A few pieces-parts from my lighting design which will be shown in the upcoming exhibition Paraphernalia. Come say hi for the opening reception May 13th 6pm-9pm!
ALIEN, the third edition of Paraphernalia, opens at a moment when the word has rarely felt more charged. In the current political climate, “alien” functions as both legal designation and rhetorical weapon. In design discourse, questions of the non-human, the posthuman, and the speculative are reshaping how practitioners think about authorship and form. The show presents work across materials and disciplines — furniture, product design, sculpture, and decorative objects.
Some things that inspired me on my recent travels…
1. Scan from “HI-gruppen och hantverkets återkomst” by Johan Örn, hardcover 2017
2. “Naked Shape Design” (裸形のデザイン) by Seiji Onishi, 2009 first edition
3. Modo Container by @tabathapearce
4. Scan “Nachhaltiges Design aus den 60er Jahren” in issue 171 of form, 2001
5. “Plus” pepper mill by Norway Says for Muuto, 2008
6. Scan from uknown book at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London
7. “Vase Jam Jar” by Estrid Ericson for Svenskt Tenn, 1950
A nice moment toward the end of 2025. After being nominated by Pratt Institute, I was selected as a winner for the national IDSA Student Merit Awards. It’s been a pleasure to share my work and represent my time as a graduate student.
Thank you! @idsadesign
📷 @nilst_design
A few process photos from a project in Rwanda last year. Informed by a new material culture and close collaboration with craftspeople, we were there to expand the possibilities of designing furnishings within an artisan context.
My work centered around the hospitality sector, using palm weaving techniques and hand thrown ceramic. The clay begins as rock and is ground down by hand into powder.
What a really wonderful experience thanks to the team @madexmass
A close look at the internal column I designed for the Maneo seating system. The concept consists of a secure bearing housing which is mounted to the base and swivels 360 degrees. The column acts as the structure for the other components, after installation it is covered and therefore protected by them.
An early sketch of a swivel mechanism —> table form studies —> research.
A few images that incapsulate my thinking through the design process for the Maneo system.
Here’s a look at a project from a while back titled Maneo, named after the Latin word for “to stay”. The seating system offers a modular assembly of chairs and tables, with seats that swivel 360 degrees. It rethinks public seating in New York City which is often linear and restrictive—offering few opportunities to eat, work, or simply turn to a friend and chat. It’s not uncommon to see people contorting their bodies in an attempt to share a meal or simply make eye contact.
The system can be configured for sidewalks or plazas, with or without backrests, and is thoughtfully designed for easy installation and durability in the urban environment. It is meant to strike a balance between robust city infrastructure and the comfort of refined interior furniture.
As quoted in his 1972 book The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces, William Whyte said, “Throughout the city, we can vastly increase the amount of useful space for people—with more plazas, more street space, more nooks and small oases; and for merchants and businessmen as well as everyone else...there’d be more of what gives the city its edge; more schmoozing, more picnicking, more kooks and screwballs...and there’d be a place to sit.”
What a wonderful show to be a part of for my first exhibition! I’m pleased to be amongst such a talented group of artists and designers, all curated in a beautiful space.
Here are a few glimpses of my thesis work on view and if you haven’t yet, go check out @paraphernalia.exhibition
📍Frederick’s and Mae
🗓️open through May 31st!
Sharing a few glimpses into the process behind my graduate thesis, wrapping up this month.
The work will be on view as part of Paraphernalia, a design exhibition showcasing work from eighteen established and emerging artists and designers. Opening during New York Design Week and running throughout the month of May.
The project investigates mechanical interaction and wireless sound transmission as a way to propose new methods of electronic sound creation and collaboration. Through its invitation to play, the product—or suite of objects—embodies the aesthetics, rituals, and gestures of intentional sound-making. It positions itself as both instrument and artifact, speaking to the exhibition’s theme of “desire” by awakening a longing for connection and co-creation.
Thanks to @jessfugler and @axelsey for including my work!
My attempt at a super normal table
A nod to the exhibition curated by Jasper Morrison and Naoto Fukasawa under the same name, this table (stool?) provides just what you need and nothing more. Sturdy, lightweight and simple, the solid poplar construction gives a surface to almost anything. A table for reading, playing, tying etc.
I’m pleased to be awarded 2nd place for my “R-Chair” in the @bienenstockfurniturelibrary furniture competition. Among other constraints the brief stated a chair appropriate for mass production, which is fiscally feasible and marketed to the residential or contract trade.
The name “R-Chair” is derived from its Morse code like incisions on the seat. These incisions not only allow for wind and water to pass through the form, but they also act as a lock to keep the removable cushion from moving when one sits down. Morse code represents a secretive yet highly functional system of communication. This speaks to the chairs adaptability, efficient use of material, it’s hidden connection points and it’s purpose as a vehicle for outdoor gathering and conversation.
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#furnituredesign #industrialdesign #design #outdoorliving #chair #chairdesign #furniture
