FIELD TRIP

I’m always drawn to a road trip, the open road, the sense of possibility it holds. That feeling of expansion as I move toward something new, never quite sure what will reveal itself along the way.

When time or resources are limited, I turn instead to the field trip, a one-day outing, often shaped around a theme or intention: art, design, architecture. A more contained adventure, but no less expansive.

“Learning to choose between a road trip vs a field trip has become its own kind of creative practice—knowing when I need expansion, and when I simply need proximity.”

As I find myself in the midst of reimagining a former business, my windows for escape feel more finite. And so, the field trip has become an essential rhythm, keeping the creative current moving, even within constraint.

This past weekend, I did just that. I planned a one-day trip to Orange County with my friend Jen, centered around studio visits in Newport Beach and Laguna.

When I plan these outings, I slip back into my Creative Director mindset, looking for a through-line that connects the spaces, the people, and the experience as a whole.

There’s something about this kind of thoughtful curation that allows even a single day to feel layered, intentional, and deeply generative.

It’s a practice shaped over decades in the design world—a reminder to stay in active relationship with what inspires and expands creative awareness.

Our first stop was Slightly Choppy, tucked into Newport’s coastal landscape, where surf culture and craft intersect.

Founded by seasoned artist, collector, designer, and surfer Scott Richards, his studio centers around creating keepsakes that connect people to the places they treasure most—objects that feel lived-in, familiar, and personal.

Stepping inside, the space reveals itself as both a working studio and an archive of influence. Bolts of fabric, felted letters, and crafted emblems share space with foraged artifacts and fragments of the region’s surf and nautical history, thoughtfully gathered and intentionally arranged.

A sewing machine sits threaded and ready—old school.

“Here, imperfection isn’t corrected, it’s embraced. Everything is hand-done, slightly worn, a little off. Perfectly imperfect in a way that gives each piece its character.”

With Scott’s encouragement, Jen and I explored the studio freely, moving between work stations, curated displays and custom projects in progress.

Scott was so welcoming and generous in sharing his space and the stories of his craft.

You can feel his enthusiasm for the work he does—in the studio, and in every hand-made piece that comes out of it. And yes, an “OJAI” flag came home with me, a small keepsake and celebration of place.

Admittedly, visiting YokiShop was the original spark for this Field Trip.

Scrolling through Instagram, I came across an open studio invitation “Surf Break: a gathering to enjoy creativity, food, and community.” And that was all it took for me to set the plan in motion.

I’d known of Jeff “Yoki” Yokoyama for ages, but had never met him or made it to his Newport Beach studio until now. A pioneer in surf, skate, and apparel, he is the founder of Maui & Sons, Pirate Surf, and Modern Amusement, brands that played a defining role in surf culture through the ’80s and ’90s. His work has continued to evolve, now taking on a more personal, hands-on expression through YokiShop.

Moving through the space, it felt intimate and full, lined with crafted goods and surf memorabilia, each piece carrying its own history. The front room functions as both studio and shop, while the back opens into a compact sewing area and storage, everything within reach, everything in use.

And again, the sewing machine—set up and ready for its next creative act.

Interesting to notice these machines claiming their place as the common “machinery” of these spaces, low tech, essential, always in-use. Having started my own apparel design career at the foot of one, I felt the urge to pull out my old Viking from the early ’80s and fire it up again as soon as I return home.

In this densely filled space, there was a lot to take in, and to reflect on in relation to my own creative practice. Being surrounded by so much creative output felt deeply inspiring, amplified by Yoki’s joyful presence and infectious smile.

Time to get back to more making and creating a little joy of my own.

Last, but certainly not least—the magically reimagined underwater world of artist, beachcomber, and architectural macramé artist (and dear friend), Jim Olarte.

I’ve known Jim for a number of years now, and each time I make the trek down to Laguna, I make it a point to visit, not only for the inspiration, but for time with this genuinely kind, caring, and wildly creative soul. His passion for what he creates is infectious.

Before stepping into the world of macramé, Jim co-founded Locals Only, a renowned vintage clothing store on Pacific Coast Highway that operated for over two decades. Known for its high-fashion vintage, rare Hawaiian shirts, denim, and coastal surf wear, it drew designers, collectors, and those in the know.

Today, that same discerning eye carries through in everything he touches.

From larger-than-life sculptural pieces crafted from vintage manila rope to found fiberglass mobiles he threads together, alongside an impeccable display of Soleri Bells collected over the years.

You get a deep sense of the creative brilliance along with an almost child-like wonder Jim possesses in the masterful work he produces with studio partner Cooper Root, and in his ongoing daily ritual of beach combing the local shoreline and weekend flea markets—always gathering, always noticing, always making.

In reflection, what stayed with me across each of these studios, and time spent with the makers themselves was a shared way of creating—their spaces, their products, their joy.

• Vision and purpose rooted in place

• Collectors and curators of meaningful relics and found objects

• Work shaped over decades of lived experience

• An emphasis on slow, low-tech, analog work

• Crafted sustainably, mindfully

• Work that is imagined and made—by hand and by heart

• All the result of time, dedicated to creative awareness

And the powerful reminder that to find inspiration:

You don’t have to go far.
You just have to go.

“Mucho Aloha” for coming along on this field trip. I hope you enjoyed the ride.

• Scott Richards is online at Slightly Choppy and on Instagram @slightlychoppy

• Yoki is also online at YokiShop and on Instagram @yokishop and @itslikethestate and more “Surf Break” gatherings are happening and well worth the visit.

• Jim Olarte does not have a website but he is on Instagram @jimolarte and he offers an open studio in Laguna most Saturdays. You can check times on his stories.