Interview with Maurice L. Dery

My company, Karice Enterprises, is an artisan manufacturer. We work with metal to produce an array of custom projects, primarily custom lighting. We’ve been in business since 1993, and have always been based out of the Vancouver, Canada area.

Art seeks expression. Design seeks solutions. I'm looking for both in all original pieces I create. Design is all about purpose. It navigates and overcomes seemingly impossible challenges with solutions that are technically functional and aesthetically beautiful. Art, on the other hand, is articulate. It is the culmination and expression of skill and understanding. I aim to reflect both artistry and thoughtful design in all I do. I only want to take on projects that others are afraid to. I believe the intersection of art and design is daring, explorative, and adventurous in achieving solutions. It's also expressive and aesthetically pleasing. It's master workmanship: balancing beauty with functionality. This balance is what I seek in each original piece I create. As such, I consider myself an artisan: a practical craftsman who is one half artist and one half designer.

Challenging ones! I love to make the seemingly “impossible” possible. If you tell me it can’t be done, I love proving it can! Specifically though, large chandeliers are probably my favourite product type to create.

The Sprocket. I can’t tell you too much about it as we aren’t releasing it for a few more weeks! But I can tell you this: it showcases 37 years of metalworking experience in the most sophisticated way possible, while producing a clean and simple looking design.

A stair rail, if you can believe it!

Metal. Steel specifically because I know it the best. My father was an ironworker for 55 years, so I come by it naturally! (His brother, my uncle, was an ironworker, too.)

Sitting in the bathtub at 10pm at night, finally relaxing at the end of a hard day’s work.

Realism. I prefer mimicking real life objects, rather than the abstract. I do abstract but I don’t enjoy it as much. I like my work to be clearly defined, and I like to challenge myself in construction techniques. Like The Sprocket: it is true to its shape and form.

Oh! I’m happy. I feel exhilarated. I feel anxious to see the final results. I love seeing my thoughts come to life.

Satisfaction. It’s very rewarding.

A successful design is one that solves a problem or moves the profession forward. It makes a contribution. This is achieved when a design is both beautiful and functional, giving it value and purpose.

Quality of finish.

I always like to ask the question: “Is the piece selfish and exclusively about me and my expression, or is it generous and purposeful - making a positive impact on those it interacts with?” That is what differentiates the finest work: it is responsible and forward-thinking. The same goes for environmental consideration. We are to be good stewards of our resources and planet, and aim to leave the world a better place for future generations.

Collaboration. The synergy that comes when diverse disciplines unite with a common purpose is powerful. I believe in teamwork, not just with my internal team but with other leaders in the industry. The more generous we are in working together, the greater our innovation will be. The leaders of the future will be the collaborators who can best bring highly talented people of diverse disciplines together.

BUILDEX Vancouver, in February 2016, was the last exhibition I attended. Although my work was displayed at the Architectural Digest Design Show in New York City in March 2016. The next exhibition I will be personally attending and displaying at is the Interior Design Show Vancouver in September 2016.

Everyday life.

True to form. Meaning: I prefer not to be an abstract designer. I like things to be refined and defined.

I live with my family in Surrey, a coastal suburb of Vancouver, BC, Canada. This is increasingly becoming a world-class city for innovative design. I think this is a result of a combination of things: Vancouver’s adventurous pioneer heritage, the natural awe-inspiring beauty of the region, and the melting pot of diverse ethnicities. This creates a haven for inspiration and creativity. We’re also a very entrepreneurial people. We’re not afraid to take risks and do what hasn’t been done before. As a designer, it is a healthy atmosphere to be surrounded by. However, Canada is a very young country, and Vancouver in particular is a relatively new city (it’s a little over a hundred years old). As such, we do not have the depth of history and heritage of most other countries and cities. And in the design world, we still seem to lack an identity. Thankfully that’s changing, as Canadian west coast design and craftsmanship begins to be recognized across the globe.

Collaboratively. I take my skills and expertise in design and metalwork and apply those to help others reach their final goal.

