Huckleberry Starnes
Born in Dayton, Ohio
Went to school in New England
Lives, works and plays in Atlanta, GA.
I am a classically trained sculptor that designed and built furniture, props and retail environments before going back to school for Environmental Design and later Industrial Design (writing my thesis on Toy Design). Somehow I ended up as the Senior Designer for a global company that designs and builds custom control rooms for secure locations like NASA, the FBI, nuclear power plants, casino security centers and all of the Smithsonian Institution facilities.
I've spent the last 10 years raising 2 young kids, designing and building our house, riding motorcycles around the world, making dangerous stuff to amuse my kids and setting up ridiculous amounts of holiday decorations on our house (yeah, we're those people).
Currently I am back in the studio with an ever growing fleet of 100+ year old hand guided embroidery machines (currently 10) making custom vintage inspired garments and plotting a roof mounted trebuchet with a "3-block Watermelon radius" range.
Nerd, designer, motorcyclist, barfly, dad, know it all..Nuff said!
Education
Master of Industrial Design
Auburn University, 2004
Bachelor of Environmental Design
Auburn University, 2003
Bachelor of Fine Art: Sculpture
Rhode Island School of Design, 1994
Experience
Huckmade
Owner, Lead Designer and Head Artisan
Co-owner Robin Hill Textiles, LLC
6/1994-Current (DANG! that's almost 30 yeas)
Currently I am designing and embroidering garments and homegoods on a collection of 100+ year old hand guided embroidery machines as well as computerized machines for movies/TV, entertainers, car/motorcycle clubs, streetwear lines and cool people everywhere.
Previously Huckmade has specialized in garment printing, movie/TV props, retail/restaurant design and woodworking along with contract work for the US military.
Selected Clients: <more on request>
Nike
Filson
Stanley
Krispy Kreme
Harley-Davidson
Disney-MGM studios
Tyler Perry Studios
Stoney Clover Lane
Ebbets Field Flannels
Don Julio Tequila
Neiman Marcus
Anthropology
Southern Living
Coca-Cola Co.
Linda Barry
US NAVY
Linda Barry
Salesforce.com
Methane Studios
CBS Evening News
Georgia Tech Library
University of San Francisco
Turner Communications
High Museum of Art
The City of Decatur (GA)
People I think you should know with Huckleberry Starnes
(IG Live and Podcast)
Host
9/2022-Current
Monthly IG Live and Podcast featuring conversations with interesting people from a wide variety of backgrounds that I want listeners to know about, and a few that I'm excited to meet for the first time myself. Links on my Podcast page
Chainstitch Sessions
(IG Live)
Co-Host
3/2021-Current
Co-host with Adam Scheffler a bi-weekly IG Live focused on small business, chainstitching, tech tips, music, building a chainstitch community and answering viewer questions live. Links on my Podcast page
Starnes Family
Stay at Home Dad
4/12/11-Current
Duties include head cloth diaper changer, soccer chauffeur, insect relocator, birthday cake artisan, board game instructor and kitchen madman (to name a few). I am proficient in Pokémon, LEGO, Hot Wheels and Dad Jokes that revolve around the eating of vegetables.
Winsted Technical Interiors
Design Manager
2/2009-3/2010
In addition to my role as the Sr. Designer at WTI (see below) in 2009 I was promoted to Design Manager and answered to the Division Director while overseeing the entire design office as well as managing more than 40 outside sales members.
Winsted Technical Interiors
Senior Designer & Sales Manager
2/2005- 2/2010
Senior Designer: Creation of design concepts, product and material development and translation of these concepts into “sales models” to illustrate concepts in the form of a completed design proposal to present to the client. Also responsible for continuous collaboration with the Project Manager, Engineering Department and Fabrication Department to insure proper understanding and implementation of all design concepts in the engineering, fabrication and installation stages.
Supervision of Design Department personnel, travel to project locations to generate, verify & validate design concepts, engineering and installation details. Lead meetings with clients to develop and confirm project information and further sales and design processes.
Sales Manager: Responsible for developing sales leads and responding to incoming requests for products. This includes attending trade shows, leading remote meetings with sales reps and dealers, on-site meetings with clients, facilitating in-house meetings with clients and vendors and maintenance of product showroom.
Auburn University
Visiting Instructor
7/2004-12/2004
Instructor for “Industrial Design Materials and Manufacturing Technology” class taught to Graduate and Senior level students. This class covered a vast range of materials focusing on their development and use in the manufacturing of products as well as the social and environmental impact of those processes.
Full Circle Curriculum and Materials
Vice President, Board of Directors
1/2004- 6/2008
Non-profit educational organization that develops and distributes teacher support materials related to culturally appropriate and historically accurate education regarding American Indians. Provides organizational guidance and oversees operations. Committee chair: Publications Development and Design.
Metal Morphosis Inc.
Company Manager (Interim), Production Team Leader
2/2001 - 8/2001
Interim Company manger for a mid-sized manufacturing and wholesale giftware company specializing in cast metal products. Responsibilities included product and package design, manufacturing supervision, employee administration, training and supervision, showroom/vendor management, and quality assurance.
Processes & Materials Expertise:
Woodworking, vintage embroidery machines, computerized embroidery machines, fabric construction/sewing, bronze/aluminum/iron casting and patina, metal fabrication, ceramic hand building/throwing, slip casting, vector cutting machines, heat transfer/adhesive vinyl and general object making, costume designing, tree house building with a special emphasis soapbox derby car of death crafting.
Selected Sculpture Exhibits:
"Double Legacy", Cade Tompkins Projects, Providence, RI, 2013
“Breadth”, Eyedrum Gallery, Atlanta, GA. 2002
“A matter of scale”, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA. 2000
“Yankee go home: a 9 Artist Show”, Ballroom Studios, Atlanta, GA. 2000
“While traveling”, US Navy Base, Yokusaka, Japan. 1999
“Object of sculpture”, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio 1999
“Through the garden gates”, Right Brain Gallery, Atlanta, GA. 1998
“A-List: Top 20 GA emerging artists”, Fay Gold Gallery, Atlanta, GA. 1998
“Silver edge”, Nexus Art Center, Atlanta, GA. 1998
“9 Artist”, Empty Loft Gallery, Atlanta, GA. 1998
“Multiple identities”, Nexus Art Center, Atlanta, GA. 1997
“Outside”, New Vision Space, Atlanta, GA. 1997
“Reflecting on time and space”, Quinlan Arts Center, Gainesville, GA. 1997
“November show” Hasting Seed, Atlanta, GA. 1995
“Beacons” Gallery V, Atlanta, GA. 1995
Selected Sculpture Collections:
Wright State University
House of Current Advertising
Scott Lowden Photography
Brian Mallman
Waylan Estate
Ryan Gainey Estate
Condon family