These objects were never really ours. They are for you. In that, we see our work as the provision of a human service.
What is River Rock Design?
River Rock Design is a multidisciplinary design workshop in Richmond, VA. We focus on our own handmade products while also providing custom multi-material design and fabrication with an emphasis on metal work. We believe that craft is a human service. Our priority is making things that give you joy.
Why “River Rock?”
The name “River Rock” is significant in many ways. It means the most at the intersection of the two literal things: the River and the Rock.
The foundation of our work is at this intersection. The River is a constant force, changing the world around as it goes. But it’s also a product of that world shaping and guiding it across the land. As one changes shape, so does its counterpart. We chose the Rock because we see the things made here as stones thrown into the water, slowly shaping the way it flows. And for the rest of their existence they will be shaped by the world flowing around them, as well. They may change physically. They may only change in the way you see them. But as they do, each object thrown into the water after it will be a response to those changes.
As a company, we are also a stone, changing shape as we attempt to guide the water around us. At our core, we’re focused on that relationship to the world. We are always either adjusting our objects to better shape the water or letting it change them so that they may better move through it.
What’s River Rock Hardware?
The Hardware Store is more about an approach to making than it is about categorization. The word is used as a bit of a catch-all. Making "hardware" allows us to think about the work as anything physical we can imagine. The possibilities are only limited by our capabilities, and our capabilities are always growing.
The bottom line is we just like making things that need to be made. We also like things that meet a person’s need. Sometimes that need comes out of nowhere. Sometimes it dwells and sets in over time. We associate The Hardware Store with that sense of need. You can find just about anything at the right hardware store. They can be eclectic and eccentric or sensible and sparse. While River Rock may lean toward one direction, we will always respect the other and take pride in whatever we put on our shelves.
A bit on definitions:
Merriam-Webster would argue that the word might only apply as a catch-all to metal objects (which we can appreciate, given our roots in metal work):
hard·ware | \ ˈhärd-ˌwer \
1: ware (such as fittings, cutlery, tools, utensils, or parts of machines) made of metal
However, we prefer the Apple Dictionary version:
2: tools, implements, and other items used in home life and activities
But even then, it isn’t a perfect fit, restricting things to "home life." A blend of the two is best. Here’s our official definition:
hard·ware | \ ˈhärd-ˌwer \
1: ware (such as tools, implements, fittings, parts, and other items of any material) used or experienced by people in life
The foundation of River Rock
is human service.
When objects change hands, they undergo a phenomenological shift. That is to say, objects exist relative to the person experiencing them. River Rock is built on this idea and we see the resulting work as the provision of a human service.
And at its core, we see craft itself as a human service. This is inherent. We will always be making objects for people. And though River Rock creates them, these objects carry our identity in name only. Their user or handler gives them meaning and life. They don't matter without you.
They were never ours. They are yours. Come and get them.
The Future of River Rock:
In addition to core human service values, River Rock holds strong principles about local/regional identity and economy at the foundation of its views on the future of craft in the U.S. Even in its humble beginnings, the company maintains ambitious long-term goals in these areas.
For our future, we envision a world in which craftspeople thrive with the ability to shape and characterize their local economy. In that world, the word "craftspeople" encompasses collaborators from local economy and identity drivers like agriculture, food service industries, and others that broaden our view of "craft" into that more holistic understanding of creating and making as a human service. We are particularly passionate about facilitating education and the creation of viable career opportunities within the industry. And as we grow, we will be targeting collaborative relationships with other small businesses, non-profits, and leaders to build and contribute to community efforts in our field. We hope that River Rock can evolve into a central part of our region's development of more equitable opportunities in craft.