As NTN launches two new homeware products, we visit Ian Walton’s studio to learn more.

Blink and you’ll miss the discreet signage for People + Projects’ studio on Dublin’s Francis Street. Inside sit watchmakers NTN, ethical clothing company Grown, outdoor object makers Others, and architect Declan Scullion, who are currently trialling open studio Fridays.

“The reason we’re calling it a vague term like ‘open studio’ is because I wouldn’t mind if people were a bit confused coming in,” Ian explains. Pointing to the glass between the front of house and desks behind, he elaborates. “It’s why we have the clear panels into the studio. It’s a total experiment. We’ve never had a shop before and we’ll change it if it’s too shop-y, or too studio-y, or if it’s just not working, but we have to wait and see.”

The studio’s inhabitants all met in South Studios, where Ian was based between design studio Notion and NTN. “NTN started as a side project within Notion in 2014, when we launched a collection of products we were trying to do under our own name. The watch was one of those and it existed for two or three years as a side project, getting attention every now and then,” Ian explains.

“Then in September last year, I decided to take the plunge and leave Notion and set it up full time. I arrived in South Studios thinking it would be around for another year. However, it was four months from then that it closed, and the day we left, work started on it. It’s such a shame it’s gone. It’s going to be apartments.”

After finding the Francis Street unit, the gang spent three weeks ripping out ceiling tiles to expose concrete, pulling up carpet to reveal battered floorboards, and finally taking down internal walls, eventually splitting it in two. However, if the layout doesn’t work in practice, each of the units is on wheels, so everything is moveable.

Between watchmaking and studio creating, Ian has been working on new homeware items. “I’ve two new products, the Capsule Clock and a candle, which doesn’t have a name yet. I have always wanted to progress NTN from watchmaking to a broader product range. I’ve had the idea of ‘time and space’ in my mind for some time – it’s the hashtag I put on everything... probably too much,” he laughs.

“What it means for me is objects that encourage time well spent and to do nice things, time with people, time away from digital. That’s been the idea always, to make positive objects, and these are the first.”

The clock is cut from cork, a block of which is propping open the door on our visit to let the smell of fresh paint out. “The idea behind the clock is that it’s formed in two parts, one of cork and one of glass, so there’s a volume of air at the front. That’s why it’s called Capsule,” Ian offers by way of explanation.

Two prototypes are nearby, one of which has a sweeping second hand, which is strangely relaxing. “At the moment, both are wall hangings, but there’ll soon be a way to prop it up on a shelf. I’ve been cutting sample blocks of cork that references those curved shapes you would’ve found on traditional mantelpiece clocks. There’s also going to be a vanity mirror-type stand. I’m going to play around with it.”

Meanwhile, the candle prototype is complete (after much arduous testing), although production is further out. Its shape came from the hexagonal concrete columns that Ian made for shops to display NTN watches. “I was moulding them here in a silicone mould and had the idea for a candle. I’ve wanted to do a candle for a long time, so I had an idea to pour concrete up to a certain line then fill the rest up with wax. It was a design experiment. It took me flipping ages to figure it out.”

Varying degrees of prototype are on display, with more failed attempts in the back. “Wax doesn’t stick to concrete, which is so obvious in hindsight, and I really wanted the line between the two elements to be sharp. I’m trying to use 100 per cent Irish beeswax because that’s what I use on the surf wax. It’s tricky, though – it burns in a totally different way to soy wax.”

Now that the candle concept is figured out, Ian’s next challenge is how to produce them in quantity, as they are time-consuming to make. And of course, there’s still the scent to decide. “I’d like it to be scented, with something simple like sandalwood, but then beeswax has a very subtle, soft scent already. So I’m undecided.” One lovely detail of the candles is that when the candle part burns down, there’s a hole in the bottom, so you can use the base as a long stem candle holder.

Ian has also been busy collaborating with studio and college mate Eoin McNally on Others, previously a “low-stress hobby”, which has just become a product itself as surf wax. “Our first batch was 60 bars, and half were gone in one day, which is insane, he says. “It’s never going to be big numbers, but we were really surprised at people’s reactions.”

The pair are already planning two new surf-related products by the end of the year. Pressing for a hint, Ian reluctantly offers, “One is coffee-related, and there’s possibly a surf blanket, working with another college friend.” Although a beautifully made fin currently sits in the studio, production of those is a long while off, as it needs to function too. We’ll be keeping a close eye on Insta. @ntn_ie

PHOTOGRAPHY Al Higgins
PUBLISHED Image Interiors & Living Sept/Oct 2017