From Film to Fire: How Filmmaker Ryan Rickett Designed and Created “Tempest” - the Ultimate Luxury Pipe.

During the covid crisis, many of us were inhaling more than usual but Ryan Rickett, a seasoned filmmaker, director and producer, was working on crafting the ultimate pipe for cannabis fans. The result was a re-invention of the humble pipe with every detail meticulously changed and called “Tempest”. As Ryan puts it, “We wanted to make sure it was easy to clean, so it had to break in half. We wanted it to look cool, so we came up with a symmetrical shape that looks interesting. And we have OCD so all the lines had to line up, which is why the bowl is square, and the labyrinth is square.” The result is a pipe that speaks for itself with a bold and sleek design and a labyrinth inside to cool your smoke. Made from high-grade anodized aluminum, this is a piece that won’t give off toxic fumes from lighters, is easy to clean and looks down right futuristic.

We sat down with Ryan to discuss how his brand High Artifact is changing the way ancillary products are produced and how his career in filmmaking inspired the design and aesthetic of the Tempest pipe. Read on to learn more.

High Herstory: Can you walk us through your journey founding Artifact and the process of creating the Tempest pipe?

Ryan Rickett: Artifact started as a creative experiment but quickly became something bigger. Smoking accessories felt stuck in the past, split between high-end luxury pieces and generic stoner gear. Both had their place, but nothing spoke to me. I wanted something different: high-design, highly functional, and built to last.

The idea hit me during the pandemic. I was an out-of-work filmmaker in LA, using my smoking accessories more than usual, and the pipe I had was terrible. Harsh, impossible to clean, and straight-up ugly. I wanted something better, but nothing ticked all the boxes.

RR (con’t.): I have CG skills, so I started designing my own pipes, just for fun. But then I became obsessed and mocked up dozens of ideas. Pipes, bongs, ashtrays, stash jars. I called them artifacts from the future as a joke. At some point, I realized I wasn’t just designing for fun anymore. I was solving a real problem, and Artifact was born.

When I designed the Tempest, my goal was a smoother hit without the hassle of water. Glass pipes were too harsh, bubblers were impractical, and bongs took up too much space. Shape, smoothness, size, and cleanability became my design pillars. The Labyrinth cooling system naturally filters and cools each hit, and the optional titanium filter is great for smaller hits and extracts. The magnetic design allows for easy access, making cleaning effortless.

At first, it was just a concept, but once I committed to Artifact full-time, things took off. Filmmaking and entrepreneurship aren’t so different. Both demand problem-solving, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace mistakes and grow.

HH: What are some of the features that make the Tempest so unique? Tell us more about this Labyrinth design...

RR: What makes the Tempest unique is that it doesn’t look like a pipe at all. It’s more like a brutalist sculpture you’d find in a modern art gallery. Stand it up or lay it down, it just looks like art. Unlike most pipes, you don’t need to stash this one away when guests come over.

But the real magic is inside. The Labyrinth cooling system forces smoke through a winding passage, extending its travel distance and stripping away heat before it reaches your mouth. As the smoke cools, heavier particles naturally stick to the maze walls, providing built-in filtration. The result is a significantly smoother hit. The more you use it, the better it gets—it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

One question I get a lot is, “Does it really work?” Yes, and the difference is staggering. Do a side-by-side comparison with any other dry pipe, and you’ll immediately notice how much smoother the Tempest is. Because the hit is cooler, the flavor is more pronounced too.

The optional titanium filter sits in a small cavity under the bowl, perfect for smaller hits, resins, or extracts. I designed it this way because with most pipes you drop in a filter above the bowl so it never fits right and always falls out, which is very frustrating.

Cleaning is just as effortless. The magnetic design gives easy access to the inside, and with the included cleaning brush (which fits perfectly into the labyrinth) and a little alcohol, you can bring it back to new anytime. The Tempest also includes bowl picks that make clearing the bowl mid-session a snap.

Every detail is dialed in.

HH: Since you’re a filmmaker, we have to ask, was your brand aesthetic at all inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey? If not, what inspired Artifact’s sleek and stunning futuristic branding?

RR: I'm truly flattered you think so. I’m actually working on a new concept code-named HAL 9000, so your instincts are spot on.

When I started developing Artifact, I built a massive creative research library, something I’ve done for years as a director. At first, it was all over the place, but as I refined it, a clear aesthetic emerged. I pulled from brutalist architecture, Soviet propaganda, cyberpunk films, sci-fi art, archaeological relics, album covers, computer graphics, and psychedelic visuals.

I also couldn’t let go of the word artifact, so it naturally became the name. That shaped the brand’s direction, leading to the “unearthed from the future” vibe we’ve been developing ever since. And just to come full circle, you better believe I have more than a few screenshots of that monolith moon-excavation scene from 2001 in there.

HH: How has your connection to cannabis influenced your creativity?

RR: Cannabis plays a specific role in my creative process. When I’m designing, it helps me tap into a flow state where my focus sharpens and my mind expands. It’s a tool that lets me see things from a different perspective and create on a deeper level.

When I’m handling business operations I need a different kind of focus, so for me, Cannabis is mostly for designing and creative projects; everything else stays in its own lane.

I believe that cannabis enhances your superpower, whatever that may be. For me, it amplifies creativity. For others, it might be problem-solving, focus, or relaxation. Everyone should have access to that.

HH: Do you have any new products coming down the pipe-line (no pun intended)?

RR: Absolutely! All the usual suspects in smoke wear are on deck, ashtrays, stash jars, water pipes, and more. All in the same design aesthetic as the Tempest, as well as a myriad other aesthetics I am eager to explore. Some are concepts, some are in prototyping, and a couple are about to hit production.

Everything follows the same high-design meets forward-thinking function philosophy. I’m also working on pieces that aren’t strictly smoking-related but still align with the Artifact mindset.

The cannabis world is constantly evolving, which makes it an incredible space to design for. People crave innovation, celebrate great design, and are always looking for new, well-crafted tools to add to their collections. As an artist and designer, this is exactly where I want to be. The ability to experiment, push boundaries, and connect with other creative people is something I wouldn’t trade for anything.

HH: We are absolutely obsessed with the Tempest pipe and cannot wait to see what smoking accessories High Artifact releases next.

You can learn more about the Tempest pipe and High Artifact here.