Pulse BEAT
DESIGN WITH PURPOSE
Erica Ptak and Ashley Sheen launch lifestyle brand Desert Dweller Co. to further statewide water conservation efforts
BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON / PHOTO BY CLAUDIA JOHNSTONE
Arizona natives Erica Ptak and Ashley Sheen became fast friends while working alongside each other doing marketing and branding for luxury resorts. “We worked so well together, it almost felt like we shared a brain,” Sheen says. In 2018, the duo left their corporate jobs and founded A+E Creative Co., a strategic branding and marketing company. This August, they used their branding and design expertise to launch Desert Dweller Co., a contemporary accessories and apparel brand conceptualized under A+E Creative Co. to aid water conservation efforts. The company (www.desertdwellerco.com) sells T-shirts, hats, water bottles, totes and candles in earth tones depicting modern cacti, elements of water, and dreamy script logos. “We had the idea for a retail line celebrating the love of our home state and we’re into conscious living and sustainability,” Ptak says. “Our premise with that is to directly contribute a portion of each sale to water conservation initiatives in Arizona,” Sheen adds, noting 10% of every purchase goes toward funding their cause. The first project they will put proceeds toward is installing Source — formerly Zero Mass Water — hydropanels for families on the Navajo Nation, many of whom do not have access to water. “The owner [of Source], who is from Gilbert and a professor at Arizona State University, created the technology,” Ptak says. “We loved the company’s connection to the state and thought it tied into an extension of our brand.” The panels use sunlight to absorb water vapor from the air, even in dry climates, and can make up to 3 to 5 liters of water per day. “We think this is an incredible opportunity to make an impact in an area of our state that needs water support, especially during this devastating pandemic,” Sheen says. Through their merchandise and blog, Ptak and Sheen hope to inform consumers on eco-conscious practices. In addition to showcasing informative articles about their mission, their blog gives readers a behindthe-scenes look at their design process and features curated Spotify playlists.
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So Scottsdale! November ‘20