About

About

Everyday objects, responsibly designed and made in Vancouver.

Evan McDougall, founder and designer of Conifer
Evan McDougall, Founder & Designer

I’m Evan, founder of Conifer.

I trained as an Industrial Designer with a combined passion for nature, sustainability, and design. Working across studios in Canada, the United States, and Sweden showed me how wasteful the product industry can be. I came back to Vancouver driven to do things differently.

Every Conifer piece is made from a natural, plant-based composite made from sugarcane and limestone. We work with local suppliers in British Columbia who reprocess production scraps back into new products, so nothing is wasted. Everything is designed and produced in our East Vancouver studio where we also offset all emissions due to shipping.

We take no shortcuts. At Conifer we believe objects are only worth making if they’re made properly.

What we stand for
Three principles
Design sketches at the Conifer studio
01

Design first.

Dozens of design directions are experimented with for every final piece. We consider form, texture, and how the product will live in its environment, refining each detail until the balance is perfect. It takes time, but we think the result is worth it. Every Conifer object is an intentional choice, something made to be used and kept.

Conifer products in a designed home environment
02

Made in Vancouver.

Our studio is in East Vancouver, in an old industrial building that has lived many lives. It was believed to be an autobody shop and then a woodworker’s studio, and now it’s ours. Every Conifer piece is designed and made here. Keeping everything under one roof allows us to keep our standards high and our footprint small.

Plant-based composite material and recycled scraps
03

A material with weight.

Each piece is made from a plant-based composite of sugarcane byproducts and limestone. We chose it for its weight, texture, and surface quality. It also produces 70% less carbon emissions to create than comparable conventional materials. Production scraps are collected and reprocessed back into new products right here in British Columbia.

The Design Process

Forms that feel effortless.

Conifer products are understated, solid pieces that feel better in person than they look on a screen. Every piece is created intentionally and made to be lived with.

Shop
The collection

Shop Conifer.

Planters, vases, and small objects for the home. Designed and made in East Vancouver, ready to ship.

View the collection
Conifer collection
Recognition
Press & awards
BCBusiness
Top 30 Under 30, Sustainability
Vancouver Board of Trade
Business Distinction Award Finalist
Vancouver Sun
Eastside Culture Crawl, Fresh Pacific Northwest Talent