Project #1 - Relic

While working at Chaves Knives, I had the opportunity to create a new 50 Series colorway called Corundum. It was my first chance to leave my own mark on a project and shape something into a reflection of my own interests. While the other four colorways have all been successful, Corundum has consistently sold out with each release. Seeing people connect with something that started as a personal idea has been incredibly rewarding.

That experience taught me something important about design. The projects that feel the most authentic are often the ones rooted in the things that have stayed with us the longest.

For me, that has always been worlds like The Lord of the Rings, Skyrim, Halo, Avatar the last Airbender, and Star Wars. My fascination with mythology, fantasy, and science fiction has never faded. If you walked into my office, you would quickly understand. The shelves are lined with books, LEGO sets, and memorabilia that have followed me through different stages of life. Those stories have shaped the way I think about design, and I wanted Emberstone to be built on that same foundation.

If I was going to create something that could outlast the excitement of a single release, it needed to be rooted in something that had already stood the test of time within me. I have always been drawn to things that feel ancient, futuristic, or somewhere between the two. Places that seem to have a history before you ever arrive. Objects that feel like they have already lived a life.

That philosophy is what led to my first design.

Relic.

The name immediately suggests something old, weathered, and significant. Whether the knife actually feels that way is not for me to decide.

There is a literary concept called The Death of the Author, which argues that once a work is shared, the creator's intentions are no longer the definitive interpretation. Meaning belongs just as much to the audience as it does to the person who created it. I find that idea fascinating because design works much the same way. I can spend months shaping every curve, finish, and detail around a specific vision, but the moment someone picks it up, they bring their own experiences, memories, and expectations with them. The object begins to tell a different story for every person who uses it.

That is exactly what I hope happens with the Relic.

My goal was to create something that is both visually compelling and genuinely useful. While the design is complete, I think the story behind it deserves to evolve alongside it. This blog is my way of sharing that process with you, not just the finished product. I hope you'll follow along as future designs come out with their own stories and meanings behind them.

When the time comes to officially reveal the Relic, this blog, along with Instagram, will be where I share the design concept.

Until our paths cross again,
- Aaron
Emberstone Design