Fall 2022 - 112

ONE LAST THING
Meet the Maker
Intellectually
Inspired
Unemployed
Philosophers Guild
appreciates big
thoughts that can
inform funny, simple
gestures
BY DEBBIE EISELE
Managing Editor
UPG's creative process includes product development meetings and then
design conceptualization. As shown here, drawings are created and utilized to
help determine the final design of the product. Left to right: drawing, notes on
the design process, final product.
he Unemployed Philosophers Guild (UPG) is
a gift company known for its intellectual, yet
humorous, gifts. Thirty-three years ago, UPG
was founded by brothers, Stephan and David Shaw after
college graduation when they were disappointed with
career options.
T
The brothers decided to earn money by creating clay
earrings that were called East and West Germany. The
earrings could be worn in either ear, or together in one
ear. The Shaws sold the earrings for $5 on a SoHo street
corner and were very successful.
Over the years, the brothers created more products
including pins, pillows and more that incorporate
beauty and history. " UPG seeks to share beautiful and
fun ideas, in science, art, philosophy and literature
through a wide selection of original products, " Trudi
Bartow, director, sales and marketing for UPG, said.
Today, UPG sells hundreds of items, both domestically
and internationally.
" At the heart of our business is a small (11 people!) office
we call the Ivory Tower - in literal terms, it's a humble
second-floor walkup with skylights and a friendly office
dog named Vector, " Bartow described. " We're a motley
crew of overeducated misfits with passions for art history,
film, journalism, theater, comedy, philosophy, and
112 FALL 2022 GIFT SHOP® PLUS
business who pool our passions into creating products
that amuse, delight and spark curiosity. "
Typically, products are conceptualized during weekly
meetings, which are held " around the large table in the
back of the Ivory Tower, " according to Bartow. A majority
of those meetings are " dross, " yet are filled at times with
laughter, silence and sometimes a new product!
" For every product that comes out, we have 100 that
don't, " she detailed. " Often people suggest products and
personalities to us that we should add to our line, but it's
very rare that we hadn't thought of it already! "
UPG offers over 25 product lines, and the most
popular line is the transforming mugs. The designs
on the mugs morph once hot beverages are poured
into them. For instance, the Climate Change Mug
shows how the earth transforms to future predictions
of sea level change, once a hot beverage is added.
Another example is the Constellation Mug - a sky of
stars changes into a series of constellations once hot
liquid is added. There is even a Dinosaur Mug that
transforms from a design of living creatures to one of
dinosaur skeletons.
The heat-transforming mugs are a cornerstone of
UPG's business. Additionally, the Constellation,
Dinosaur and Butterfly Mugs are popular designs. Within
Fall 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Fall 2022
