A designer’s point of view.
Leah’s work at Middle West Studio shapes the judgment behind Patina. We want to understand a piece the way a designer does: its proportion, its presence, and the care in its construction.
For makers / A founding invitation
Good work
deserves a
closer look.
We’re inviting 15 founding makers to help shape a place where the care behind a piece becomes part of how it is discovered.
Illustration. Not a real project.
A designer’s eye. A maker’s care.
The details you
put into it.
We want people
to see them.
A material chosen for the way it will age. A joint refined until it feels right. The decisions that rarely fit into a product thumbnail.
Patina starts with a working designer’s judgment. We’re building furniture discovery around fewer, considered choices—and the people who make them.
Your work deserves room to be understood.
A closer look at the work
There’s more
to every piece.
The material
What did you choose?
The species, the surface, the source. We want to understand what you work with and why.
The construction
What did you refuse to rush?
A joint, an edge, the finish in the places you only see up close. Tell us where the care goes.
The maker’s words
What should people know?
Your process, your point of view, and how a piece should live. The maker’s words belong beside the work.
A mix of project photography and illustration.
The first 15 founding makers
Help shape
the way your
work is seen.
We’re starting with a small group of makers whose approach to materials and construction belongs at the heart of Patina.
Apply to PartnerYour voice beside the work.
Help us understand what matters about your process. The materials, the methods, and the reasons behind them should come from the people who know them best.
A say in the beginning.
Bring your perspective to how makers and their work are represented. We’re building this experience now; the practical realities of your workshop belong in that conversation.
Earned placement.
No sponsored slots.
No pay-to-play.
From your workshop to our studio
A good partnership
starts with
understanding.
Before anything else, we want to get to know your work. Here’s what that conversation is built around.
What you bringThe knowledge
The knowledge
behind the piece.
- Your materials, construction, and approach to finishing.
- Images or a portfolio that show the work clearly.
- The practical details: where you work and how your existing trade program operates.
- What you want people to understand about your craft.
What we bringAttention to the work.
Attention to the work.
A personal conversation.
- Personal review with Kody and Leah.
- A designer’s perspective on craft and fit.
- A conversation about how your work belongs in Patina.
- A reply within two weeks, with a clear next step.
The beginning is straightforward
Show us the work.
We’ll take it from there.
The application starts a conversation. The app and marketplace are pre-launch; we’ll discuss the shape of a partnership together.
Tell us about your workshop.
Share your work, your process, and where we can see more.
Leah takes a closer look.
Every application is reviewed personally. Allow up to two weeks for a reply.
Begin a conversation.
If there’s a fit, we’ll talk through your work and what comes next.
Before we begin.
Is the marketplace open yet?
The app and marketplace are pre-launch. We’re bringing together the people and work that will shape them. This invitation is a chance to be part of that beginning.
What should I share in an application?
Tell us about your workshop, where you work, your materials and process, and how we can reach you. A website or portfolio helps us get to know the work. If you have a trade program, tell us how it works today.
Who reads the applications?
Kody and Leah personally review every maker application for fit. You’ll hear from us within two weeks. We begin with a conversation about your work and what a partnership could look like.
Can makers pay for placement?
No. There are no sponsored placements or pay-to-play slots. Placement is earned through the quality of the work and its fit with Patina.
Design: Leah Kochaver. Photography: Ashley Hicks.
An invitation to the first 15
Bring your work
to the conversation.
Tell us what you make, and what makes it yours.
Apply to Partner Talk to us firstPersonally reviewed by Kody and Leah.
You’ll hear from us within two weeks.