The Expanding Classroom

This collaboration between Danese Milano and students in Designed Objects is an examples of SAIC’s Industry Partner Studio developed by Helen Maria Nugent.

The 14 piece collection explores the contemporary context where we work and study everywhere. The objects are surprising, relevant and humorous; a pillow for laptop naps, a tray that saves our keyboards and laptops from destructive coffee spills, and a backpack station, that converts a bag into a piece of furniture.

Taught by Professor Bruce Tharp and guest designer Jonathan Olivarez.

Launched at the Danese Headquarters in Milan during Salone 2009. The objects are staged in a mock dorm-room filled outfitted with Danese furniture and lighting.

Image: Booked. An led task light by Gabriel Hargrove

PDF Catalog here.

Designers: Karma Chaos (MDes 2009), Ming Chang (MDes 2009), Erin Lebens (BFA 2009), Evan Walsh (BFA 2009), Jasper Whang (BFA 2009), Garret Smith (BFA 2009), Duy Ngo (xxx), Junghwan Chei (xxx), Andrew Peerless (MDes 2009), Petr Bo (Des 2009), Greg Bethel (Des 2009), Tara Mullaney (Des 2009), Gabriel Hargrove (Des 2009), Sara Jacobs (Des 2009).

Objects For The Age of Obama

A collections of objects inspired by change, hope, challenge and allure.

Greg Bethel's Collective Clock is one such object. A cluster of ball bearings moves as one, representing the unification of Americans moving towards the future. The Paper Trail Clock by Andrew Peerless is a cross between a digital clock and a to-do list. As the sheets are torn off, the pad begins thinner and the time is easier to read. The Discipline Desk by Eric Hotchkiss is linked to the idea of personal responsibility, so the user is confronted by unfinished work inside the desk that must be completed. The clutter is obscured by a polarizing film when the user approaches or stands over the desk, but as he or she sits, it becomes all too clearnthat there is work to be done. Evan Walsh's Diplomacy Tool Kit is designed to promotennegotiation and facilitate relationships between users by offering choices, opportunities for mediation, or even a simple break. And Gabriel Hargrove's Secretarial Ashtray (above) is a subtle smoking accessory that tries not to call attention to such a habit.

Taught by Helen Maria Nugent and Bruce Tharp.

Launched at Salone Satellite 2009. The only student exhibition nominated for the prestigious ‘Design Report Award.’

Image: Floor Graphic on booth.

PDF Catalog

Domus Article

Designers Include: Greg Bethel (MDes), Andrew Peerless (Mdes), Lynn Lim (Mdes), Victor Fong (BFA), Patrick Fitzpatrick (MDes), David Krell (MDes), Eric Hotchkiss (MDes), Evan Walsh (BFA), Glenna Gallacher (MFA), Chin-Yu Fu (MFA), Gabriel Hargrove (MDes), MingLi Chang (MDes) and Philip Granke (MArch).

Loaded: Iron + Sugar

The objects in the Loaded collection examine the history, physicality and currency of two catalytic materials: IRON and SUGAR.

LOADED explores the ways in which an object’s value is essentially fluid—continually shaped by our global systems of trade, by real or man-made states of scarcity and abundance, by cultural ideologies, and by human desires.

Iron projects are cast in collaboration with the Chicago Crucible, a boutique metal foundry operated by SAIC alumnus Lloyd Mandelbaum(BFA 2008).

Taught by Helen Maria Nugent + Jim Termeer.

Launched at Spazio Rossana Orlandi, Salone del Mobile, Milan, 2011.

Image: Exhibition view.

PDF Catalog / Poster

Designers Include: Brian Anderson (MFA 2012), Amma Aning (MDes 2012), Morgan Carter (BFA 2012), Ryan Chorbagian (BFA 2012), Valerie DeKeyser (MDes 2012), Cecilia Gomez Lauria (MDes 2012), Stephen Gulau (MFA 2012), Won Joon Lee (BFA 2012), Charlie McArthur (MDes 2012), Jordan Morrell (MDes 2012), Lauren Mosakowski (MDes 2012), Nathan D, Paoletta (MDes 2012), Ciara Taylor (BFA 2012), Daniel R, Whiteneck (MDes 2012) and Zhe Zhang (Mies 2012).

In response to the realities of today’s world, where emails have replaced letters, flying is a chore, and everyone is a winner, fifteen emerging designers from the SAIC presented an inventory of useful, affordable objects that provided haptic respite for the senses: new ways to smell, touch, see, hear, and sense every moment.

Taught by Helen Maria Nugent + Jim Termeer.

Launched at Spazio Rossana Orlandi, Salone del Mobile, 2012.

Image: Fandom Paper Trophy Collection by Brian Bailey.

