Immersed in the artistic community of Los Angeles, Bend Goods came on the scene in 2010 with a background in industrial design and a penchant for personal expression. Designer and founder Gaurav Nanda took inspiration from summers spent with his family in Palm Springs, fostering an affinity for mid-century modern architecture and design, and a lifestyle of appreciation for design elements. After a stint building vehicle interior models for General Motors, the Michigan-born sculptor and designer struck out to make his mark on the mid-century movement in the modern day.
We had a chance to catch up with Nanda to find out more about what makes Bend Goods so special.
What’s new at Bend Goods? Last time we talked, you had just passed 7 years in business. How have things changed since you started up in 2010?
Since our last conversation, Bend Goods has continued to evolve and thrive. We remain fueled by our great ambitions and are grateful for our dedicated team that works tirelessly in design, customer relations, and other crucial areas. As a small, self-funded team, we have faced and overcome various challenges that have come our way, including the global pandemic, supply chain issues, and the ever-changing business climate. Through these experiences, we have gained invaluable knowledge and have come to embrace the uncertainty that accompanies running a business. However, our unwavering commitment lies in our passion for designing exceptional products.
We have great aspirations and are really motivated to build some great products. We are doing a lot of work behind the scenes that nobody really knows about. I basically work night and day, thinking of new ideas, figuring out how we can streamline things better, how we can be more responsible at manufacturing, and how we can provide the customer with the best possible service.
You’ve mentioned Palm Springs as a major influence on your design aesthetic and recently traveled to Japan – how do the influences of other places and cultures inspire your design process?
The influences of other places and cultures hold immense significance in shaping my design process. By embracing diverse influences, I strive to create designs that transcend boundaries and resonate with a wide audience. Blending elements from various sources allows for a more nuanced and enriched design language, enabling me to craft meaningful, authentic, and timeless pieces that capture the essence of different cultures while remaining true to my own design ethos.
One transformative experience that profoundly impacted my creative approach was my journey to Japan. Immersed in its rich design culture and unwavering attention to detail, I was captivated by the minimalism, precision, and harmony that define Japanese design. These principles have seamlessly woven themselves into the fabric of my aesthetic, enhancing and refining my design sensibilities.
Exploring different places and cultures acts as a gateway to new design philosophies, techniques, and materials. It broadens my perspective, enabling me to transcend the confines of my immediate surroundings and tap into a global design sensibility. Each location possesses its own unique qualities, whether it be the architectural heritage of Palm Springs or the traditional crafts of Japan, providing an abundant wellspring of inspiration.
Ultimately, the influences of other places and cultures fuel my creativity, propelling me to constantly evolve and innovate. They serve as a constant reminder that design is a universal language, transcending geographical boundaries and connecting people from all walks of life. Embracing these influences not only enriches my work but also fosters a greater appreciation for the diversity and interconnectedness of design on a global scale.
There are many things that inspire me both personally and in the design process. I have been a huge fan of music for as long as I can remember. I love everything from indie rock to electronic dance music. It’s always been interesting to me how the lyrics in a song’s chorus or even a bass line can really shape your perspective and draw emotions out of you. Stage shows today are really inspiring as well. The production value and graphic design that goes into most EDM shows coupled with the music can really drive creativity.
I’m also a big architecture fan and draw a lot of inspiration from buildings from all over the world. One of the greatest things about what we do is getting to work with designers on big-scale commercial projects. It’s awesome to get to watch projects come together and then have a piece of Bend incorporated into them. It’s a very proud moment seeing hard work come to a conclusion in that way.
Can you take us through the design process?
My team and I spend a lot of time thinking about the holes and needs in the market and also needs in our own lives. As our line grows and rounds out, we try and fill in those gaps. Once we find a need or a product that we want to try and tackle, we spend some time brainstorming how we can up the design quality of the product but also keep the functionality. We then take the idea and bring it to life in one of a few different 3D programs that we use.
Once we get an iteration that we are happy with, we will often times build a cardboard scale model. It’s important to understand the scope and scale of products and how they will live in and fill up a space. Once we are happy with the pre-production we make a wire sample. Sometimes that sample can be perfect and others it can take multiple more before we get it right. Product design is a really great process and something that we have a lot of fun with!
Your products contribute to LEED certification—can you expand on your efforts toward sustainability? What about the culture of your company and its place in Southern California contributes to these initiatives?
Our proximity to nature in Southern California reminds us of the importance of preserving our environment. It serves as a constant reminder to integrate sustainable practices into our operations and create products that not only enhance spaces but also contribute to a healthier planet. We place a strong emphasis on supporting sustainability efforts and minimizing our environmental impact. Our company culture revolves around the principles of eco-consciousness, responsible manufacturing practices, and promoting a greener future.
One of the ways we contribute to sustainability is by utilizing materials that are eco-friendly and recyclable. We carefully select materials that meet high environmental standards without compromising on design or quality. By using recyclable metals and other sustainable materials, we aim to reduce waste and minimize our carbon footprint. We are continuously exploring innovative ways to reduce energy consumption, optimize packaging materials, and implement sustainable logistics practices.
What is the impression you’d like people to have when they hear “Bend Goods?”
We want people to be inspired by our creativity. We work really hard to keep everything that we do as original, innovative and as playful as we can make it. We take our designs and quality seriously but we try not to take ourselves as seriously. It’s important to me and my team that we are putting Bend out there as something to aspire to and a lifestyle that motivates you to be the best person and live the best life that you can.
What makes us different from other furniture brands is our focus. We live the brand that we are creating. We design for ourselves as much as we design for all of the design lovers and admirers out there. I think that makes our point of view authentic and unique. Bend and its story are not concepts that we come up with in a board room to sell furniture; Bend is a quality of life that we all strive for internally. We lead by example because we love what we do and what we make. I want to impact people’s lives in the most positive ways possible, even if that’s as simple as putting a beautiful photo on Instagram that makes someone smile or inspires them to realize the perfect color chair they need for their dining room. We are here to help make your space and your life more beautiful.
We are excited to share that we have some amazing new products in the works. We are always experimenting with different materials and pushing the boundaries of our capabilities. While many of our designs never make it to production, we are constantly exploring new ideas and materials. While we can’t share any pictures just yet, we can tell you about a few of our upcoming releases: The tube chair, featuring a thicker tube with a wooden seat back, will debut soon, along with a matching lounge chair. We’re also excited to introduce a wire chair with arms, which will be available in the coming months. In addition to these new designs, we’re refreshing our color options to provide even more choices for our customers. Stay tuned for updates on our latest offerings and get ready to elevate your indoor and outdoor spaces with Bend Goods.
