Custom Shelves
Tasked with creating a display for a line of stoneware pottery and woven baskets, I designed a set of custom shelving units inspired by Southwestern Adobe architecture and the lime-washed cave dwellings of Santorini. I wanted to create an expressive landscape, using the shelves’ scale and height to form a skyline of continuous, multi-level swooping structures that guide the eye throughout the space and complement the organic form and sheen of the products.
My design process was iterative. Following initial conceptual sketches, I moved into rapid cardboard prototyping to test the spatial flow. The structures needed to appear earthen and monolithic while maintaining the structural integrity required to hold heavy stoneware. I achieved both within the limitations of the materials by strategically placing the display cubbies over vertical cardboard flutes to maintain load-bearing strength and by developing a lamination technique using joint compound and wood glue. Each unit was finished with textured plaster, allowing light to interact with the matte, irregular surfaces to create soft shadows that highlight the curves of the collection.
By controlling the silhouette and the "tactile grain" of the environment, I was able to direct the viewer’s focus and establish a specific emotional tone for the brand. I apply this same structural thinking to my visual design work, ensuring that the "container" is intentionally crafted to elevate the content it holds.