Port Costa Project
Profile of Dan - Designer and Blacksmith
One of a three part series profiling three artisans in Port Costa, CA.
Dan invites us into his design studio tucked away in the hidden town of Port Costa, just outside of San Francisco.
A designer first, Dan uses blacksmithing and metal fabrication as his creative medium. His work lives in the tension between industrial design, sculpture, and craftsmanship, balancing beauty and danger, softness and strength.
In this short documentary, Dan reflects on how environment shapes his creativity, how slowing down creates clarity, and why he believes design shouldn’t always be safe. His work challenges the viewer to stay present, aware, and engaged—introducing a subtle, subconscious tension that makes each piece feel undeniably real.
Director: Kate Mathis
DP: Don Razniewski
Art Director: Lisa Fravel
Editor: Nick Patrick
Music: Michael Shynes