Progress”. Instead of passively and painfully deteriorating, Flint opts to actively demolish blighted structures, streets, even neighborhoods, all the while encouraging natural forests to take over and densifying its remaining urban areas.

APOMIXIS PAVILION is inspired by formative urban renewal.

WEEINVENT X4: GUERRILLA TRUCK SHOW 2013

On June 11th, 2013 the WEEINVENT TRUCK is back in action at the 9th Annual Guerrilla Truck Show! weetu architects + designers reveal a new product line named"X4", a collection of "scalar explorations"of form[s]: same shapes, 4 scales, 4 functions.

"Come for the hotties, stay for the scalars", exclaims Kevin Estrada, weetu's Director of Architecture. That's really all we can say for now.

For more information about weetuʼs new products, visit us on June 11th at www.goweetu.com/weeinvent

About the 9th Annual Guerrilla Truck Show: The Event takes place at the corner of Aberdeen and Fulton on June 11th, between 5:30pm and 9:30pm. 

PLAN FORWARD

CHICAGO, IL – weetu was called upon to lay stature to a new housing plan for Chicago’s future -- “Plan Forward: Communities That Work.” 

The implementation of this new strategy expands on the foundation laid by the Plan for Transformation, the largest redevelopment/rehabilitation of public housing in the history of the United States.

Working closely with the Chicago Housing Authority, weetu helped summarize several years of comprehensive stakeholder information gathering and planning while designing what will become a landmark document upon its public release in April of 2013. Utilizing it’s design, research and strategy expertise, weetu gave structure to the content making the information accessible to a wide range of viewers both graphically and comprehensively.

The 3 primary goals of Plan Forward were to:

1. Re-imagine the final phase of the Plan for Transformation,
2. Ensure that CHA’s housing portfolio is safe, decent and sustainable, and
3. Expand services to more residents, targeted to their needs, and at critical milestones in their lives. 

“Our team was excited to be part of something this impacting for Chicago,” said Carly Cannell, President of weetu. “Our efforts are only an extension of the amazing work and effort put forward by the team at the Chicago Housing Authority.”

Plan Forward: Communities that Work can be found by visiting

http://www.thecha.org/pages/plan_forward/2677.php

WEETU THOUSAND THIRTEEN

Entering into weetu’s sssixth year, it is no surprise that it happens to coincide with the year of the snake. The Snake is the most complex force in the 12-year zodiac cycle and as history tells us the Snake Year is anything but tranquil. 

So after a year that saw the opening of weetu’s NY office extending it’s architectural reach; selection to help lead Chicago into its cultural future; the creation and launch of national message, brand and ad campaigns for some the largest non-profit organizations, the birth of a global design collaboration with Berlin’s own DesignProvocation and the release of weetu’s flatpack “plantlamp” product, 2013 is primed to be a year full of energized projects and inspired accomplishments.

So in other words it’s always best to keep your eye on the snake and, of course, weetu.

I/Y SPINS OUT

Weetu Berlin's Irakli Kiziria [Design Provocation] announced yesterday via Facebook that his VERY FIRST record "I/Y", created with pal, Yacoub Chakarji, is now available for order at Juno Records and for preorder at Decks Records and deejay.de. Wee woke up today to find that it sold out in one day at Juno Records. Get this while it's hot – if you can find it!

I/Y released this statement to the media: Call it whatever you want. We think of it simply as techno music. Deep, raw, mystical and industrialesque music that makes you think about your desires and gives you the illusion of clearing away time and space."

Having lived in almost all corners of the world, it took nothing more than finding themselves in Berlin, a dose of random chance and a barside conversation for Irakli and Yacoub to figure out they had similar views about music – and so, I/Y was born.

I/Y 001 is a three track intense journey into the depths of techno. ONLY VINYL !

DESIGNPROVOCATION + WEETU WORKSHOP

DESIGN STUDIOS JOIN FORCES

Chicago/New York design firm weetu to unite forces with Berlin based DesignProvocation.  The product development and design labs of ‘weetu workshop’ formal collaboration with DesignProvocation positions both firms toward a new means of cultural production.  

DesignProvocation is a German-based interdisciplinary studio founded by Irakli Kiziria; a network of international professionals working in the fields of art, design, architecture, and research.  DesignProvocation pseudo-objects, products and concepts have circulated on the viral global front, tinged with under-stated humor, and inspiring new perspectives of our cultural and consumer landscapes. 

Carly Cannell, weetu founder, “This merging of efforts and ideas is a thrilling physical expansion of weetu into the European market. I’ve long admired DesignProvocation’s bold creative thinking and design risk-taking. Irakli is [not] just an architect and designer. He’s a DJ, trendsetter, and social icon. The clear differences of each workshop both strengthen and complement one another. It's a great opportunity and we already have several concepts in the works. I look forward to this long term experiment and our new Berlin presence.”

