What Is A Tekton?

And Why I Am One

In the original Greek, Tekton means builder. Our common definition and use of the word builder means; “a person who builds”; “a person who constructs buildings under contract or as a speculation”. Less common, builder can mean, “a substance, as an abrasive or filler, added to soaps or other cleaning agents to increase their effectiveness”. The word builder is first recorded around 1350-1400, and comes from the Middle English word bildere. Our new friend AI expounds on bildere by saying the following. Origin "bilder(e)" is a Middle English noun that refers to "one who designs or builds (houses, etc.) or has (them) built". This includes builders and founders. It's related to the Old English verb byldan and the Old English word bilden, both meaning "to build". Middle English: "bilder(e)" was used during this period (1150-1500). Old English: It derives from the Old English verbs byldan and bilden. In Proto-Germanic: The origin can be traced further back to Proto-West Germanic *biliþī, which is related to the Old High German word bilidi. It can also be. As a Surname it can mean: In some cases, the surname Bilder can be an occupational name for a teacher from Yiddish bildn meaning “to educate, to cultivate”. Note: The word "bildere" is now obsolete in modern English. The word then has very deep origins even if the words has changed from Tekton to bildere to today’s common form builder. Why am I spending so much time on this? Because its a foundation of who I am. It’s built around a corner stone to what I do. It provides a framework to write, a function of this site, that enhances at least one goal of my products.

When I think of a builder or building I usually picture something new, engineered, reflecting the designer’s best hopes and intentions. In short, it’s new, exciting and very positive. It should be inspiring. Creating awe, conversation even debate. Debate when practiced with respect is healthy and spurs deeper thought and consideration. It expands the mind by opening it up to other possibilities, or opposing views, experiences or ideologies. But I digress, back to the Greek. Homer used the term to refer to construction in general. Later, its meaning became broader and was used to describe a more generic notion of making, but with a poetic mingling in the relationship between material and structure. So as you’ve read it’s a noun but also a surname. In either case Tekton the builder is an embodiment of an act wherther apart from the person or becoming so synonymous to the person that they take on the name. Essentially in every case I am a Tekton. There, basically this answers the two opening title questions, “What Is A Tekton?, “And Why I am A Tekton?”

Tekton, the Hopeful Builder.

Again, this idea of Tekton the builder is new and hopeful and positive.

So I adopt these historical models right through our common use of builder.

Not simply because of their original clarity but because of the goals they embody as well as the hope I see so inherent in their activities as well as a moniker.

By now you might be wondering how does this, what does this idea, the Ancient Greeks ascribe to the notion of Tekton have to do with me and leather design. As you’ve already read I have a subjective perception with a wide and long view of Tekton as builder. Maybe this is because I love architecture. Maybe because I’m so process driven and building anything is a process. Maybe it’s because there’s so much design required. Maybe it’s because it has so much potential to be all these things and more.

More?

Anything worth anything requires being built. Thought out. Designed. And there’s the excitement and the positivity and the hope. Becasue a Tekton builds something new. Something hopeful. Opposite this is the idea of tearing down. Deconstruction. Destruction. The polarizing concepts behind each is so glaringly obvious and easy to distinguish. So, Tekton supports and even posists positive notions. So I ask myself, why not take them on, were them, embody them.

So, I both accept, redefine and broaden the idea of Homer’s definition. Let’s step back to the idea of design. Design is basically an idea, a philosophy, a theory. If I leave it in my head that‘s all it’ll ever be. But what happens when I draw it, write it, speak it, build it? As soon as these things happen it becomes alive with possibility. In the case of leather design it becomes the artistically constructed form through an act of revealing. Revealing is vital but also daring. For it to become real it must be brought out from the mind and here is where it becomes daring. Many times ideas are new, fresh but also untried, cutting against norms. Ideas can be scary, no matter how big or how small. They’ve never been uttered or tested. There may be no support for them. There may be ridicule. But I firmly believe this where we can live full and contented lives. This is living. Keeping in mind the opposing view you can see why the possibilities are endless and hopeful.

