'pour' cup and saucer by elisa werbler
image © designboom


elisa werbler
portrait © designboom

'pour' is a series of teacups and saucers made entirely of molded liquid plastic by elisa werbler (BFA 2009).
the forms were created through a succession of pours against a mold, each one using a different color to
create not only an organic dripping effect but a clean, layered cross-section as well. contrast is central to
the pieces: the free-form drips play against the neat cross-section, and the glossy surface of the exterior
contrasts with the matte interior.


'pour' cup and saucer by elisa werbler
image © designboom




'perch' feather and ceramic bowl by andrew mau
image © designboom


'perch' feather and ceramic bowl by andrew mau
image © designboom

after researching the use of feathers in decorative arts, andrew mau (BFA 2009) created a breathtaking
bowl called perch, an unglazed porcelain piece that stands on a base of quills and supports an intricate
array of tightly layered, beautifully colored pheasant feathers lining the interior. each heart-shaped feather
is precisely trimmed to provide a consistent natural color and to emphasize the contrasting interior and
exterior textures.


andrew mau
portrait © designboom




loofah ankle boot by ian horowitz
image © designboom

in 'loofah ankle boot', ian horowitz (BFA 2009) explores applications of non-manufactured fabrics in
footwear, demonstrating that luxury and environmental consciousness can go hand in hand. for the ankle
boot, two-ply construction with quilted reinforcement throughout the upper ensures durability, with each
shoe constructed of dried vegetables and a small block of poplar wood.


ian horowitz
portrait © designboom




'supple' zipper bowl in bubble wrap and silicone by chelsea frost
image © designboom

in supple, chelsea frost(BFA 2009) transformed everyday packing material into a surprisingly appealing set
of household pillows by making multiple silicone rubber castings of bubble wrap and attaching zippers to
provide support. the zippers also allow the pillows to be packed flat and then assembled into their 3D form
on arrival.


'supple' zipper bowl in bubble wrap and silicone by chelsea frost




'split' leather seat by isao takezawa
image © designboom

the split seat by isao takezawa(BFA 2009) is made of vegetable-tanned leather, which gains structural
integrity when soaked in boiling water and dried. the stool is composed of three identical pieces that were
sewn together after the hardening process, with the rigidity striking the ideal balance between comfort and
sturdiness; the combination of a traditional technique and a contemporary design approach opens up new
possibilities for the material.




'100 % wax' white wax stool by debra folz
image © designboom

debra folze (MFA 2010) created a sturdy, fully functional table, fittingly called 100% wax, first by
casting industrial wax, and then pouring liquid wax over a bed of wax still in bead form to create
a textured surface.




'flow' chair by jennifer tran
image © designboom

made of a minimum of 40% post-industrial recycled material, the flow chair by jennifer tran (BFA 2009)
evolved from trial-and-error when heating 3form’s Varia Ecoresin to a malleable state and then quickly
forming it by hand. evenly spaced grooves provide a bold, graphic contrast to the undulating, organic
shape of the chair.


jennifer tran
portrait © designboom




'out of skin' stool by micaelan davis
'crochet crochet' metal seat by ruth fore
image © designboom

in 'of the skin', micaelan davis (MFA 2009) went beyond the typical application for rawhide to fold
and mold water-soaked buffalo hide into a sturdy, beautifully organic table with a warm, amber glow.


'out of skin' stool by micaelan davis




'crochet crochet' metal seat by ruth fore
image © designboom

inspired by the idea of making a stable structure using a process known for its softness and flexibility,
ruth fore (MFA 2009) experimented with crochet stitches to create 'crochet crochet', a spherical wire
form, with loops growing from small to large gauges. roughly 3,000 feet of aluminum wire went into
the finished piece, which was then anodized to improve its strength and stability.


rosanne somerson, professor risd at the risd booth
image © designboom

risd / rhode island school of design exhibited during the new york design week in the ICFF show floor.