My design work varies from the poetic to the pragmatic. With self-initiated projects, I tend to design for the domestic sphere, at the scale of the individual, and often without a lot of technology. My academic projects involve greater ethnographic research and participatory methods and tend toward systems-, service-, and strategic-design. The images below represents the "making" aspect of my design practice, often in collaboration with Stephanie M. Tharp and our studio, materious.
For many, the up-turned put on top a table signifies the end of a long workday. This marginal, non-functioning state of the chair is re-contextualized and transformed. At bedside, where the long day actually ends, the upturned chair becomes a lamp and the space enclosed by the seat supports provides storage for bedside items.
LIGHTS OUT
Bedside lamp—two versions
IKEA chair, IKEA lamp components, IKEA shade and other IKEA items
Maple wood, lamp components, linen shade
2007




Lights Out was originally conceived of as an "IKEA hack" project—a DIY practice where just items purchased from IKEA are re-appropriated. In this version a kid's chair, a lamp shade, lamp components, a piece of door mat (for drawer lining), and a replacement toilet seat were all used. Each leg has a hole that can support the lamp, providing some flexibility in where it is placed. Standard felt sticky pads cover the unused holes.

Orientation on side table changed, lamp position can change legs
Lights Out was originally conceived of as an "IKEA hack" project—a DIY practice where just items purchased from IKEA are re-appropriated. In this version a kid's chair, a lamp shade, lamp components, a piece of door mat (for drawer lining), and a replacement toilet seat were all used. Each leg has a hole that can support the lamp, providing some flexibility in where it is placed. Standard felt sticky pads cover the unused holes.
NEXT PROJECT
Lid cut from a replacement toilet seat and lined with a doormat section