Konstantinos Chadoulos: Design is creative problem solving

Above: Maria and Konstantinos Chadoulos, co-founders of Mockinbird Studio, Greece

In a continuing series for Maker of the Year presented by Carbatec, we’re getting to know a little more about some of our entrants. Here we meet Konstantinos Chadoulos, co-founder of Mockinbird studio in Greece!

Do you work alone or do you have a team of makers?
I started the studio along with my sister Maria Chadoulos and we continue to work together, although an increasing volume of work means we are again on the lookout for more helpers.

Tell us about your background please?
My university studies are in some way completely unrelated to the art of woodworking because I hve studied agriculture specialising in economics. My involvement with woodworking sprung out of a need to fulfil my desire to create. I am self-taught, having spent thousands of hours reading technical manuals, watching videos, experimenting and applying and those techniques on a practical level. I am also fascinated by the art of machining  – my strong point is solving complex problems and applying new techniques to the subject matter.

Maria studied industrial design. Her main focus is to transform ideas into products through design. She designs 2D and 3D, which means she is the one behind the intricate patterns that characterise our studio. She also deals with finishing and assembly work. Both of us keep up with d new trends and attend seminars on marketing, social media, Google ads and so on.

Oak endgrain desk (2022). ‘The whole piece is based on plain, pure geometrical shapes.’

Why the name ‘Mockinbird Studio’?
The ‘inspiration’ has to do with the misspelling of ‘mockingbird’. It relates to creating mock-ups for product design, and alludes to the talents of a bird mimics. To be more specific, it refers to the bird called Mimus polyglottos.

What do you mainly make – one-off bespoke pieces, or production items?
We design and make premium items from wood. Our culture attracts clients who want us to design and manufacture a statement piece. This means we don’t aim at mass production but each time create something different to meet each client’s needs. There are of course, exceptions but certainly not the one of mass production. Often we do make small numbers of custom items, such as memorabilia, photo booths and others.

Marquetry cabinet (2022), Art Deco inspired

Where do you sell your work (or find new clients)?
Our creations are usually promoted by means of the internet. 70 to 80% of our customers are attracted through our social media or our website. A large number of clients also find us through word of mouth.

Rounded corners and decorative motifs seem common to your work. What are your design influences?
Rounded corners give a sense of naturalness and luxury. Decorative motifs in laser cut perforations or marquetry can transform a well-made piece of furniture into a masterpiece. Mid-century modern, Art Deco, Scandinavian design and space age elements are some of our influences and inspiration for our ‘fusion’ furniture.

Bar cabinet with laser cut side panels

How much hand work do you do? Do you use CNC machinery as well as laser cutters?
Most of our work is handmade and we also use classic woodworking machines such as jointers, bandsaws and tablesaw. Our philosophy is to produce a completely handmade product. Our laser cutter is used only for perforated pattern cutting, cutting parts for marquetry and alsoo moulds and jigs.

Marquetry Bar Cabinet, detail

Is the custom hardware (handles, metal trims and even screws (!)) made in-house?
When we don’t want to or can’t use commercial products, we make them ourselves. In the Marquetry Bar Cabinet entered in Maker of the Year 2024, the fittings and hardware were hand made from solid brass sheet metal using a router, bench drill and a sander. Only the brass screws were not fabricated by us. We used brass screws so the aging and patina of the brass elements of that piece would uniform.

What is the main challenge of running a business like yours?
The biggest challenge is staying financially viable and also being creative and innovative. Because we are a small business we have to divide our time and energy into many different tasks to remain competitive.

What’s next up for Mockinbird Studio?
Our main goal is to present our projects in at least one international exhibition per year so we can network and introduce ourselves to new audiences. Our studio cornerstone is extroversion, and we work on it on a daily basis. We have already exported to some countries and we want to increasingly reach the collectible furniture sector. Finally, at this particular point of time we are working on a very powerful project which involves trying to break a wood based Guinness World Record…stay tuned.

What’s the best thing about designing and making furniture?
Each new order brings together new challenges both in design and manufacturing fields. It is a huge challenge to transform an initial idea into a tangible product standing on its own. When you blend textiles, materials, use and so on, the problems to be solved multiply. Problem solving through design is fascinating and differs every time. The final assembly is where you find out if what you have designed is functional, ergonomic and simply beautiful.

Learn more about Mockinbird Studio @mockinbird_studio at www.mockinbirdstudio.com

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