Susan Kare has profoundly influenced our digital landscape through her iconic graphic design work. Starting her journey at Apple in 1983, Kare developed some of the most recognizable user interface icons of our time, including the Happy Mac, the bomb, and the floppy disk save icon. These icons have become entrenched in digital culture, symbolizing contemporary actions in the way ‘Google’ equates to ‘search’. Now, Esc Keys from Asprey Studio offers these icons as collectable, artful keycaps and jewelry, celebrating a nostalgic intersection of design and computing history.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Designer: Susan Kare
Collection: Esc Keys
Studio: Asprey Studio
Renowned for her contributions to user interface design, Kare’s work has become synonymous with simplicity and clarity in computing visuals. She is celebrated not just for her pixel designs but also for her typeface creations such as Geneva, Monaco, Chicago, and New York, which have influenced numerous computing interfaces we recognize today. Alastair Walker, Chief Creative Officer of Asprey Studio, lauds her as an artist evocative of complex tasks with minimal visual tools, highlighting her unique ability to convey abstract ideas through pixels.
The Esc Keys collection by Asprey Studio innovatively transforms Kare’s timeless iconography into wearable art and exclusive keycaps. Offered in both silver and gold vermeil, each piece transcends its humble computer origin to become a statement piece, encapsulating an era when digital technology symbolized vast possibilities. At a time when large tech companies are increasingly infiltrating everyday life, the collection invites reflection on cultivating a more thoughtful, sustainable approach to technology and consumerism through curated, meaningful collections.
Each item in the Esc Keys collection tells a unique story, with designs resonating beyond the digital realm. It is a fusion of precious metals and computing history that elevates the ordinary keyboard key into something extraordinary and reflective. This transformation not only celebrates the beauty of Kare’s work but also offers a form of nostalgic reclamation, harking back to a time when technology was novel and full of potential, a sentiment that could foster more conscious consumption.
Asprey Studio, an offshoot of the esteemed Asprey London, challenges traditional production with its zero waste ethos, offering a bespoke approach to their art pieces. Known for over two centuries of excellence, Asprey’s new digital and contemporary art venture marries this legacy with modern sensibilities. The studio’s commitment to producing on a made-to-order basis ensures minimal waste, allowing each product to be premium and long-lasting, akin to the iconic designs immortalized in the Esc Keys collection.
Through the thoughtful convergence of art, technology, and sustainable practices, Asprey Studio aims to redefine how we interact with and appreciate these everyday objects. By elevating computer icons into jewelry and collectibles, they offer a new perspective on the intersection between physical and digital designs. This collection, rich in nostalgia and innovation, prompts us to rethink how technology and art can exist harmoniously, encouraging a lasting appreciation for both the past and the possibilities of the future. To explore the Esc Keys collection further, one can visit Asprey Studio’s website, delving into the fascinating world where past meets present through innovative design.
