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The Realist Spotlight: Sam H. Snyder Interview

  • September 29, 2018
  • 3 minute read
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From the Sam H Snyder 2013Collection.
From the Sam H Snyder 2013Collection

 Each week, we will be featuring an interview with someone who is pursuing their passion in the most creative ways. Our first guest is Jewelry Designer Sam H. Snyder. Sam handcrafts pieces that are the definition of art meeting industrial design. A New York transplant by way of Portland, he is redefining the Fine Jewelry scene.

How did you start designing jewelry?
My jewelry designing began in a class at Parsons (NYC) spring term of 2011.  It wasn’t a jewelry design class per se, but more of a studio class in which to pursue any interest.  It began as a collaboration with my friend, Laura Fidalgo, to produce and launch a new jewelry line under the name SL Design.  That partnership quickly faltered, though, and I finished the course with the partnership disolved and the collection partially re-designed and re-branded as Sam H Snyder.  After that term, I continued with the brand, but found I didn’t have adequate time to dedicate to the line, in combination with my course-load at Parsons.  So, I dropped out of Parsons during spring term 2012 and never looked back.  It was a risky choice, in retrospect, but at the same time, not much of a choice at all–I was desperately unhappy at Parsons and aching to put more emphasis on “real” work–in that sense it was an incredibly easy choice to make.

Tell me about your newest collection and the concept behind the pieces?

The 2013 collection comes in two parts (10pcs each, 20pcs in total):  the Sam H Snyder collection designed solely by myself, and the Polina Gurtovaya for Sam H Snyder collection conceived by my partner, Polina, and edited/executed by myself. My half of the collection strongly adheres to the blocky, chunky, industrial look of the previous (2012) collection and was inspired by the geometric motifs of manhole covers in NYC.  Many of the shapes and profiles present in my collection can by found reflected in whole or in part on these covers around the city. Polina’s collection shares many of the aesthetic and formative principles of my own collections, but re-interprets and executes them in a slimmed, more delicate profile.  Together, this variety has been very effective at catering to multiple tastes and styles.

Sam working at his studio in NYC.
Sam working at his studio in NYC.
What inspires you?
Great design inspires me.  Life inspires me.  I generally dislike museums–I find far more beauty in my everyday experiences in the “real world”.  Architecture is often a great inspiration for me.  Generally I prefer great design that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional.  I detest embellishment–if something is designed beautifully, there is no need to cover it in unnecessary flourishes. I make what I like, and I hope other people will like it, too.
What words do you live by?
Never be complacent.  Always strive for better; never be satisfied.
What are 5 things you would tell your 20 year old self?
Don’t worry; constantly do your best and follow your passion.  Don’t worry about the end destination, because it’s impossible to know, and you’ll never reach it, anyway.  Everything is constant adjustment, constant shift–it would all be boring if it weren’t.
Did you ever experience the quarter life crisis?
Yes, at about age 19 or 20. (see above haha).  I was taking gen ed courses at college in my hometown of Portland, OR.  I didn’t know what I wanted to do, thought maybe I wanted to go into Psychology or Mathematics…it hadn’t occurred to me that design was a tangible option.  I was misguided in thinking, at the time, that the things I did in my free-time (photography, sewing, painting, designing lamps, etc.) were just hobbies and that I needed to find a “serious” career path for my future.

 

What are your future plans for the SAM jewelry line?

More collaborations are in the works, at the moment.  Custom-work is also a constant passion and challenge.  I plan to expand to more stockists (Portland, OR, San Francisco, LA, and Chicago are soon to be new additions) domestically and worldwide.  For the time being, I think I’ll keep new lines to yearly-launch schedules to free myself to pursue the multitude of other ideas I’m simultaneously exploring.  I’m also working on a clothing line “Gavroche Conception” that will be inducted under the Sam H Snyder brand after its launch later this spring.  I have dreams further down the line of housewares and lighting design.  I want to do everything–there are few things I DON’T want to do!

samhsynder interview, theurbanrealist

The Sam H. Snyder Collection is available for purchase at www.SamHSnyder.com. To see everything from his latest designs to places he travels, follow him on Instagram at: SamHSnyder.
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Danasiafantastic

Danasia Fantastic founded TheUrbanRealist in early spring 2013. She loves good cocktails, great conversation and doing what she wants.

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