12/17/2025
If you want to honor people in a community, you need something that makes their effort real. A physical object becomes a mechanism of culture. A shared focal point. Something people recognize and talk about.
To me, this award represents a piece of the spirit of Fireside. The part we gather around. The light within is a small piece of our fire, meant to live with the person who carries it as they continue building the future.
I asked to design it as I’ve trusted him to help shape Fireside since day one. I imagined something functional, and something you’d actually want to display. Not a trophy, but an object. Grounded, futuristic, and intentional.
Ivan mocked up early forms using AI, then built and refined the final design in his studio. The glow inside became the essence. The outer form feels stone like, architectural. Familiar, but forward looking. Every piece was sculpted, printed, and assembled by Ivan’s own hand.
When I held it for the first time, I was blown away. Not just because I wanted one, but because as I looked into the light I could almost see the spirt myself. I knew it belonged to the people who keep the fire going.
The spirit of Fireside should be shared with those who carry the flame.
More to come in ‘26. —