Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Age: 30
Occupation: Industrial designer.
Instagram: @studioluddite
Hometown: New York City.
Studio location: New York City.
Describe what you make: I design lighting and furniture with an emphasis on materiality and manufacturing techniques.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: My studio space. This was an opportunity to design without restraints. While I appreciate the confines that come with client work, designing a space for myself allows for continuous experimentation and iteration. My studio is a rare project that never needs to be completed, a dynamic space that grows alongside me and my creative process. I’m constantly fine-tuning, occasionally stumbling and refining its elements. This space holds significance as its continuous evolution has directly influenced the details found within our current body of work.
Describe the problem your work solves: Our work brings material diversity to the lighting industry. I’ve always been drawn to the genuine nature of raw materials and I aimed to infuse this sensibility into a line of light fixtures. I believe that when a material is overly polished, it loses its inherent beauty. Imperfections reveal authenticity. Therefore, we source materials in their rawest form and treat them minimally, embracing their naturally occurring flaws. This approach enables us to create fixtures that not only introduce a wider array of unique materials into an interior space but also celebrate the raw beauty of the materials themselves.
Describe the project you are working on now: We’re broadening our current collection in response to a growing interest in adaptations. For instance, we’re transforming our single pendants into larger chandeliers or adding a wall sconce variation for one of our existing ceiling-mounted fixtures. We’re eager to watch our existing collection grow as we expand the available options for select pieces.
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: Our upcoming collection. I’ve aimed to cultivate a visual dialogue among all our fixtures, allowing them to retain their individuality while still communicating with one another. Our next collection achieves this goal while also introducing even more unique materials and pushing the boundaries of our work. I’m eager for us to continue integrating processes and materials that aren’t traditionally associated with lighting into our designs. We’ll begin rolling out peeks of the new collection, with hopes to have it available by November.
What you absolutely must have in your studio: I usually start my day working by the window with a cup of coffee, and I end my day sitting on the floor surrounded by material samples. This daily migration around the studio is usually accompanied by a blend of jazz, soul, R&B, and hip-hop, intermingled with the sounds of cars, construction, and people bustling in from the street below. I’ve come to find the sound of New York has become an essential part of my studio. Although it’s loud and inescapable, it brings me comfort. I’ve come to rely on it to foster my ideal work environment.
What you do when you’re not working: I love exploring antique stores in my spare time, especially those that are disorganized and chaotic. I can appreciate one that is tidy and well-curated, but I much prefer having to climb over boxes and sift through broken artifacts. I appreciate the authenticity of a store that allows me to feel like I found something. A few added bonuses to my ideal antique store would be a poorly lit section that requires a flashlight, a grumpy man working the counter, and an illegible handwritten receipt.
Sources of creative envy: Percival Lafer, Donald Judd, Dieter Rams, Frank Lloyd Wright, Fela Kuti, K-Dot.
The distraction you want to eliminate: In my creative process, I often find myself distracted by excessive iteration. It’s easy to get lost in developing ideas to avoid making final decisions. Balancing thorough exploration with over-designing is tricky. Although this distraction is a daily hurdle, embracing imperfection and trusting my creative instincts helps me move forward more confidently in my design process.
Concrete or marble? That’s a tough question. Let me get back to you.
High-rise or townhouse? Marble.
Remember or forget? Remember.
Aliens or ghosts? Nobody’s talking about goblins anymore.
Dark or light? I need both for my work.
