Several times a year, we’re invited to markets to get a glimpse of the latest trends, styles and products. Product designers are tasked with bringing innovation while maintaining functionality and design that inspire the industry’s customers.
“The first thing a professional designer needs to keep in mind is ‘Will this sell?’” David Blair, president of the International Society of Furniture Designers, said. “Understanding the full process makes the difference. You have to understand the manufacturing requirements of the client. You have to keep in mind from the moment you start that you are designing something that has to be built, shipped and sold at a particular price.”
The ISFD is committed to advancing student furniture designers, providing them with education, networking and visibility opportunities through the organization, and this is a good place for aspiring furniture designers to build relationships. However, it isn’t the only way newer product designers rise to the top. Here, we feature five up and coming designers focused on accent furniture who are bringing their unique perspectives to product design and the companies they support.
“It’s one thing to have an aesthetic sense of what looks good. It’s another to have a clear vision of how a product will go from drawing to production,” said Copeland Furniture founder Ben Copeland, talking about product designer/ engineer Jake Hanson. “Jake’s understanding of fabrication and engineering along with a solid understanding of design aesthetics is a unique set of skills to find in a single individual,” he added.
Hanson joined Copeland a year ago but has been intrigued with woodworking and furniture design since school. “I started a business making small [wood] objects in my home shop. Through that, I got introduced to a furniture design professor at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Mich. I knew I enjoyed working with my hands and bringing wood products to life, so furniture design seemed like an obvious track to follow,” Hanson said.
Working at a cabinet maker and a furniture retailer helped him realize how important quality was. At Copeland, Hanson noted, one of his favorite things is being involved throughout the design process. “I’ll do market research and design development one day, and the next I’m on the floor working with machinists and assemblers to solve problems and find ways to make existing product run smoother through the plant,” he said. “Having that level of involvement lets me be hands on and also helps keep my designs grounded in reality. It creates some fun challenges that push me to pay attention to the fine details.”
According to Adam Dunn, SVP of Design at Four Hands, in her four-year tenure with the company, Product Development Manager Kai-ning Huang has brought both vision and precision to her work. “Kai-ning is the true creative force behind many of our top-selling and award-winning designs,” Dunn said. “She is always thinking several steps ahead, anticipating where the industry trends are headed and translating them into designs that feel both forward-looking and timeless.”
Huang said her studies gave her a broad perspective in product design. She is focused on the balance between function and aesthetics as well as the realities of construction and production. “To me, furniture is a source of both expression and comfort — it helps people shape their environments,” she said.
What she most enjoys about her current role is the entire design and development process, something she gets to experience at Four Hands. In addition, the environment is collaborative, where she and her peers get to exchange perspectives, which is especially inspiring for her.
While her design role at Four Hands is not her first, she credits the company with being invaluable to her growth in the field, as the pace, scale and scope of projects are on a different level. Something she really appreciates about working with Four Hands is the ability to experience global trends firsthand. “Stepping into creative environments [factories and international furniture fairs] is incredibly refreshing and continues to inspire my work as we plan for the future.
Joe Dunaske, Associate Designer for Stickley Furniture, found his passion for woodworking in high school. When Dunaske attended Kendall College of Arts and Design, he planned to pursue industrial engineering. However, through visits to the campus furniture museum, he found his love for furniture design. “Furniture was literally the perfect mixture of artistry and hands-on woodworking with a practical design element,” he said. “You add in the rich history, and with those three components, it has become my passion.”
As a furniture designer for Stickley Furniture, Dunaske is creating pieces that exemplify the brand’s style. Director of Design Marissa Brown said his passion for the arts-and-crafts movement made Dunaske the right fit. “He loves our history and has been involved in projects like our little treasure pieces that are rooted in that history,” she said. Brown also noted that Dunaske can connect the factory with design development, a standout skill. Dunaske appreciates that Stickley has allowed him to design furniture pieces with meaning.
During COVID, he created a cabinet with a floriography inlay where the flower combination meant “being a friend for someone in need.”
Stickley has also supported him in his role with state-of-the-art technology and a collaborative team. “There’s such a wealth of knowledge in this team and I’ve learned so much,” Dunaske said.
Kathryn Behmer does more than just work in product development at Hooker Furnishings.
As Director of Merchandising in the accents category, she is responsible for elements of product design as well as identifying the trends that will inform those elements.
Growing up in a family of product designers — both her grandfather and father
worked in the industry — gave her an early love for product design, and her schooling in interior design helped her discover her love for the industry as a whole. “As much as I loved the interior design side, I knew I would like product design and merchandising more. Getting to have your hands in from start to finish is really quite special,” she said.
Behmer’s role covers everything from defining trends to choosing materials and finishes, and collaborating with in-house and factory teams for such Hooker brands as Mélange and Commerce + Market. “Everyone is here to help each other,” she said. “It’s a great culture. They want you to be the best you can be, and they’re willing to help you achieve that.” VP of Product
Development Jon Witteveen noted that Behmer’s aptitude for design and merchandising was quickly apparent. “She’s got great, inherent fashion sense, a strong design eye, and she’s curious — asking great questions and always on time with keen observation,” he said. “She’s risen to the challenge of balancing high design and of-the-moment vibrancy. She is absolutely a star on the rise.”
Veronica Schnitzius, president at American Leather, had her eye on Lance Trachier, now VP of Creative for the last year, for several years before he joined the company. “When you have someone in this industry who prioritizes you, it’s a much less risky decision to join somewhere you’re wanted,” he said.
Trachier has been with American Leather for just about a year. While Trachier’s focus out of school was branding, he’s found it’s a good foundation for product design as well. “I have a mentality that allows me to think about how a product can be marketed and aligns with the brand,” he said. He thinks about how a product goes to market from the concept phase, focusing on customer and business needs. “What does each piece say about your brand’s story and point of view?”
What he loves about working at American Leather is the trust they’ve placed in him as a creative, making it easier to innovate. “We have an infrastructure that makes it really easy to come in and play,” Trachier said. “When it’s baked in from the beginning, the accountability is shared because it’s all unified.
