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A Day in the Life of Asher Dunn of Studio Dunn

Design Milk featured the work of Studio Dunn just as they launched their very first collection, The Rhode Island Collection. We also got the chance to meet the team and see the pieces up close and personal at ICFF. Last week, they added the Kingston Barstools to their collection — the stunning simplicity of their craftsmanship is evident in these new stools. Asher Dunn, lead designer, was kind enough to let us peek in on a day in his life at Studio Dunn in Rhode Island. Let’s take a peek.

I start my day at Studio Dunn by pulling together the designers and interns to discuss new designs and the day’s course of action.

We generally works in groups of 2-3 to develop designs and we switch who we work with for each project to encourage the exchange of information and the development of fresh and innovative ideas.

The designs are first worked out on paper. Once we feel that they have been resolved on paper we enter modeling mode.

Here are some of the models from our Rhode Island Collection. Photographed are models of the Barrington Chair, Coventry Stool, and Newport Table.

I review the models with each team then we refined them before we take them to the prototyping phase where we build full scale version of the designs.

In this image I am reviewing a full scale prototype of the Newport Table with designer colleague Andrew Mau. We mark up the prototypes and edit them sometimes rebuilding them multiple times in order to achieve the perfect proportions and details.

Visitors are a common occurrence at the studio. We have appointments with clients, manufacturers, and pictured here is a group visiting from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Lunchtime! When the Dunn team takes a break we really take a break and have a good time — going on adventures, laughing over YouTube videos, and getting away from the work for a little while.

Back to work — production is underway! We’re busy machining, sanding, fine tuning, and assembling orders.

After orders have been sanded to the proper grit we apply a first coat of oil finish. In the background you can see some side projects including two kayaks soon to be completed.

After the first coat of finish dries the pieces are sanded back into and we apply two more coats of finish. Tomorrow, these pieces along with others that were completed in the same day will be shipped.

At the end of the day I go home to spend my evenings with my boyfriend and our two lovely dogs Lyla and Tyko!

Thanks, Asher!

Jaime Derringer, Founder + Executive Editor of Design Milk, is a Jersey girl living in SoCal. She dreams about funky, artistic jewelry + having enough free time to enjoy some of her favorite things—running, reading, making music, and drawing.