Bright Beam Goods
Traces of the Human Hand
Words by Marissa Merkt Photos by Eric Morales
During the heart of the 2008 economic recession, Eve Trester-Wilson’s first inclination was to buy a laser cutter. With an absence of jobs across the nation, she decided to create her own.
Laser cutters, which trim objects through non-contact, are the centermost pride and joy at Bright Beam Goods. Today, three of these machines assist in creating housewares, animal puzzles, toy tops, and even cork coasters.
Eve, who had never used a laser cutter, was inspired by her former coworker Kristen von Minden’s studio creations. While attending Harvard for her masters in architecture, Kristen noticed a rising trend in the use of lasers. “I was seeing my friends who had started businesses during architecture school, using the lasers [for projects]. But as soon as you graduate, you don’t have access to the laser cutters anymore,” Kristen recalls.
In fact, some students would go so far as ‘borrowing’ college IDs from others so they could continue using the machines. Over the course of a year, Eve and Kristen wrote up a business plan and sought counsel from advisers in regards to purchasing their very own laser.
Eve reflects on how a mutual artist friend warned them, “There’s only so much analysis you can do. This is a model that doesn’t exist in the world yet, so just try it.”
And so they did, creating their first company, MakeATX. Eve and Kristen followed their intuitions, creating funny mistaken lyric coasters at local art fairs. By 2015, MakeATX expanded beyond Austin’s city limit and was rebranded to Bright Beam Goods.
Twice a year, Bright Beam Goods participates in a charrette, or brainstorm session, where they come up with their next lightbulb idea. In August, they produced a boob theme coaster set which will help fund mammograms for under-served women.
Bright Beam Goods studio tailors toward accessibility for striving artists through classes and monthly memberships. Their team hosts kids’ parties and camps where little ones can learn about design, technology, architecture, and art. Adults can host a party there, too, or take a laser cutting basics class.
When creating, the company sources domestic materials and obtains local workers who enjoy making things with their hands. They have a sense of humor and enjoy coming up with products that make their customers smile. In keeping with the quirky vibe, Bright Beam Goods has added mermen to their wooden ornament collection, with one that looks awfully like their FedEx delivery guy.
Contact:
(512) 522-6253
1109 B Shady Lane
brightbeamgoods.com
makeatx.com
@brightbeamgoods