PDF Catalog

Designers: Brian Bailey (MDes 2012), Adam Chau( MDes 2012), Iggy Choi (BFA 2009), Stephen Galau, Shelley Getzendanner (MDes 2012), David Hull (MFA 2012), Errin Kancal (BFA 2012), Judith Lambotte (MDes 2012), Felicia Liu (BFA 2012), Charlie McArthur (MDes 2012), Haruka Morimoto (BFA 2012), Michael Pappas (BFA 2012), Mig Rod (MDes 2012), Chi Sun (MDes 2012), Karl Williamson (MDes 2012), and Tyler Yager (MDes 2012).

·The collection explored the visceral, perceptual, associative, emotional, and conceptual potential of color in various permutations: muted, primary, fluorescent, functional, natural, and erotic.

Taught by Helen Maria Nugent + Jim Termeer.

Launched atSpazio Rossana Orlandi during the 2013 Salone del Mobile.

Image: Wedge Doorstop by Hsi Chen.

PDF Catalog

Designers include: Morgan Brill (BFA 2013), Hsi Chen (MDes 2013), Faranak Farhang (MDes 2013), Ruyuan Ge (MDes 2013), Justin Hu (BFA 2013), Jay Hyun Kim (MDes 2014), Allon Kapeller-Libermann (BFA 2013), Taylor Littrel (BFA 2013), Samuel Matson (BFA 2013), Ada Mayer (MDes 2013), Daniel Moynihan (BFA 2013), Carlos Ortega (MFA 2014), Yiqian Peng (BFA 2013), Kempe Scanlan (MDes 2013), Eli Sidman (MDes 2013), and Venessa Rosely Jimenez (MDes 2013).

More than 100,000 years ago, ancient man punched holes into shells, transforming natural artifacts into ornaments and currency. This intentional alteration could be considered one of the earliest expressions of what we call design today.

Taught by Helen Maria Nugent + Jim Termeer.

Launched at Spazio Rossana Orlandi, Salon Del Mobile, 2015.

Image: Sinmi Stool by Norman Teague

PDF Catalog

Pamono: SAIC’s Whatnot Series

L’arco Baleno Feature

Designers include: Eli Bensusan (MDes 2015), Madeline Geftic (MDes 2015), Roxana Martinez (MFA Fibers 2015), Sarah M. Doonan (BFA 2015), Tanner Bowman (BFA 2015), Yasmine Afshar (BFA 2015), Norman Teague (MFA 2016), Nayeon Kim (MDes 2015), Kelly G. Sullivan (BFA 2015), Jacob Lenard (MDes 2015), Eva Walkuski (BFA 2015) and Ariana Petrich (MFA 2015).

In celebration of SAIC’s 150th anniversary, the collection drew from the world as it existed in 1866: the people, behaviors, beliefs, things, technologies, ideologies, cultural norms, natural events, fads, crazes, and missed opportunities.

Taught by Helen Maria Nugent + Jim TerMeer.

Launched at Spazio Rossana Orlandi, Milan, Salone del Mobile, 2016.

Image: ‘Cora Pearl’ Looking Glass by Gokce Guvenc.

PDF Catalog

Designers include: Mallika Chandra (BFA 2016), Ying Cui (MDes 2017), Charmaine Da Costa (BFA 2016), Alice Gong (BFA 2016), Gokce Guvenc (BFA 2016), Maya Jay (Mdes 2016), Jackie Jeong (BFA 2016), Ali Keshmiri (MArch IA 2017), Kyungeun Kim (BFA 2016), Sungjun Kim (MFA 2017), Shau Heng Li (MDes 2016), Chin Hua Lin (MDes 2017), Chang Liu (MDes 2017), Valerie Lopez (BFA 2016) and Martha Valencia (BFA 2016)

SAIC partnered with West Supply, a Chicago-based artisanal foundry and fabricator of designer furnishings, lighting, and fine art, to develop a collection of heirloom-quality objects in glass and bronze.

Taught by Helen Maria Nugent + Tim Parsons.

Launched at Spazio Rossana Orlandi, Salone Del Mobile, 2017

Image: Edgee Book Shelf by Ting-Yu Tseng.

PDF Catalog

Designers include: Jenny Chen (BFA 2017), Haeyoon Choi (BFA 2017), Bailey Fontaine(BFA 2017), Miiko He (MDes 2017), Angela Huang (BFA 2017), Adam Mansour (BFA 2017), Irem Mimaroglu (BFA 2017), Celine Setiadi (BFA 2017), Stella Shen (MDes 2017), Magenta Strongheart (BFA 2017), Kaan Tombaz (BFA 2017), Ting-yu Tseng (MFA 2017), Amanda Worrell (BFA 2017), Amanda Yamasaki (BFA 2017) and Yuling Yu (MDes 2017).