When purpose and vision align

Before Sebastian Rizzi, Elemental Hardware’s founder, launched the very first DIY Builders™ project kits, he spent years honing his craft in commercial millwork, finish carpentry, and scenic carpentry. His work included activation projects for major retail stores and brands, backdrops for television and movie sets, and even float features in the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. It was these very experiences he had — working alongside designers, engineers, carpenters, and fellow tradespeople — that became the foundation for Elemental Hardware’s goal to inspire more youth to consider a wider range of career pathways, such as those in the skilled trades.

So when one of Elemental Hardware’s partner school districts told us they were entering the city’s holiday parade in a big way, we knew we wanted to contribute in a way that reflected our founder’s roots, our company values, and showed up for our community.

Enter the parade float — built with care, craftsmanship, and community pride.

Built by skilled tradesworkers, powered by community

This float wasn’t pre-fabricated or outsourced — it was constructed right here in Oxnard, CA. It was designed, built, and installed piece-by-piece by the tradesworkers and instructors at Elemental Hardware who make hands-on learning possible in classrooms every day. From CNC-machined features to skilled carpenter cut and installed parts to hand-finished decals and decorations, this parade float showcases the precision, planning, and build techniques that underpin fundamental experiences in our DIY Builders™ and DIY Makers programs.

Our Carpentry team led the structural design. Our CNC team handled blueprinting and fabrication. The final touches — holiday decorations, banners, unique materials, and thematic design — were completed by our instructors and in partnership with local vendors, making this project a celebration-worthy example of community partnership and technical and creative excellence.

Shout out to our local vendors and partners

Every nut, bolt, beam, brushstroke, bit, blade, sheet good, iron feature came from our region — Ventura County, CA. We sourced materials and services from:

American Plastics of Camarillo, CA
Cabinet Parts Connection of Oxnard, CA
California Carbide of Ventura, CA
Home Depot of Oxnard, CA
Mayan Hardwood of Oxnard, CA
Oxnard Pipe & Supply Co. of Oxnard, CA
Postcard Guru of Camarillo, CA
Sherwin Williams of Oxnard, CA

The process and the people

We approached the float design and build like the beginning of any project in our innovation process:

Ideation — we take a collaborative, customer-centric, and data-driven approach to the conception of all new ideas. When we learned that our partner district chose winter storybooks as their theme for the parade, it became evident to all of us that the float leading the parade would need to represent every school’s selected book. And what better way to represent than promote the festive cheer of a cozy holiday book!?
Development — immediately, our team got to 3D modeling and mocking up low-fidelity prototypes of the design and structure of the float. After we reviewed drawings with district leadership, our CNC and Carpentry teams took the lead in machining, cutting, sanding, finishing, and installing each feature of the float.
Commercialization — as the float started to take shape before our eyes, our team and partners got started on the artwork. From car magnets to vinyl stickers to wintry designs and paint, a huge cross-functional effort took place to apply the finishing touches.

And while the build did not go off without a hitch, even through the challenges, our team stayed positive, pivoted, and found a solution. This float gave our entire team an opportunity to demonstrate the skills and craft they teach everyday — carpentry, planning, teamwork, design, function, and even resilience — and serve a purpose beyond the classroom.

Community impact

This project wasn’t just about building a float — it was about building visibility. For our partner district, this year’s parade marked a bold opportunity to step forward, demonstrate it's deep investment in the community, and celebrate its students’ talent and pride. And for us, it offered a rare opportunity to step outside the classroom and put the skills we teach on full display — in public, and with purpose.

Hands-on learning isn’t just a fun and more effective way to retain information — it’s preparation for career and community participation. Projects like this show students, families, and educators what’s possible when trades are treated as both career paths and valuable contributions to our community infrastructures.

We’re proud to have had the opportunity to bring this float to life in partnership with so many local vendors and creatives. Follow us on social for more behind-the-scenes footage of how this project came together!