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RISD’s Embodied & Imbued Takes On WantedDesign

WantedDesign 2022 is that much more exciting this year, because Rhode Island School of Design’s (RISD) Furniture Design department brought its A game. Embodied & Imbued is on show at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York this week, showcasing the creative works of 12 students. Each of them was given the opportunity to see their project through from start to finish. In between they explored research, critical discourse, conceptual development, and exploration with materials, crafts, and industrial processes. RISD’s model allows the students to consider sourcing, equity, social value, meaningful utility, heritage, personal expression, and object making, as well as manufacturing’s role in social and ecological harmony. The hands-on material experimentation culminates with a full scale piece.

blue chair, round yellow side table, triangular red side table

Blue Girl and Extruded Side Tables, Amelia Greteman

Embodied & Imbued’s collection of tables, chairs, hooks, textiles, and various other furnishings were developed from the heart of experimentation. Unusual forms and methods of construction only add to their playful charm. The show includes dust chair by Bill Carroll, made of compressed dust and other materials. Hole Punch by Spenser Atlas brings together Baltic birch plywood and laminate. Other pieces include Low Caned Lounge by Grace Elwood, I-Beam Bookshelf by Jan Rybczynski, Blue Girl & Extruded Side Tables by Amelia Greteman, 90° Stove by Madeleine Young, Pulley System by Theju Nimmagadda, Cynthia’s Garden by Sam Northcut, Swell Wall Hooks by Anna Dawson, Metal Lounge by Louise Ferlet, Vessels of Spring by Isabel Yang, and 15 West in the Canal by Aydan Huseynli.

curvy light yellow wall hooks

Swell Wall Hooks, Anna Dawson

blue and grey building-shaped tufted rug

15 West in the Canal, Aydan Huseynli

metal chair

dust chair, Bill Carroll

wood caned lounge chair

Low Caned Lounge, Grace Elwood

three freeform clay candleholders

Vessels of Spring, Isabel Yang

three-shelf bookcase

I-Beam Bookshelf, Jan Rybczynski

black metal lounge chair

Metal Lounge, Louise Ferlet

black stove

90º Stove, Madeleine Young

teal, yellow, and red geometric textile

Cynthia’s Garden, Sam Northcut

yellow plywood chair and side table

Hold Punch, Spenser Atlas

three cylinder pulley system

Pulley System, Theju Nimmagadda

collection of chairs, tables, hooks, textiles and other furnishings

To learn more about Embodied & Imbued, visit wanteddesign2022.risd.edu/.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.