Our Story

Covalence: Where Art Shapes Culture

Covalence was born from a shared vision between two individuals, initially, who came together through their networks of community, values, and their taste in art, music, and endless thought experiments, seeing the world as a living system and figuring out where we could improve synergies. We see a world evolving rapidly around us, new tools are needed to help society manage the increased cognitive load, which can impair self-regulation and decision-making, leading individuals to make more impulsive, less healthy choices when their mental resources are depleted. The way we self-identify, is being shaped by social media and negatively affecting the mental health of the youngest generation, globally.

 On the Playa at Burning Man, Patrick Janiak, a concept designer with a passion for the immersive functional art, humanity, and the environment, and Nathan Walworth, PhD., a bio-geneticist and climate scientist, recognized that the answers to our global challenges lie not just in technology, science or art alone, but in the convergence of new, cross-discipline experimental collaborations, were needed. They understood that to truly impact culture and drive meaningful change, they needed to make being conscientious and mindful “cool,” and fuse their expertise and passions into something greater than the sum of its parts— Covalence. 

Our Founders: A Synergy of Disciplines

Patrick Janiak brings to Covalence diverse backgrounds of experiences that inform his perspective for creation. Trained in Master Planning and Landscape Architecture, with a background in costume design, and personal training, Patrick’s approach to fashion is anything but conventional. His journey has been one of exploration—across disciplines, cultures, and mediums—all of which converge in the designs and philosophy of Covalence. Patrick’s unique perspective is rooted in the belief that thoughtful design can influence one's disposition and behavior, which then fosters deeper connections, and in turn, helps shape one's identity through the way they resonate in their world.