about AO2

Aroundsquare creates minimalist, functional tools to promote focus, personal growth, and creative expression. Our products are built to be durable, and get better with age, becoming trusted companions in your daily life. We may not be for everyone, but we're for anyone.

our story

Aroundsquare's roots are in education and social development, but we've been creating compelling, functional goods since the early 2000s. Our early focus was on international development consulting, and our product design practice was a sideline where we explored objects that would invite creative exploration and open-ended play. We incorporated in 2008, and by the mid-2010s AO2's focus had shifted to concentrate principally on developing and producing original products with a strong social purpose. Aroundsquare currently employs a team of eight, and is based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Those who become acquainted with Aroundsquare quickly recognize that there is more to the company and its products than meets the eye. Our educational roots live on through the concept of the hidden curriculum. All objects and all environments embody a set of values. Through this lens, we see a place for design work that contributes positively to shaping healthy lifestyles, both physically and cognitively. We strive to create minimalist, durable goods that encourage mindful presence, creativity, active living, and a general playfulness that too often gets lost in the modern world.

cross-cutting themes

  • social engineering

    We believe that innovative products and community building can support positive social change. Our products are designed to support a good, balanced lifestyle, with plenty of analogue activity and a healthy dose of playfulness.

  • mind control

    We are committed to mental clarity and cognitive freedom. Most of our products connect to this theme, as tools that support the practice of mindfulness, the development of focus and perseverance, and providing opportunities for creative exploration and expression.

  • human potential

    All of our work and all of our products are, in their own way, connected to personal growth and the realization of human potential. This is not about changing our nature, but rather, about growing from within that nature--a process that begins with self-acceptance.

the bottom line

We have four. This quadruple bottom line thinking is one way of representing the values embedded in the products we create, and the way we conduct business.

  • financial

    Aroundsquare is a for-profit company, and we aim to do well by doing good. We don't cut corners, and our prices reflect this, but the result is very high quality products, excellent customer service, and solid value to our customers.

  • social

    We are socially responsible, and care about our impact on society. Since the beginning, Aroundsquare has been focused on community, and we are priviledged to have one of the most positive, constructive, and inclusive communities around.

  • environmental

    We use an environmental lens to analyze our practices and inform our decision making. We create long-lasting, high quality products, and favour natural materials and packaging wherever this is practical. We are always reviewing our practices with a review to improving our environmental impact.

  • lifestyle benefit

    We evaluate everything we do by asking what benefit it will deliver. We only create products that we believe will have a meaningful and positive impact for our customers. The evidence of our impact comes from the feedback and testamonials we've received from customers whose lives have been positively impacted by what we do. We are extremely proud of this.

AO2 news

If your looking to stay up to date with everything aroundsquare, we highly recommend signing up to our email listing! It'll get you some exclusive access come product launches and is just generally the most consistent way to get updates. Alternatively check out our blog or any of the links below to find aroundsquare popping up in all types of media!

AO2 blog