Meet Tacoma Design Company
Meet the maker
Tacoma Design Company
Tacoma, WA · Laser-cut keychains, magnets, earrings, and hometown goods
Tacoma Design Company is two moms who met at Bryant Montessori in Tacoma over a popcorn machine and kept a standing Sunday date through the pandemic. On one of those outings Nicole Riso admitted she wanted a laser cutter. Within about six months, she and Tammi Hilton had a company.
Both of them come from design. Nicole spent 25 years in design, photography, and custom framing; Tammi went to the Art Institute of Seattle and taught design at Highline College for 17 years. Now they cut, engrave, and print small-batch goods in wood, acrylic, and paper: keychains, magnets, ornaments, notebooks, jewelry, the kind of thing you buy for a friend who moved away and then buy again for yourself.
"We believe in the power of community and know that our true strength lies not just in the pretty things that we make, but in the relationships we build."
Tacoma Design Company
Why we carry them
Everything on our shelves has to pass one test: would you buy it again? Tacoma Design Company makes the things people buy twice, once for themselves and once for whoever back home needs proof that Tacoma is worth bragging about.
They are also a few blocks from us in spirit. Two Tacoma designers, making Tacoma things, in Tacoma.
How it's made
From their own description of the studio:
- Materials: Wood, acrylic, and print
- Process: Laser cut, engraved, and printed in small batches in Tacoma
Check out these products
- Tacoma Keychain ($8). Hometown pride that fits in a pocket.
- Tacoma HOME Magnet ($8). For the fridge, or the person who just moved here.
- Home for the Holiday Tacoma Map Ornament ($15). The city, on the tree.
Shop everything by Tacoma Design Company
See what they are up to...
Instagram: @tacomadesigncompany
Tacoma Design Company is one of the Pacific Northwest makers on our shelves. There's something lovely that happens when you can find your goods locally.