Meet Christopher Dean

We were lucky to catch up with Christopher Dean recently and have shared our conversation below.

Christopher, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Through most circumstances in my life, I’ve found my purpose through prioritizing working with my hands. Growing up & into adulthood, I didn’t have access to many financial resources or opportunity. Through kin, community, & experiences though, I’ve always had a deeply nurtured sense of self & creativity that’s always looked for an outlet of some sort. In my 30’s, I’ve settled into realizing my purpose lies in the intersection of diligence, sustainability of natural resource, and finding deep & meaningful ways of developing connection to people around me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I own & operate a furniture design & build studio currently based out of Eugene, Oregon — the Handhold Studio. I’d originally founded my business in Richmond, Virginia, in 2016, under a different branding, but moved to Oregon in 2019.

My small, handcrafted business focuses on the importance and often under-appreciated aspect of custom, direct to consumer products; the “handholding” process. Where many treat “I had to hold their hand through the entire process” as a derogatory, we’ve managed to make it the most important and treasured part of our process. We collaborate with our clients to design & build pieces across many design inspirations to fit their spaces just perfectly. High end veneer work, solid hardwood constructions, traditional joinery, and genuine intention & thoughtfulness into each piece. We focus on sustainability, longevity, and delivering a highly valuable work at an accessible price point.

Our attention to detail & prioritization of loving the work that we do sets us apart, in my very humble opinion — sometimes at the expense of profit. I will always prioritize works that we make sure to remain excited by, so that I can ensure we’re truly proud of the work that leaves our studio. Nothing beat’s designing & building furniture that will be used everyday that just brings true joy every time you get to interact with it. An unsuspecting bonus of our work is that we still hand deliver the majority of our works, no matter where it’s going in the country.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Qualities & Skills that i found to be so useful in developing my work — an ability to be socially permeable & avoidant of cynicism. At the end of the day, a rising tide raises all boats, and more often than not everyone is looking to build a connection; to a place, an object, or to a network (like you!). Being open to opportunity and using your personality to develop a true safety-net of connections to your craft will help you succeed!

The ability to continuously stay engaged, excited, and learning is also a skill that I love to keep sharp, and id recommend to everyone & their mother — studio time is a great way for me to audiobook 3-5 books weekly, or endless podcasts, or listen to lectures or videos about a subject that keeps me interested. A constant stream of knowledge helps to keep me from burning out, and it keeps me looking for opportunities to take a step forward in my own craft.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

We didn’t come from much, and never had much, but my mother & father made sacrifices throughout my childhood & adulthood that always ensured I had access to the greatest opportunities they could get me into a room with. Distilling the greatest contributions from my parents, my mother made sure i was equipped to talk my way into seats at tables that I would generally not have been given opportunity to. My father made sure that if life knocked me down, I was tough enough to get back up and keep trying my best. The most impactful thing my parents every did for me was prepare me for the harsh realities I’d have to face in life, and still keep my passions & wonder for the world.

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Image Credits

Kenji Shimizu, Knowing Oregon.

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