When asked, why this cross-Atlantic alliance? “We like to work with interesting people/professionals we know and trust," says Kiziria, "Call it a flux of social, cultural, geographical, economic and political phenomena. [Together] our studios can overcome geographical and cultural boundaries, while creating new ways of looking at the world around us.  We look forward to this alliance as it will strengthen and unite our ideation teams, further expanding the breadth of what we bring to the world, and with intent, make it a better place.“

CHICAGO CULTURAL PLAN 2012 RELEASED

Happy historical Monday, Chicago! After months of citywide community participation, the City of Chicago today officially released the Chicago Cultural Plan 2012.  This is the first plan, since 1986, designed to strengthen the city's arts and cultural sector. The final plan and executive summary can be downloaded at chicagoculturalplan2012.com.

Being part of the cultural planning team and providing the social media and marketing outreach was a great honor for weetu. This role in implementing the social media allowed the cultural planning process to extend beyond traditional town hall meetings and neighborhood conversations by creating opportunities for wider and more diverse audiences to share their own vision for Chicago's cultural future.

This morning's release event, held at Manuel Perez Jr. Elementary School in Pilsen, was an inspiring celebration which included a collaborative performance by the students, Yo-Yo Ma (yes, the real one), and celebs Renee Fleming and Damian Woetzel. Additionally, Mayor Emmanuel spoke to the plan as enhancing Chicago's reputation for creativity, innovation and excellence in the arts. He then generously dished out high-fives to some excited students. Commissioner Michelle Boone, who spearheaded the cultural planning initiative, was also on-hand with an enthusiastic introduction of the final Chicago Cultural Plan 2012.

Besides for the love of what we do, weetu was inspired throughout this planning process by our passionate implementation team which included Amina Dickerson [Dickerson Global Advisors], Lisa McDonald [Research Explorers], Nick Rabkin, Amanda Carlson and Lord Cultural Resources. 

WEETU PUTS THE FUN IN FUNDRAISER

Chicago Artists Coalition Charges Design Firm to Re-imagine it’s Starving Artist Event and art patrons and food lovers can expect the unexpected at this year’s CAC Annual Starving Artist fundraiser after a weetu redesign turns the already popular art event into an “art foodies” dream. The event takes place October 6th at Chicago Artist Coalition’s Fulton Market Gallery (217 N. Carpenter St).

Designed to inspire and engage, the event concept “collective participation” was created to highlight featured artists and chefs while creating an interactive environment for the evening’s attendees. 

The Experience: Staged participation through layers of projection and audience interaction fueled the overall concept of the event. An overtly visual and physical element of “continuity” was envisioned to wrap the interior and exterior surfaces of the gallery. The cultural artifact that was to remain at the end of the performance[s], would be a continuous ‘drawing’ of the event itself, created by attendees. 

In addition to the evening’s overall level of participation, weetu designed four key intervals of interaction to celebrate an artist and chef collaboration. The idea was to create a special moment for each pairing and to eliminate the hazard of their creations getting lost in the crowds. Also to support this concept, weetu proposed "food processionals" at these moments in time to eliminate "competitive eating", or the stressfully long lines that can build up around a banquet table with delicious cuisine. Instead, each food creation is paraded into the audience from multiple directions.

“We didn’t approach the design [for this evening] merely to provide a beautiful and successful fundraiser for CAC, but more as a way to create  an experience that is authentic and impacting, celebrating invention & reinvention, while engaging the audience to participate in the most unexpected ways. The CAC is about building opportunities for artists to thrive. We wanted this event to be accessible to artists, collectors and community alike. These were the driving forces behind our concept.” said Carly Cannell, weetu founder and Chief Creative Officer. 

Adding, “Our designs reflect the ‘dream big’ approach that weetu aspires to in all its projects, big and small. To be able to collaborate with a such a vital arts organization makes the work that much more fulfilling. We wanted to drive home the message that 'you’ll want to be part of this, on October 6th and beyond.'”    

Special thanks to weetu collaborator Linnea Gits of Uusi for the beautiful graphic art that promotes this event.

Starving Artist is Chicago Artists' Coalition's annual benefit that pairs some of the city's most inspiring visual artists and innovative culinary talents.

Redefining the age-old concept of the "starving artist," CAC's event puts four local artists in the spotlight, pairing each with a like-minded chef. Their assignment: to inspire each other to create an edible "installation" to be enjoyed by the crowd and a new work of art, which will be auctioned off the night of the event.

