Professional Finalists
Accessories
Trinity Builders, Helena Montana
“This mirror draws inspiration from the prospector’s reverie—that last look into his gold pan when he sees both the gold flake and the reflection of his joy-filled face. It was built by bending solid quartered walnut into a complete, seamless circle, and accenting it with a bent solid curly maple ring, curly maple shelves, and hand textured brass.”
Nikhil Sharma, San Francisco
“Inspired by the thought experiment of a tree doing a yoga headstand pose, this piece was created by laminating circle cutouts of wood together to build the form of the root, then shaping and sanding the surface to achieve the final finish.”
Lighting
Designed by Hasan Zaidi and fabricated by Stabb Designs for Beacon Custom Lighting
“Grounded in the essence of nature as muse, CONSTANT celebrates the elegance and unpredictability of the natural world. Its classic globe form symbolizes the perfection found in celestial orbits and echoes the innate geometry of nature. Conversely, the handcrafted, elegant shade becomes a captivating canvas, embodying the untamed beauty of nature’s asymmetry.”
Milan Bhullar, Savannah, GA
“The Arc Light symbolizes the ray of light we are looking for in moments of darkness and gloom. The process of building this piece tests the natural resilience of wood, as it is bent in shape in response to being glued at either end. The process intentionally does not use pre-forming, so as to capture the wood’s natural resilience.”
Occasional Storage
Penina Bernstein, Penina Bernstein Design
“The structure of this altar gives it a sense of reverence tied to its intended use as a religious object. The top floats above its base to bestow a sense of import that is furthered by the fact that its legs stand slightly proud of the cabinetry.”
Jeremy Kamiya, Kamiya Furniture
“Constructed of superior grade air-dried Walnut and custom brass hardware. Precision fit joinery uses no nails, screws or stains. The reversible design offers the opportunity to float the piece in a setting.”
Occasional Tables
“Playful but precise, bolt is a fresh take on a familiar object. The threaded collar in the tabletop mates with the threaded base. Rotating the table top adjusts its height up and down.”
Seating
Penina Bernstein, Penina Bernstein Design
“Sculpture is key to the design of this chair, pushing the boundaries of how a few curves can affect a design. Two tapered steam-bent lamination profiles are joined to create the legs. A remaining lamination was cut into quarters and used to make the top of the backrest and its bracing support. Ergodynamics also play an important role, as it is comfortable for a wide range of body types.”
Stephen Rosini, SR Woodworking
“Sleek lines blend the styles of mid-century to contemporary, making it fit perfectly in many environments. Made of solid walnut with a black sheepskin type fabric.”
Students Finalists
Lighting
Aidan Gough, Appalachian State University
“Inspired by deep sea isopods, Maude I blends the organic with rigid, natural materials. Its gentle light creates an idyllic ambiance in the most comfortable settings.”
Spencer Hope, Kendall College of Art and Design, Ferris State University
“Made to emit a heavenly light and aura, Empyrean extends its essence beyond the physical product. As a fountain must consider the water that will flow through it, this lamp was made while considering the light it emits as a fundamental design element.”
Occasional Storage
Jinquan Zhu, Auburn University
“Constructed of walnut, with no nails, the barrel structure is made by bundling and gluing. The tabletop is made of glass, and under the glass is a hand-carved moon that is highlighted with gold foil and rotates driven by a motor.
Kiya-Vega-Hutchens, Vermont Woodworking School
“A chest of drawers that draws inspiration from, and was made as a study of the work of Zulma Steele, Edna M. Walker and Byrdcliffe Arts and Crafts Colony. Not seen in this photograph is a hidden compartment intended for the midwife to store the tools of their trade.”
Occasional Tables
Ruihan (North) Sun, Savannah College of Art and Design
“Designed with both humans and pets in mind, this piece is inspired by the playful spirit of my beloved fur family member, Pudding. Innovative wood-bending techniques create an engaging and dynamic form. Its three looping structures ingeniously double as tunnels for pets, while the spaces between the loops provide practical storage for magazines and books.”
Jinquan Zhu, Auburn University
“An application of the four elements of Brutalism–rough surfaces, repeating forms, unusual shapes, and expression of structures–applied to home design. Its main surface is made of mahogany, hand-carved with a grooved texture, and finished using yakisugi burning method. The secondary area can be used for stepping on, for children to sit on, or for placing items.”
Seating
Srivats Srinivasan, University of Houston
“Inspired by the concept of the perpetual flow of time, the chair’s form captures the essence of this enduring nature. The design process involved a meticulous combination of wood and metal, creating a cohesive and elegant structure. The chair features a C-channel skeleton beneath the seat, with grooves on the wood seats allowing the C-channel to slot in, ensuring high weight capacity and structural integrity.”
Jon Kannapell, Appalachian State University
“Inspired by ancient and fictional temples, this piece displays strength and volume. A public seating element, it provides different surfaces of various heights and directions, accommodating 2 to 3 people at a time.”
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