Eric Clough and his partner Eun Sun Chun think outside the box when running their New York City-based multidisciplinary design firm. Their work spans five disciplines – architectural and interior design, larger real estate and architectural projects, graphics, products, and film. They approach projects holistically, aiming to incorporate all five fields with a singular mix of detail-oriented commitment and a rigorously developed sense of play.
212box doesn't stop at architecture. The firm approaches everything from custom wallpaper designs to desktop toys with the same ultra-collaborative approach, and with an unparalleled sense of possibility. From large-scale schematic plans to small-scale conceptual design, they apply the same attention and no-holds-barred ambition to projects that range from master planning for American cities and Antilles eco-resorts, to an urban art installation and subsequent handbags made out of its repurposed materials, to a New York apartment that includes a da Vinci-Code-style system of elaborate code breaking games for the clients' children ("Mystery on Fifth Avenue"). The mystery apartment renovation came complete with a 212box-written, designed, and produced book, as well as a CD of original scored music that pertains to the story. Continuing the scale switch, the firm's ThinkBox 01, a system of connected aluminum blocks meant to encourage creativity through play, comes with only one directive: "Give this to the smartest person you know."
The firm has an office of ten full-time designers and works closely with clients and consultants, forming newly branded teams like 312box, 310box and +33box—named after the area codes in which they are located—in order to facilitate complete involvement with every aspect of its projects throughout North America, Europe and Asia. With everything from detail drawing to on-site construction covered, 212box takes an all-encompassing and comprehensive approach to each and every bit of work, from the smallest ThinkBox to the largest planning project.