What am I saying? Well, design of any kind, that is new, untested, untried can be bold. In this context it will create a stir, likely among entrenched or conserative. This I call backlash. It can be hostile and hot. Or it can be inquizzitve and thought provoking. Any large idea that promotes an entirely new way of thinking or doing something that breaks old established methods might get a wide range of reactions and push back. This can happen within the world of my leather design. Think high fashion and what’s is trending. A conservative might not be comfortable wearing high fashion. Young people or those with high energy and progressive thinking though may not have any problem. But I’d like to you to consider how new ways of doing things can be healthy and reflect the current state of society. This is also Tekton the builder at work. Society can stagnate if it’s not infused with new energy. People, over generational time evolve. This natural, healthy and invigorating. Or so it should be.

Part of “Opinions From A Tekton” is to support the new and challenge the old. I’ll do this openly but I’ll also do this via my leather design. Because I believe a first step to self confidence and freedom is to feel good about yourself. Now, I’m not so vain or shallow as to believe my leather products or simple fashion is the first and only solid base to build esteem on. Of course that’s not what I’m saying. But I am saying certain material things do prop us up, make us feel good, or just give us a slight sense of confidence. If this weren’t true then why do we as a society purchase similar items, post phots of our selves online and smile all the way. If this is the case, and I’ll have a lot of thoughts come my way on this, then why not design for good, something that promotes a healthy life and positive self esteem. Then, in combination with other self reinforcing practices go out into the world, as we do every day, and spread our good to every one we come into contact with.

Is this some deep and complicated way of thinking? Maybe, but the entire process reveals an intention, it pulls the cover away from the entire mode of thinking and living and the goals I have in mind. In the context of the leather design you see on my site I hope it shows the thought, care and dedication I put into each piece I design. Then the user, at the very least, knows my intentions are not to make a quick buck but are for enriching the user’s life by just a fraction. Again new, fresh positive.

Tekton, the Life Designer.

Up to this point I have simply expressed how ideas like Tekton, design, function are all part of the same whole. In my opinion a Tekton can be a designer, theorist, architect of anything. Why? Becasue these seek something in the act of building, something worthy. The Tekton can combine theory - theory is the idea behind something, in this case design, but can also support intention or use, and making - making is self explanatory but can also be part of (my) the relationship to all stages in the process toward a final form. Again, this act of design but could be about anything. To be clear though in this entry I’m mostly referring to design and fabrication. I’ll expand this idea of Tekton to other topics in other opinion entry’s. Tekton should be fluid and expansive, able to encompass my ability to think, ponder, wonder and, also, design, develop, make as well as experience, use and interaction. These, to me, are linked and cannot, nor should not be isolated. And since I ascribe to be Tekton I strive to live and practice from these vantage points. It’s a poetic fusing of theory, making, living as well as examining the spaces between.

By now you’re getting an idea of the kind of designer I strive to be and why this is so important to me. I first happened on the word Tekton while in grad school designing my body of work and writing my thesis. The word seemed hardly known and difficult to find any real information on. It seemed to be nowhere as common and easy to find information on as it is now. As I wrote above I look to the original Greek for both the inspiration of, and the definition of the word but also Tekton’s work, even through language changes has remained the same. Original sources almost always offer deeper, fuller explanations than after having been put through eons of translations. Homer said Tekton means builder initially refering to construction in general. But, its meaning became broader still to describe a more generic notion of making, and within a poetic sense that describes the relationship between material and structure. In my world of design, style, function this relationship is essential because it frees me to think about a user experience as that pertains to leather, environment, daily wear and tear, style and function. But as I alluded too earlier, not only are these interrelated but they affect our inner selves, our outward attitudes and our relationships to our personal worlds, and to the larger world as well. So design, style, function should then be used to express positivity because we ourselves are feeling so good inside. Too shallow? Too simplistic? Consider how good we feel with something as inconsequential as an ice cream cone. We smile, we talk, we feel good. So then why can’t design, style and function have the same effect? Why can’t design be the basis for not only something beautiful but go on to positively influence, beginning with our self, then to those around us. This is my goal. This is larger, more complex view of (me as) Tekton.

So the historic models becomes the foundation to my practice but also with an added twist, another expression if you will, to how I want to live and hope others will as well.

Thank you for reading. I know you’re busy and you have other choices.

Gregor