The story of monkeypuzzle goes way back to the 1800's—a time when collecting exotic plant species was all the rage. One British plant collector came upon a specimen of Araucaria araucana, a unique tree native to South America with trunk and branches covered in sharp, stiff, knife-like leaves. The collector quipped "Now THAT would be a puzzle for a monkey!" From there, Auraucaria araucana became known as the MonkeyPuzzle Tree.

So what's that got to do with design? Well, every design project is a bit like the MonkeyPuzzle Tree, requiring a clever, creative, quick-footed monkey to solve the puzzle and get to the top. Some design puzzles are easier than others, but it's the act of solving the puzzle that really drives us and makes us the happy little monkeys we are, despite the pokes and cuts we incur along the way.

The MonkeyPuzzle Tree, now endangered in its native land, further symbolizes our interest in working with organizations that are committed to protecting the environment, educating people, encouraging individual thinking, and promoting cross-cultural understanding. Think of it as truly evolutionary design for an evolving world.