Koba
Sam Acuff (b. 1991, NJ) is a furniture designer based out of Baltimore. He finds joy in applying a combination of fine craft and direct action to create idiosyncratic objects with unconventional forms. Exploring combinations of traditional woodworking, manufacturing processes, digital fabrication and metallurgy he creates work that finds a tension between sober craftsmanship and irreverent humor.
KOBA's catalog is often categorized as "Playful Modern" and draws influence from Brutalism, Sashimono philosophy, Industrial Design, Punk Rock & Cartoons. Sam regards function as imperative to his designs as process or form. These items are meant to invite interaction and influence your daily rituals as much as they are tasked with breaking up the status quo aesthetic.
Q&A with Sam Acuff of Koba
Where did you grow up? How did it influence you?
Trenton New Jersey. Not exactly a destination like New York or Philadelphia, but it still has lots of attitude and pride in the fact that it used to be a major hub of industry. Even before I chose this career it gave me an appreciation and almost dogmatic opinions of craft. New Jersey also gets a bit of a bad rap. There are a lot of stereotypes attributed to those spawned from its pits. It’s never been anything close to something that’s created a struggle in my life, but it’s made it really easy to not take things so seriously whenever someone comes to a conversation so ready to shit on it. I think that’s made its way into my practice in a meaningful way.
What’s the most prized object you own? Why?
My glass Batman Forever McDonald’s mug
In a world overflowing with objects, why continue making new things?
In a world of cheap, soul-less disposable garbage, it might not make for the most financially sound life trying to make things that replace said garbage, but it feels good when it happens.
What’s your favorite material to work with and why?
Bronze, which sadly I’ve yet to incorporate into KOBA. I spent some years working in a bronze foundry and it was the best job I’ve ever had. I love everything from the process of casting to finishing, I can nerd out about the properties of bronze and spent most of my time at the foundry making patinas so that’s for sure a future goal of mine.
If you designed a chair describing your relationship with your father, what would it look like?
Well it’d have to be a chair I mostly hear about through other people’s telling of their experience with the chair. That being said, I think it would be a pretty chill chair that everyone got along with. There wouldn’t be anything pretentious about it, but it would be pretty well known. Certainly weathered and mostly outdoors. Picturing like a Monobloc chair with an ashtray in the arm or something.
Tell us about something that inspires you.
Whenever I see a touring band that traveled from three states away in a minivan to play to a venue of 20. That’s a kind of dedication and love of the game I hope to maintain everyday.
What would you do differently if you started your practice today?
Learn upholstering first.Say no to more jobs that didn’t serve my vision.Make it a priority to find community sooner.
Any advice for young designers?
Take more risks earlier.
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