In Print/In Process with Furniture Designer Paul Loebach

June 23rd, 2009 at 12:29pm Erin

Some of Paul Loebach's recent work, which was featured in 'American Craft' magazine

Furniture designer Paul Loebach was at MAD last week, discussing his creative process, the new technologies he uses to create his work, and some of the issues surrounding manufacturing and design. His lecture on Thursday night and studio workshop on Saturday afternoon were part of MAD’s series with American Craft magazine called In Print/In Process, which brings artists featured in the magazine to MAD’s Open Studios to discuss and demonstrate their work.

Paul began by showing us one project – the physics-defying shelf pictured in American Craft magazine – from its conception to the finished product. Architectural moldings, Victorian mirror frames, French Baroque and Rococo scrollwork, and even a wrinkly sharpei inspired the twisting curves and intricate molding profile of the shelf. By collaborating with engineers who operate advanced machinery – this is the physics-defying part – the shelf is milled out of a blank block of wood. Paul then demonstrated the same design and manufacturing process for a candlestick design, showing the development of the concept from the foamcore and paper model, to low-resolution plastic, to a higher resolution plastic, to the final printed metal object. He brought in each of these for his studio workshop on Saturday afternoon.

Paul is well-versed in the history of art and design, but he has moved beyond the linear  – often called “progressive” – march of design history, reconfiguring it in a way that allows for experimentation, cross-referencing between design movements and cultures, and above all, contemporary technology. He rejects both the Classical notions of “pure” design as well as the standard historical hierarchy of design in favor of a less dogmatic approach, a method which comes to life in his innovative furniture. This ability to conflate advanced manufacturing with an experimental design process is what makes Paul unique, as he is able to easily move between the often distinct worlds of art and science.

For more information, check out the blog post on Paul Loebach on the American Craft magazine website, and look out for our next In Print/In Process series.

Paul discussing his candlestick project, from hand-drawn and computer-aided drafts to models

Entry Filed under: in the studio, mad happenings