We Make

A community-focused online space for makers of handcraft

The maker community already exists organically so the platform's identity needed to humbly acknowledge that it does not define the community while asserting that is the online space that prioritizes makers' needs.

As with most good names, We Make is clear and memorable. But, it also immediately implies belonging. And, it does that for a wide range of crafts and types of people: from weekend knitters to full-time blacksmiths.

"We Make" also doubles as a bold statement that can stand on its own—for instance, on a T-shirt—that ties directly into each maker's values.

Cielo

A local filtered water company in Austin, TX

In Spanish, which is popular in Austin, cielo means two things: sky—a quintessential source of fresh water—and heaven—suggesting purity, etc. Not surprisingly, such a great name came out of a collaborative process with the whole startup team.

Encouragingly, Cielo has now been in business for over 20 years!

Entry

A digital mortgage and refinance app

As startup founders, we recognized the discrepancy between a person's experience of their home and the home loan experience. So, we aimed to make the financing process feel more like it was a part of your life.

"Entry" emphasizes both simplicity and warmth and also specifically names the welcoming way into a house.

Tesser

A synchronous community knowledge video app

This new type of digital experience connects someone working on a problem or task of any kind with people who have insight or experience in that area *in real time* over video. Practically, this could include anything from car maintenance to dog training.

The word tesser was drawn from the fantasy book a Wrinkle in Time in which characters are able to travel through space without having to cover the distance between—exactly the service we were providing.

We also wanted the name to double as a verb ("You should tesser it") as a familiar part of the problem-solving process.

The Field Set

A collaborative design studio that prioritizes attention

In one sense, "the field set" stands in contrast to "the jet set." We get out, literally, prioritizing the quiet that comes from time outside. But, getting out also includes the act of taking our practice "into the field" where real life happens.

Additionally, in web development a field set is a group of input fields that collects information to be used in a process. Similarly, in our practice we prioritize listening, collecting all kinds of potentially valuable insights and concepts and then making decisions and taking action based on those.