Ben Mickus has always gravitated to the art of making, even from an early age. His first job was in a lumber yard, where he learned the fundamentals of craftsmanship. He decided to study architecture and lived in Copenhagen for a year, traveling extensively throughout Denmark. It was an exciting time of exploration for Mickus […]
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From a young age Icelandic product designer Theodóra Alfreðsdóttir knew she would follow an artistic path, and was particularly inspired after she watched the film Mrs. Doubtfire. Sally Field’s character, Miranda, a mother and interior designer, had beautiful sketches and fabric swatches that Alfreðsdóttir was fascinated by. When Alfreðsdóttir began seriously considering her options, she […]
Sallyann Corn always knew that she would end up in a profession where she could utilize her imagination and translate ideas into forms. Growing up in a small town, however, meant that she had only heard of three potential tracks: art, architecture, and fashion. Her interest in clothing then led to an exploration of visual […]
A self-described mad scientist, Erica Sellers has merged art and design since she was a child. She invented contraptions and imaginary worlds, drawing or painting to let her many ideas take shape. While the product designer and builder has had many supporters, none was more influential than her grandmother Elsa, or “Nonni” to Sellers. Eccentric […]
Nearly a decade ago Susan McKinney took a three-month sabbatical from her full-time industrial design job to explore her interest in ceramics. She participated in artist residencies in Denmark and Greece, and soon realized that she was ready for her next pivot. “It was amazing to see the progress and evolution in such a short […]
When David Oldroyd was a pre-med student, he envisioned the dream house he would own someday. Ever curious, he enrolled in an introductory design class and soon ended up on a path that transformed his life. “I found myself studying for fun through the night and knew something was up,” Oldroyd says. “I gambled on […]
Milan-based product designer and art director Chiara Andreatti takes note of art and architecture when she travels, often snapping photos or making sketches that she can refer to when she begins her creative process. Yet it is the work of Carlo Scarpa that provides continual inspiration for Andreatti no matter where she happens to be […]
Inspiration can come from nearly anything, as is the case for South African-born, California-based designer Hanneke Lourens who found it in grooved metal sheeting. The durable Corrugated furniture collection is her first, consisting of five playful pieces influenced by the metal sheets that can be found in the urban landscapes of her homeland. The collection, […]
Some people are born knowing they want to be makers, creatives interested in contributing to a better designed world. “I have a strong visual perception, am very observant, and see when things can be improved,” says Kickie Chudikova, an industrial designer creating products, objects, furniture, and lighting in Brooklyn. “It fascinates me to create objects […]
A designer from Louisville, Kentucky, Tyler Deeb put his name on the map with an incredibly successful Kickstarter campaign for a redesigned deck of playing cards. (He and a fulfillment and operations team printed, packaged, and shipped more than 4,000 orders in 40 days!) The lucky occasion occurred when he was down on his luck […]
Artist and designer Nik Bentel is a one-of-a-kind creative deviser of products and performances that encourage viewers to reimagine the everyday objects in their lives. After receiving his undergraduate degree from the Brown-RISD Dual Degree program and Columbia University’s Master of Architecture program, Bentel went after the things that he already loved: exciting, strange, and […]
