Featured Fabricator Spotlight: Walking Fingers Record Boxes

Based in Seattle, Walking Fingers Record Boxes is the creation of artist Zach Urban, where leftover laminate is transformed into record storage boxes, sculptural pieces and visual compositions that celebrate color, pattern and material longevity.

Zach’s work is closely tied to his role as Production Manager at Kerf Design, a Seattle cabinet and furniture studio known for its thoughtful use of materials and modern craftsmanship. Through a collaboration, Walking Fingers Record Boxes transforms surplus laminate into one-of-a-kind pieces that honor both sustainability and creative expression.

Walking Fingers Record Boxes grew organically out of Zach’s daily work at Kerf Design. Laminate offcuts that might otherwise be discarded are carefully collected, cut and recomposed into layered patterns and compositions. “Every project produces scrap. I gather these leftover pieces and give them new purpose,” Zach explains. “This process gives new life to materials already valued for their performance and appearance, while allowing creativity to guide the final form.”

Best known for custom record storage boxes, Zach also creates wall-based artwork and lighthearted sculptures. Each box, sculpture or composition is designed to create an emotional connection.

“I would like people to see my work as something they would like to be a part of. It’s all about how my creations make people feel and if they communicate to them. Bringing something into your own home is personal,” notes Zach.

That mindset resonates with music lovers, collectors and design enthusiasts alike. Every piece reflects individuality and intention.

Working within Kerf Design’s production environment gives Zach access to and appreciation for a wide range of laminate materials, valued for both performance and aesthetic flexibility.

“In the shop we love using laminate to add color to our cabinets and furniture, and I have the advantage of using the miscellaneous material for my artwork,” he shares. “The best parts of laminate are the surface quality and the color durability.”

Those qualities are critical when creating pieces meant to be handled, displayed and lived with over time. The durability of laminate supports longevity, while consistent color and finish allow artistic compositions to remain visually strong.

“Working with laminate is like working with multiple textiles in one,” Zach adds. “Different surfaces, colors, sheens. The possibilities create many avenues to go down.”

Zach credits much of his inspiration to his time at Kerf Design, where precision fabrication meets creative exploration. Walking Fingers Record Boxes would not exist without the ongoing collaboration with Kerf Design. The partnership is rooted in shared values around craftsmanship, material respect and thoughtful design. It is a balanced relationship where Walking Fingers Record Boxes gets high quality material and Kerf Design keeps the material out of the landfill – a philosophy consistent with Formica Corporation’s own sustainability commitments.  

By transforming surplus laminate into meaningful objects, Walking Fingers Record Boxes demonstrates how materials commonly associated with large-scale projects can take on a more intimate role. It is a reminder that design is not only about function or finish, but also about feeling, connection and story. 

Through collaboration, creativity and a deep respect for material, Walking Fingers Record Boxes continues to redefine what is possible when fabrication meets art.