18/07/2025
It all started with a chair.
Ten years ago in 2015, I was finishing my master’s at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and had the incredible opportunity to complete a summer abroad in Denmark for an intensive studio focused on Nordic furniture design.
The first two weeks were a deep dive into the history and principles behind the golden age of Nordic design — not just in Denmark, but across Sweden, Norway, and Finland. We visited legendary furniture manufacturers like PP Møbler and Fritz Hansen, and iconic sites like IKEA’s HQ and Museum, the Kiasma Museum, and The Danish Chair exhibition in Copenhagen. We toured the homes and studios of greats like Alvar Aalto, Eliel Saarinen in Finland, Bruno Mathsson in Sweden, and Finn Juhl at Ordrupgaard — experiencing firsthand how design philosophy shaped not just their work, but the way they lived.
The culmination was designing and prototyping our own “object for sitting,” crafted with intention, simplicity, and meaning.
That summer changed my life. I resonated so deeply with the design culture that I packed two suitcases, sublet my Brooklyn apartment, and moved to Denmark with no leads, just a tourist visa and a lot of trust. Within my first week, I landed my dream role at Bang & Olufsen — and the next five years shaped me profoundly.
To this day, my work is rooted in the Nordic principles I absorbed: intention, restraint, holistic thinking, and the pursuit of the most impactful, meaningful gestures — visually, emotionally, and functionally.
It keeps me focused on what design is really for: to serve, to inspire, and to endure.
