JCR X LOWERCASE NYC
ORIGIN
During a 3 month long internship with Lowercase, a boutique eyewear brand based in NYC, I designed and fabricated a limited edition, high craft eyewear collection called Oldt. My intent was to create a stylish shape that suited a high prescription lens. Three pairs of the Oldt frames were selected to show in the Fall 2019 Furniture Design Trienniel at RISD.
Lowercase put this frame into limited edition production during Fall of 2020, and the frame name was changed from “Oldt” to “jRc.” The design was so successful with retailers, that the tortoise color sold out within a month. An abbreviated list of retailers includes Grey St (UK), Clelland & Boyd (UK) Carlton Eyelab (AUS), C’est La Vue (CA), and Justin Barry (CA).
PRODUCTION
- Two iterations were made before the final shape was decided
- The glasses go through a 30-step finishing process
- Two colorways currently under review to be released in a limited edition
MATERIAL
Italian-made acetate, German-engineered hinges, Zeiss lenses
DIMENSIONS
Lens: 41mm – Bridge: 27mm – Temple: 140mm
During a 3 month long internship with Lowercase, a boutique eyewear brand based in NYC, I designed and fabricated a limited edition, high craft eyewear collection called Oldt. My intent was to create a stylish shape that suited a high prescription lens. Three pairs of the Oldt frames were selected to show in the Fall 2019 Furniture Design Trienniel at RISD.
Lowercase put this frame into limited edition production during Fall of 2020, and the frame name was changed from “Oldt” to “jRc.” The design was so successful with retailers, that the tortoise color sold out within a month. An abbreviated list of retailers includes Grey St (UK), Clelland & Boyd (UK) Carlton Eyelab (AUS), C’est La Vue (CA), and Justin Barry (CA).
PRODUCTION
- Two iterations were made before the final shape was decided
- The glasses go through a 30-step finishing process
- Two colorways currently under review to be released in a limited edition
MATERIAL
Italian-made acetate, German-engineered hinges, Zeiss lenses
DIMENSIONS
Lens: 41mm – Bridge: 27mm – Temple: 140mm
PROCESS
Quick sketches were made with paper
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Iterations of the design were cut out
Minor adjustments were made until the final shape was decided
![]()
Acetate blanks were cut on a CNC
Expanding collets hold the blank in place
![]()
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This image illustrates the cutting paths of the CNC
![]()
The final shapes, cut out
The frames go into tumbling barrels to smooth machining marks
![]()
After miter joints are cut to connect the arms to the fronts,
the glasses go through buffing and polishing steps
![]()
On display at the Furniture Design Triennial, Fall 2019
![]()
Iterations of the design were cut out
Minor adjustments were made until the final shape was decided
Acetate blanks were cut on a CNC
Expanding collets hold the blank in place
This image illustrates the cutting paths of the CNC
The final shapes, cut out
The frames go into tumbling barrels to smooth machining marks
After miter joints are cut to connect the arms to the fronts,
the glasses go through buffing and polishing steps
On display at the Furniture Design Triennial, Fall 2019
