Meet Narah & Parker | WonderBox Woodworks Founders

We had the good fortune of connecting with Narah & Parker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Narah & Parker, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
This is a question we’ve grappled with many times throughout our journey with WonderBox. This work has always been exciting and fulfilling, but we’d be lying if we said it’s never been difficult. What keeps us going every time is our understanding that our business is not just a source of income for us, or even an idea intended to be a business. Instead, WonderBox has always felt like a concept we’ve been granted stewardship of by an outside force of some kind, call it a muse. Although we do take great pride in our work as artists, at the end of the day we try to maintain the mentality that this is not something that comes from us but rather through us. Regarding our work this way has helped us cultivate a long term view of our success and preserve our ambition even when circumstances are discouraging. In short, we want to be good stewards of the WonderBox idea.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
WonderBoxes are interactive art pieces for all ages. They are hardwood boxes populated with industrial-grade lights and switches, designed to encourage imaginative play and to open the mind in the same way as a zen garden. We believe the renaissance of natural materials has come. In response to decades of movement towards less material and more screens, people are once again craving color, craftsmanship, and tactile experiences. We hope to provide such an experience through WonderBox – to kids and adults. A core tenant of the philosophy behind WonderBox is that far too few art pieces are truly interactive or truly designed for all ages; we believe kids don’t get enough credit for appreciating beauty and craftsmanship, and adults don’t get enough credit for wanting to play!

WonderBox started when Parker made one for himself. Ever since he was a kid he’d wanted something like this as an outlet for his ADHD, and when he was older he realized he finally had the tools and skills to be able to do it, so at 21 he decided to make one! When we met and I saw it, I couldn’t help but think of how many other kids and adults could benefit from something like this, especially those who have ASD, ADHD, or are otherwise neurodivergent or sensory-seeking, and convinced him to put it up on Etsy. From there it took off in ways we never expected! Three years later we are now working to expand WonderBox and make it a full-time job. It hasn’t been easy, and as probably all business owners know, at this point it means working long hours and putting nearly all the money we make back into the business, but we’re so excited to see where this takes us! It’s all more than worth it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Our favorite way to explore any city, especially Atlanta, is through food and drink! So if we had an out of town friend visiting for a week we would probably start there! Some of our favorite places to eat are Little Bear, Hell Yeah Gluten Free, SOS!, and Lotta Frutta. We have a special affinity for Indian food, which Decatur is rich in. Some favorite spots are Zyka and Café Bombay. Beyond food, we love to spend time outdoors and there are some really great hiking spots in and around Atlanta. Some of our favorites are Constitution Lakes, Cascade Springs, and Arabia Mountain (where we got married!). For other fun things to do, we love to shop at places like MotherLode, Social Space, and Kudzu, or check out a local show at 529 or The Earl.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We have several! To start, Decatur Makers (a collective workspace in Decatur) has been a huge part of our journey, especially towards the beginning when we were first learning a lot of the woodworking and electrical skills we rely on today. Some members in particular whose support has meant so much to us are Bill, Irm, Chris, Jen, Sandy, and of course director Kalia Morrison! We owe a debt of gratitude to both the space itself, with its plethora of equipment and tools, and even more importantly, the community and knowledge they have shared. We also have to thank our family for their support, especially Parker’s dad, whose love of woodworking and electrical expertise inspired Parker to make the first WonderBox, and along with Parker’s brother, built the shed that has become our WonderBox workshop. Finally, we can’t forget all the other small businesses, makers, and artists out there who have supported and encouraged us in both tangible and intangible ways! We’re so proud of the community we live and work in.

Website: https://www.wonderboxwoodworks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wonderbox.woodworks

Image Credits
All images shot and owned by Narah Landress & Parker Bradford