In Mind and World by John McDowell, he writes: "this joint involvement of receptivity and spontaneity allows us to say that in experience one can take in how things are" and "conceptual capacity is operative in experience".
All of our actions are conceptual.
The placement of a jacket over a chair back, is a peculiar action: not always conscious, perhaps more of a reaction, and yet it is conceptual, it exemplifies receptivity and spontaneity. This chair brings such actions from an unknown known to a known known.
While design itself cannot be conceptual art, the way people engage with design is.
Orchard Stool
With the loss of hand production, proprietary utilitarian tools are being forgotten. However, history can be remembered through incorporation into the domestic realm. The peculiarity of a 3 legged ladder has both the charm and utility of an orchard ladder can be taught to stools.
Shelf Chair
Understanding the ever evolving dialogue society has with objects creates a cyclical process: once an object is released into society it must be reevaluated for new uses. Objects always trail societal demands. After the drawer chair had been completed it was given to public use and observed. Hangar was converted to a coat rack for more permanent use, the drawer lightened to a shelf for less permanent use, the hanging hook was replaced by a leather hoop for comfort, and the frame changed to aluminum.
Object Darwinism
second generation of chair
as a coat rack
hanging as a shelf
observation: seating as coat hangar
observation: seating as hanging
observation: seating as storage
Drawer Chair
Observing how society use objects in unintended manners lead me to value different properties of a chair: hanging on a wall, storing items, and hanging jackets. We develop subconscious cultural systems. This chair seeks to celebrate our hidden actions.
Object Darwinism
first generation of chair
as a drawer
seating as coat hangar
as a raised cabinet
3D sketch
observation: seating as coat hangar
observation: seating as hanging
observation: seating as storage
Milking Stool
The actual use of an object differs greatly from its intended use. Designing from observation allows us to look around an object instead of directly at it. In this case a milking stool may need to be a table, shelf, stool, or meet any other physical demand a user may have. The best solution is the most convenient. Notches take advantage of the milking stool's angled legs to create a system of stacking that allows this object to meet any imaginable demand.
Final model
process model
process model
Thesis Book
Petite Comfort
My attempt here is to translate an archetype from its intended environment to another environment. Le Corbusier's Grand Comfort is predominantly located in corporate lobbies. Its size, material, and appearence, while beautiful, makes for an intimidating chair that, ironically, is not particularly comfortable, and fails much of the rules set forth by Modernism. By a simple but concise change to dimension and material allows the Petite Comfort to extend into the domestic environment as well as being highly functional. Simultaneously embracing and rejecting Modernist values.
Petite Comfort
Petite Comfort
Clutch
Fall 2013
plastic, leather, chain, hand cuff
Drawing upon questions of being a slave to fashion and desire I created this clutch to further explore our perception of signifiers in economic class and the co-option of 'low' into 'high' culture. The street is a location of necessity for a sex worker and a place for creative expression to those who can afford it. Through material and production this object strives to hide its retail price, allowing the viewer to determine its cost on their own.
injection molding concept
Plastic injection molded onto perforated leather would create structure and rigidity to clutch, while also creating an social status ambiguous object.
initial sketch 1
initial sketch 2
Light
Complete and absolute understanding of material properties allows for the most effective design; one in which enables seamless interaction with the user.
Through understanding the diversity of steel's properties I was able to create a completely adaptable cordless light: adjustable and adaptive to any task or environment.
User experience and interaction
Shoe
Summer 2013
Canvas, Rubber, Leather.
Sexy doesn't have to be outrageous. WIth this piece I strove to create a high end luxury experience without a superficial rhetoric. Celebrating the sexuality and beauty in subtlety.
in process
muslin process
Illustrator Rendering
Concert Photography
Collection of Photographs from 2009-2012
The discovery of the hardcore punk scene was and still is tremendously powerful to me. Finally finding a place to belong and express myself. Punk is a subculture that is largely mis-understood, I strove to share and express some of the these less understood emotions behind it.
