University of Idaho alumnus Nicholas Wolf intertwined creativity with execution to create a unique chair for his Furniture Design and Construction course last spring — winning him an honorable mention and cash prize at the International Woodworking Fair. “I was just excited I was chosen to go to the IWF and have this experience,” Wolf said. “There were fantastic chairs that were made in the course, so I was surprised and glad that my project was chosen overall.”
In the Furniture Design and Construction course, co-taught by UI faculty members Miranda Anderson and John Pengilly, students design and build a complete furniture piece as the main class project.
Students from all five disciplines of the College of Art & Architecture participated in the Design and Construction course last semester, creating a diverse group of students.
Upon completion of the project, Anderson and Pengilly picked Wolf’s piece, along with two other UI students, to be entered in the Chair Fair design competition in Boise. Later, the students’ work was entered into the Design Emphasis contest at the IWF, where Wolf’s design stood out.
“Nick’s chair is just really a beautiful craft,” Anderson said. “He used a minimalistic design and paid great attention to detail.”
Anderson said the considerable amount of time and detailed craftsmanship applied to the project is a testament to Wolf’s work ethic and artistic inclination.
For Wolf, the project began with basic sketches and transitioned to determining how to make his idea aesthetically driven and structurally feasible.
“I have always been attracted to modern designs, with sharp angles and the focus on the materials,” Wolf said. “My idea was to put metal and wood together and keep those sharp angles while letting the materials shine.”
Wolf said he sketched the design early, but making it work structurally took time.
Anderson said the patience paid off, and Wolf successfully completed a work that is both beautiful and structurally sound.
Wolf said the course itself was great, and gave him a chance to hone in on his woodworking skills. Wolf also said he appreciates the valuable guidance that Anderson and Pengilly provided throughout the course.
“This was the first piece of furniture that I’ve built, so I had a lot of questions,” Wolf said. “Jay and Miranda were great and very helpful. Whenever I had a problem, they helped me find ways around challenges.”
Wolf, who graduated from UI in the spring of 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, said his graphic design professors were also very helpful in advising him throughout the creation of his project. He said both graphic design and furniture design are enjoyable and rewarding, but in different ways.
“It was a good feeling to go from working on a computer to woodshop, where I could use my hands and have a physical object that I could pick up and feel and work with,” Wolf said.
Wolf had the opportunity to travel to Atlanta, Georgia to accept his honorable mention from IWF. Though not able to attend, Wolf said he appreciated the recognition and opportunity, and hopes to continue designing and building furniture in the future.
Cara Pantone can be reached at [email protected]