Search

The Step Table Is Best in Show of NYCxDESIGN 2020

Erika Cross has made her debut, and the international design community couldn’t be more excited! Honored as the Best in Show of NYCxDESIGN 2020, her Step table is a coffee table inspired by tools found in the workshop – step blocks which are simple mechanical devices used to clamp and hold. The Step table consists of two pieces – a wedge and a cylinder – that can be arranged with either piece on top, adjusting the overall height with the ridges on the opposing surfaces.

“Step was designed with efficient batch production in mind. I wanted to be able to reproduce the design in a streamlined and flexible way without the need for specialized tools or workspaces during the production phase. This was achieved by engineering and fabricating an original prototype that was quite labor intensive, but which serves as a master for creating a mold for shell casting other materials (such as Jesmonite),” Cross said.

Motivated to elevate ordinary objects and familiar forms, Erika Cross Studio’s Step is part of a larger body of work that explores common industrial objects, transforming scale to create new forms with familiar functions. Through research, intuition, experience, and experimentation, Erika challenges limitations by developing her own innovative methods and objects. We’re looking forward to seeing what’s to come!

Photos by Erika Cross Studio.

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.