Look at their skills and abilities, by looking at their track record and longevity. If they have an outstanding portfolio but they’ve only been in the business for two years, you need to think twice about how honest they’re being. No amount of talent can make an expert overnight. A true master will have years and years and years of consistently creating brilliant designs - from start to finish. Age does not make a master. Consistently innovating and pushing creative boundaries over many years does.

Whether it is our own concept or a client’s idea, we begin by solidify the conceptual drawings and design objective. We then draft our initial designs and being developing prototypes. We always have formal blueprints drafted before prototyping, and we always prototype before production begins. Once we’re happy with a prototype, we then begin production.

(1) A trellis that I designed for my wife 23 years ago.
(2) A nautilus bench
(3) My boat! It has beautiful, beautiful lines.
(4) My system of McIntosh amps
(5) A quad rack I designed for carrying four full-sized ATVs on a shortbox truck

Every day is different. Very different! Some days I am at my computer creating concepts and drafting designs. Other days I’m experimenting and building prototypes. Still others, I am on the shop floor finishing the final product. But every day I am leading my team and interacting with clients, while trying to make room in each day to be creative and explore new ideas.

Develop practical skills. Great ideas are common, but excellent execution is rare - really rare! Few people have the skillset to actually bring their ideas to life. Few can actually create the brilliant design. Also, know that the difference between good and great is in the little details. Master the basics. Truly become an expert on all the fundamentals of your discipline, and over time you will be known as the best in your field.

Positives: You get to create things! It is very fulfilling to have an idea, design and develop it, and then see it through to completion. Being a designer is very rewarding.
Negatives: Finding the balance between confidence and humility is the greatest challenge of any designer, in my opinion. You have to be confident but you must be humble. If you lose sight of either, you will fail altogether. When no one knows about you, it is hard to persevere and continually perfect your work. And when you’re successful, it is equally challenging to continue pushing forward - the temptation is to sit back and enjoy your success.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. As a designer, seek excellence. Seek innovation. Seek originality...with EVERY project! When a client hires you, treat the design with the same level of care and attention that you would if it was your own. Make other people famous because of the amazing work you do for them. Such an approach will ensure you are always in high demand! And, in time, you will receive your dues.

To be able to actually create the design you come up with. If you can’t create it, why design it? Having a technical understanding of how things work is critical.

For Design: AutoCAD
For Development: I stick to metalwork, so I do a lot of fabrication - TIG and MIG welding, grinding, etc. - as well as machining and waterjet cutting.

Good question! This is something I struggle with every day. It is hard to balance creativity with productivity. And, truthfully, I believe the answer is teamwork. By having a high quality team, you can rely on others to carry the load. If you’re doing everything yourself, you don’t have the time to pursue your inspirations.

A day. A week. A month? It entirely depends on the project. Some stuff we have developed from start to finish in an afternoon. Other projects have a life of their own. We have had some designs that took six months to complete.

“Can you build this?”

In my late twenties, I decided to make a career change out of ironworking, after replacing a coworker who was blown off a bridge. After that, I decided to refine my metalworking skills and get a machining ticket.

Earls Kitchen + Bar has been a client for 20 years. I’ve developed custom lighting and metalwork for most of their restaurants across North America. Most of the major premium casual dining restaurant chains in Canada have been our clients over the years.

Challenging, supposedly “impossible” projects that others are afraid of. This is what excites me and really brings me to life. I love tackling an overwhelming challenge with design solutions. At the end of the day, solving problems is what I most enjoy.

More original pieces. I want to keep pushing the creative envelope, and leave a legacy that my son is proud to inherit.

I prefer to work as a team. Too often though, my designs are completely my own. But as I age, I am making a concerted effort to pass on my knowledge and skills to the next generation, so I am co-designing with younger designers as much as possible.

The Sprocket. We have just finished a 10-foot by 10-foot feature chandelier that is a fully functioning to-scale sprocket. It is probably the best work I’ve ever done, and fully culminates my 37 years in the industry. It'll be released to the public soon.

Phone: 1-604-542-7137
Email: maurice@karice.com
Instagram: @kariceenterprises