Christopher Kempel started working in architecture in the early 90s which places him in a strange place between the older generation who predominantly hand-render and the younger generation who predominantly digitally-render. He sees the value of both. That is a common thread when you talk to Kempel: his ability to bring different groups together and unite them for a shared mission.
After two decades of revolutionizing online home furnishings with Hayneedle, sibling- co-founders Julie Mahloch and her brother Doug Nielsen, identified the industry-wide struggles associated with product returns. In response, they founded Rush ReCommerce to provide a specialized end-to-end returns solution.
Thomas Cooper Studio is an inspiring place for the designer who is searching for the thing that made them fall in love with design in the first place.
On this week’s Disruptive Design, DNN Editor in Chief Courtney Porter sits down with Studio Vlock founder Sandra Vlock, to explore her transition from architect to artist and the enduring influence of the participatory nature of the built environment in her creations.
A match made in tropical heaven, designer Breegan Jane dishes on her debut textile collection with Clark & Clarke, sharing insights into her inspirations, cultural influences, and design legacy.
Every once in a while a designer like Jesse Visser comes along whose work sits so comfortably at the intersection of art and design, so as to make them inseparable. Visser is a luminary in contemporary design, whose unmistakably singular aesthetic and iconic designs prioritize user interaction, balancing conceptual purity with commercial appeal.
The predictions business is about aggregating data from lots of different places. But if that weren’t an option – If you could just pick one resource or place to routinely visit; or one column to regularly read, in order to track and predict emerging trends – what would that be? For designers Robin Baron and Dann Foley, and trend forecasting expert Patti Carpenter, that answer is undoubtedly: Paris.
Todd Noe, founder of Maiden Steel, discovered his passion in a junior high metal shop class. The sight of sparks flying and molten metal yearning to be shaped fueled his fascination. His affection for crafting with metal sparked instantly, starting with welding skateboards, then on to high-end bikes, and culminating in his current focus on architectural steel doors and windows at Maiden Steel.
Ishida began her design career by selling elevated gifts, furnishings, and antiques primarily for nurseries at her petite Cici Crib shop in New York. Her unique and sophisticated approach to children’s rooms facilitated a seamless transition into designing for adults. She is currently the head designer at Splurge Home and the principal of CiCi Crib Interiors, the prominent design firm in Pittsburg, PA, specializing in transforming the whole ‘crib.’ Our conversation not only explores her shift from nurseries to comprehensive home design and from shop ownership to interior design but also delves into topics such as establishing trust with clients and considering the personality of furniture and architectural elements within a project.
DNN Editor in Chief Courtney Porter sits down with Catherine Schmetter and Joseph Palmer, the visionary founders of Russell Sutter to discuss how they prioritize standing out in a sea of mass-produced products. Together they delve into sourcing inspiration from fashion and dance, and bridging the gap between fine art and everyday design, their commitment to domestic manufacturing and the ways in which technology is challenging traditional retail models.