Into The Wild: Where Creativity Meets Connection

We made our way to the campground, where a fully set-up base camp awaited us—a small neighborhood of bell tent yurts that would be our home for the next few days. The site included a headquarters stocked with supplies, a central gathering space, and chairs circling the fire pit where everyone could unwind together beneath the stars. Each team member was greeted with a gift bag and a refreshing welcome drink before settling into the campground. That evening, we came together for a street taco dinner followed by s’mores and music around the fire. It was the perfect way to close the first night of our workshop.

No RSM Design Workshop would be complete without custom branded gear, and this year’s team went all in on the camping theme. Every item was thoughtfully designed and developed, with each piece chosen to fit our camping adventure, carrying both utility and story. Upon arrival at the campsite, a table of RSM branded Nalgene water bottles awaited everyone, each bottle outfitted with different cap colors so team members could personalize their choice. The next morning, nylon hats were unveiled, each marked with a sun-spaceship logo. The hats, along with a set of Camp RSM buttons to pin on, served as symbols that exploration is everywhere when we experiment, listen, and design together. Later that afternoon, the team received branded Swiss Army knives, a practical addition to our camp gear. We then hand-crafted paracord keychains, turning them into both keepsakes and handy accessories. Unveiling the swag in stages kept anticipation high and added moments of surprise and delight throughout the workshop!

Thursday began with a hike down to Trestles Beach, a well known surf spot, and the future site of the 2028 Olympic surfing events. The team gathered on the sand for activities that set a reflective tone for the day. RSM Design’s very own Steve Luoma and Eloisa Ortiz guided us through breathwork exercises, followed by a peaceful journaling session. After hiking back to camp, the day unfolded with a mix of hands-on creativity and lighthearted fun. We enjoyed a sandwich lunch and heard from author and guest speaker André Martin on building collective confidence. Then we dove into team activities, including a lantern-building competition that challenged us to turn recycled materials and unlikely objects into something magical. The afternoon continued with a team plywood painting exercise, an activity that we continued on Friday, contributing to a larger project vision.

As the sun set on our second day together, camp came alive with a happy hour of frisbee, corn hole, hammocks, and some Topo Chico Ranch waters. Dinner was provided by Little Jem Kitchen, where we indulged in wood-fired pizzas, seasonal salads, and chocolate chip cookies from the pizza oven. We ended the evening with our team awards ceremony, a tradition at our workshops that highlights team member enthusiasm, MVP moments, and behind-the-scenes contributions. The awards sparked plenty of smiles and laughter, followed by a drum circle led by the SoCal Drum Party that gathered everyone around the fire in celebration. Each person joined in, playing instruments that ranged from djembe drums to frog guiros, as we were guided in harmony, building a shared cadence that echoed through the campsite.

Friday morning began with a pancake breakfast hosted by Steve Tunstall, husband of our own Sue Tunstall, who treated the team to a delicious send-off meal at camp. After breakfast, we gathered to hear from guest speaker Sandra Kulli, whose talk centered on the power of rebuilding through community—a message that resonated deeply with our team as we reflected on the past few days together. With camp packed up, we made our way back to the San Clemente Studio for lunch before closing out the workshop with our final group activity.

One of the most unique parts of this year’s workshop came full circle on Friday afternoon. In the weeks leading up to the event, our design team envisioned a collection of custom stools, developing design files with the dimensions that would be cut from plywood sheets and assembled into stools, leaving minimal waste. Our friends at Third Floor North (TFN) translated and refined the design into files for production. Together, we refined small-scale models, and TFN used a CNC table to cut the stool outlines into seven sheets of plywood. While we painted the plywood panels on Thursday, the bigger picture wouldn’t be revealed until Friday’s assembly, when all the pieces finally connected. Back at the San Clemente Studio, we sawed, sanded, and assembled the pieces into 70 custom stools—each one distinguished by its own colors and patterns, no two alike. Most of the stools were donated to local charities such as Laura’s House and Corita Art Center, with a few kept for our studio and some taken home as keepsakes—a lasting reminder of what we can create when we come together!

The painted designs on the stools drew inspiration from the expressive and colorful work of artist and educator Corita Kent, whose art is rooted in optimism and social consciousness. Her approach to creativity, finding joy and meaning in everyday materials, mirrored the spirit of our workshop. Being able to deliver a portion of the finished stools to the Corita Art Center felt especially meaningful, connecting our team’s hands-on creativity to a legacy that celebrates art as a catalyst for community and kindness.

We’re grateful to the brands who contributed to our workshop, helping make the experience more comfortable, fun, and memorable for everyone. From wellness and skincare essentials by Primally Pure, Grown Alchemist, and Vacation, to beverages from Topo Chico and LMNT, our team was well cared for throughout the week. Nomadix provided versatile beach towels perfect for our morning hike, while Birdwell, our new neighbors in San Clemente, outfitted us with hats to protect us from the sun. We also enjoyed time under a Neso tent, which created the perfect shaded hub at camp. Each of these contributions added comfort, thoughtfulness, and a touch of fun to the workshop, helping us bring Into the Wild to life while reminding us of the importance of giving back to our community in meaningful ways.

As the Into The Wild workshop came to a close, we walked away not just with new skills and a restored SPARK of creative energy, but with a deeper connection to each other and to the values at the heart of RSM Design. This gathering served as more than a three day retreat—it was a gesture of belonging, collaboration, and alignment. Like a compass, principles and values became our true north, guiding our decisions to create meaningful connections between people and place. This workshop reinforced what we stand for: putting relationships and people at the center of what we do. When we returned to our studios, each of us carried a renewed sense of purpose, trust in one another, and a reminder that our greatest designs emerge when we create together.