If you were to list the projects that come under the banner of “Sheahan Made” chronologically, a good argument could be made that the top spot has to belong to the logo.
The pictogram you see used now is based on Japanese seals, which are traditionally used in lieu of signatures.
Their security against forgery comes from the irreproducible irregularities unique to each hand-carved ‘hanko’.
Japanese craft culture has been a major influence on my journey as a maker, which you can read more about here. The isolated evolution of Japanese woodworking techniques have created
a unique set of tools and methodologies which intrinsically impact the final object.
I talk more about the impact tools have on an object here.
Somewhat obfuscated within the mark are my initials, and that was where the process actually begun. Everything I make is impacted in some way by the very fact that it is me making it. Hence why my work is made under the name ‘Sheahan Made’, permanently connecting my name to each item. Therefore, the mark acts as a kind of fingerprint or witness mark.
After a slight change in proportions, a few extra lines to strengthen the hanko aesthetic, tweaking of proportions and line weights for using the logo at different scales, you end up with a 17x15 grid of white and black squares. The simplicity and geometry of this construction is what makes this mark repeatable, memorable, and transferable
A seal or signature in the world of paper, is the maker’s mark in the world of craft. A ‘signing off’, a stamp of verification or endorsement, a lasting mark signifying quality and provenance.