For more information about the Starving Artist event or to reserve tickets, please visit

http://chicagoartistscoalition.org/starvingartist/

MOVE OVER PiNK

weetu Carly journeyed to Berlin to participate in Berlin Music Week, followed by Berlin Art Week. It was also an opportunity to catch up with long time favorite weetuzoo collaborator, Helen Schneider of The Sustainable Love Corporation. Schneider was pivotal in the organization of "Word on Sound," which combined a passionate commitment to music and the cultural and business community in Berlin to unify the needs and challenges of the changing cultural and business landscape. 

The Berlin Music Week is a five-day event powered by performance, concerts, parties, conferences, panels, seminars and networking opportunities. As a music mecca, Berlin furthers its role as creative provocateur during this event, with offerings that provide audience and professionals a compact panorama of what's trending on the international music market. Berlin Music Week is designed and coordinated by Kulturprojekte Berlin and supported by the Senate Department for Economy, Technology and Research, Berlin Partner and visit Berlin. 

 "The energy to make and share music in Berlin is unparalleled in Europe. Within these mammoth buildings and wide streets, one feels simultaneously sheltered and free," says Schneider.

(Pictured above, Helen with Word on Sound guest speaker, Cyril Martin)

Helen Schneider on Event Planning: With an all-vinyl campus radio show called “Magic Soup”, and summer jobs coordinating outdoor festivals and music for the local concert producer/promoter Belkin Productions (now part of the Live Nation empire), Helen Schneider's career in music and in events started stateside in 1989.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Schneider has lived in Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Cologne and currently resides in Berlin. Since March 2012, Helen has been curating and producing the music industry B2B platform at Berlin Music Week called Word on Sound.

HIGH FIVE!

An already busy year, weetu took a call from citibank to congratulate us on our fifth year of business!  Where has the time gone? Starting a new concept for our design studio at a dropping point into the economic abyss is something we can only laugh about now. However, we've been fortunate to have so many accomplishments in such a short period of time.

Our vast range of projects have left us with never-a-dull-moment while reinforcing that good design applies to all from architecture to social media and from products to non-profits.  As the founder of weetu, I have been so fortunate to work with an amazing collective of talent; have such passion for what we do and to live a life where making a living, inspired by people and places, is a joy and never a job.

Our recent opening of a Manhattan studio is surely only the beginning of many new opportunities to come. Thank you for the support bringing us this far, and let us know when you want to weetu.

TUESDAY!!! TUESDAY!!! TUESDAY!!!

One night only...Everybody get’s in FREE! A heart-pumping, high-octane, design explosion through your SOUL.

Watch as the weetu monster truck will dare the impossible by leaping...not one...not two...but ALL, 50 TRUCKS... at the 8th Annual Guerrilla Truck show.

So leave the weak-hearted at home and come down to Fulton Market on June 12th for 30,000 tons of design thunder. weetu and trucks.

Wet-your-pants fun.

BE THERE!!!!!!

WEETU + NEOCON + CHICAGO DESIGN WEEK = STARTS JUNE 11TH + 12TH @ LIGHT & REFLECTION

Bright + Shiny Exhibition, Chicago Artist Coalition, curated by Studio Murmur exhibited new work by various designers during the annual NeoCon and Guerrilla Truck Show events held in Chicago.

“Light & Reflection” introduces recent works by six designers through a range of technologies and conceptual ideas. Largely based in the Chicago design community, the group includes individuals and small studios showcasing new designs as part of the emerging “Design Week,” which includes events such as the 8th Annual Guerrilla Truck Show and NeoCon.

GUERILLAS ARE COMING! GUERILLAS ARE COMING!

Another year, another Guerrilla Truck Show and another weetu truck design. Check out the show and, of course, come visit us on June 12th 5:30p - 9:30p @ 1000 Block of Fulton Market.

And, now, you can easily take the Green or Pink lines with newly added Morgan Street stop. Rumor has it that the $38 million train stop was built just for this 8th Annual Guerrilla Truck Show. (it's just a rumor.)

If it that's not enough, this year's show promises to be bigger, better, badder than ever. With a juried show and 50 trucks representing local, independent designers and artists, the streets of Fulton will be closed off as GTS officially becomes a street fest.

But wait there's more...  weetu will be in a second gallery show in Fulton Market that very night. WHAT?!? MORE WEETU??!!? SAME NIGHT?? Yes, it's so very true, but shhhhh keep that under wraps as we'll be sharing more details of our 2nd show in the next few days.

GOWEETU.COM ADDS MOBILE FUNCTIONALITY

As a way for mobile users to continue the weetu experience on the go, we've added a mobile website. Now whether you are on an Android, Iphone, Ipod or Ipad you will never be too far away from weetu–you never really were.

"How do I use it? Where do I go get me some weetu mobile? Damn it, I don't want to miss out on this!"

No worries we've made this easy, breezy for you. While on your fancy mobile device just go to www.goweetu.com and we'll take care of the rest.

Enjoy and please feel free to give us feedback!