#28 Object Talks: Caitlin's Things
A 100-day project where Dan Azic goes through his partner's 'clutter'
Welcome to Objectively #28! Object Talks is a sub-series on conversations with creatives who work with objects—such as makers, collectors, and curators—about their practice.
“I see a lot of these items in my home every day, but I had never asked about them.” This was what Dan Azic realised in the midst of his project, Caitlin’s Things.
To learn more about his partner Caitlin, Dan started the 100-day project where she would recount the stories of her things while he documents them - one thing a day. Their conversations have led to uncovering personal histories unknown to Dan, and got him thinking about his own relationship to things.
As he approaches the end of the project, we discussed how it has impacted their relationship, curbing taste homogenisation, and how he’s changed his mind on ‘clutter’.
Dan Azic is a brand designer and strategist based in New York. He is a recent graduate of School of Visual Arts’s (SVA) Masters in Branding programme and currently works with select freelance clients. Previously, he spent six years as the Director of Design at Real, a Nasdaq-listed real estate startup.
At about day 70 of 100 of Caitlin’s Things, what’s one thing you understand differently from when you first embarked on it?
I have a more nuanced appreciation for possessions after all this — the littlest things can hold such important meaning and stories for us. Before this, I had some level of judgment towards people who save small, random things. I think I would have classified that as clutter or hoarding. Now I think that I am more open to learning about everything before passing that judgment.
How would you say the project has impacted your relationship?
It has brought us closer, for sure. So much of Caitlin’s life I am still learning about, and these 100 days have definitely brought up so many memories and stories that I never knew. It’s been so fun, almost like going through the history of Caitlin through her things.
What’s one thing you’ve learnt about her through this?
We realized recently how many random things Caitlin has been a collector of at different points in her life. She got so fascinated with mirrored trays, for example, and started searching them out. Same with postcards from a specific era. Same with box purses. But for each one of these random things she gets interested in, she is not just buying them. She has a genuine interest in it and tries to dive into that interest head-on, almost becoming an expert. It’s amazing. It’s a big reason that she can talk in detail about so, so many random things.
How about yourself?
I have been thinking a lot about how interconnected the world is and how that has somehow homogenized our tastes. Social media, Amazon, Airbnb… they all can have an effect on us where we all want the same things, the same styles. In this age, these more unique items can really establish who you are and what you care about. It makes me want to continue to expand my interests and encourage Caitlin to do the same.
How has gaining a better understanding of how Caitlin sees things influenced your own relationship to things?
It’s changed my perspective on how we share a home together. Rather than asking “do we need another fill-in-the-blanks in the house?” when cleaning or purchasing something, I think I am asking more about the story behind the item.
The other thing is that thinking like this really makes me thankful for all that I have. Having so many things is a privilege and understanding the importance of each item helps me cement why I should or should not get something.
I really like what you said in the SVA interview about how “there’s a story behind everything in our lives, and a lot of times asking about small things can open a window to a part of someone’s life you don’t know about”.
I wanted to ask you, what is one object that holds significant memories for you, and why?
This is a bit of a cop out, as it isn’t one item, but there are a few random things — a note from my aunt, a note from Caitlin, a prayer card from my grandfather — that I always carry in the small part of my backpack. These items have gone everywhere with me for at least 12 or 15 years. Sometimes I just pick them out of my bag while I am looking for something else, and it gives me a moment to pause and reflect on the people that I love.
What’s the plan after day 100?
I want to turn Caitlin’s Things into a printed book, just for Caitlin and I to look back on over time. I want to think through this lens more and more moving forward, as it really has helped me to ask more questions and try to be less judgmental. Maybe this can be something I do every 10 years with her, it would be fun to see all the new things and all of the stories that come with them.
View the project @caitlins.things and learn more about Dan on his website.
Special thanks to Sandhya (incoming Objectively!) for sharing with me about Dan’s project.
I enjoy hearing about who you’d like to see on here, so please feel free to send across suggestions and projects that remind you of Objectively!