JRuiter

reboot buggy | Apr 2012

We have decided to unleash our design philosophy on the automobile. Particularly the notion of a city car.

project-named “reboot buggy”, we are sure to polarize our fan base with this one.

The automobile starts with the simple task to move us from one point to another. Anything extra is purely for our personal comfort and enjoyment. It has very little to do with getting us somewhere.

“I drive old era cars. Cars that need your full attention when driving. I can feel the road, I hear the motor, and I understand whats happening around me mechanically.”

With little body work highlighted and no decorative grille shapes to design around, the raw parts necessary for movement become highlighted. The resulting vehicle, like objects in the rear view mirror, appear larger than they are.

“It’s grossly basic and crude, and I am loving it.”

The city car will be powered by a small block chevy, gasoline, high power motor. It may seem like an odd choice, but we did the environmental math. In all, over 90,000,000 small-blocks have been built in carbureted and fuel injected forms since 1955. Anyone knows this motor, anyone can work on them, and they are easily re-built from local sources.

Stay tuned… our nuts and bolts, locally sourced, re-used, re-claimed, and re-thought vehicle is becoming a reality.

PreviousNext

1962 lincoln continental | Apr 2012

I can’t believe I found this car just a few miles from our shop. After 18 years of sitting, this 1962 lincoln continental has emerged altered but not ruined.

An awesome example of American 60’s design at it’s finest or worst. It’s really big, heavy, and slow. My plan is to seriously modify this beast into a sort-of rational, family hauling driver…

Rational is a stretch but hey, I live in futurist fantasy most of the time anyway-

PreviousNext

moto undone | Aug 2011

From the familiar to the unexpected, moto undone ignores what makes motorcycles interesting.

At jruiter I.D. we want to re-set the definition of a motorbike by stripping away historical attributes that make them so great. It’s hard to image a motorcycle without fancy paint, overpowered motors, exposed mechanical genius, and sweet exhaust tones.

Moto undone is pure generic transportation and by motorbike category definition it isn’t very cool.

There motorbike references are small and when someone is riding they are all you see. The bike almost disappears. The rider just floats along the streets silently.

Powered by a 1000w 48v electric hub motor, moto undone has a range of 90 miles or about 3 hours. All gauges and riding information, like speed and gps, is displayed through smart phones by downloadable apps.

On display at the GRAM, Grand Rapids Art Museum, september 21 – October 9, 2011

photo credits, Dean Van Dis
rider, Pete McDaniel

PreviousNext

tufted sofa | Mar 2010

Outdoor seating ready for all weather conditions.

This sofa traces tradition tufted seams, cracks, and buttons, in powder coated steel. Water, dirt, and grime, won’t find their home here.

laser cut steel, formed and welded. available in many colors

74” wide x 35” deep x 28” tall

PreviousNext

izzy + neocon 2011 concepts | Jun 2011

Concept vignettes by Joey Ruiter at izzy+ explore deeper meaning of collaboration and inspiration

NeoCon World’s Trade Fair 2011: The Merchandise Mart, Spaces 1150, 11-100

CHICAGO – June 2011 – Joey Ruiter of JRuiter + Studio calls it a search for “a tone or a vibe” within a physical space. Chuck Saylor of izzy+ describes it as a quest to provide meaningful places for inspiration and effortless collaboration.

The duo’s shared vision continues to sharpen and develop and a number of new or refined concept pieces will be on display in the 11th-floor showrooms of izzy+ during NeoCon 2011.

The vignettes include quiet alcoves with arbor-like elements, a 12-foot standing-height bar for impromptu meetings, and a grotto that includes sofa-like lounge seating within a semi-enclosed aluminum arbor structure that gives definition to the space.

“We’re designing to lower the barriers to communication and connection.” explains Ruiter, who launched the experimental exploration with izzy+ three years ago. “We’re not thinking about the corner office and wood paneled walls, anymore. People need space to develop and share ideas, along with need for solitude at times.”

The project, code-named Nemo, creates three distinct collaboration zones: extrovert, social and private.

Saylor, the founder and CEO of izzy+, notes that the Nemo experiment “all revolves around explorations into the characteristics of the places that encourage and support collaboration, inspiration and reflection. When you ask the question, ‘Where is the most inspiring space you go to think,’ no one says, ‘My cubicle.’ They respond with answers like, ‘My beach house,’ or ‘The library,’ or ‘Under the tree in the park.’ “

By providing some structure for informal space, says Ruiter, community is created and information can be quickly shared. “This is how real learning and real work happens today,” he says.

Saylor says the time is right for this exploratory project. “We see the emergence of a new social culture being formed within work and learning places,” he says. “Encouraged by easy access to information, transparency, a strong desire to contribute and grow, people are increasingly seeking to leverage each other and looking for inspiring places that encourage spontaneous interaction and reflection.”