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Steve Diskin
chAir
B.A. Visual Studies, Harvard College; M. Arch., Harvard
University; Ph.D., Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne; began his professional career with
the architecture firm of Kenzo Tange in Tokyo, the
establishment of his studio in Los Angeles, and
the design of the HELIX clock, which is now in the
permanent collection of the Cooper-Hewitt National
Design Museum; was a professor of advanced product
design and founder of the grad ID program at Art
Center College of Design in Pasadena; visiting professor
at the University of Ljubljana (2002–2010); and visiting
professor at the Academy of Art, Architecture, and
Design in Prague (2004–2005); has taught and lectured
at a number of institutions, notably in Switzerland,
Germany, France, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Poland,
Cyprus, Israel, and Turkey.
Peter Erickson
Visiting instructor
A professional prop builder who lives in New York City,
Erickson works out of a garage workspace in Brooklyn;
is a professional maker of all sorts; freelance work
includes the fabrication of custom furniture and props
for advertising. He teaches model-making processes
at Pratt.
Assaf Eshet
Visiting AssistAnt Professor
B.A., Vital-Tel Aviv Center for Design Studies, Israel; Eshet
strives for innovative designs that create a balance
between the playful and the functional; his creations
are led by his detailed-oriented, whimsical curiosity that
allows him to push the boundaries of mediums; projects
range from toy design to conceptual art; opened Assaf
Eshet Design Studio in 2000, specializing in toy design
and inventions for leading toy manufacturers such
as Fisher Price and Hasbro; many of his designs are
patented and have won numerous prizes, while being
enjoyed by children worldwide; lead a notable toy
workshop held in Anji, China, in 2000 to research and
create eco-friendly toys made of bamboo.
Stephen Faletti
Visiting instructor
B.I.D., Pratt Institute; B.E., Mechanical, University
of Maryland; a creative problem solver who draws
on what could be construed as a freakishly wide
knowledge base to address design challenges in their
actual contexts; deep understanding of functional
and manufacturing systems is coupled with a strong
sensitivity toward social, cultural, psychological,
and philosophical factors and a profound appreciation
of formal and aesthetic characteristics; has worked
for Estee Lauder, the Nokia Theatre, NY Designs, and
Edge Orthotics.Patrick Fenton
Visiting instructor
B.A., Visual Communications, UCLA; M.F.A. Design,
Stanford University; partner at Swayspace, a design
studio that tackles a diverse array of design projects for
a wide variety of clients, collaborating with technology
companies, non-profit organizations, hospitals, fashion
designers, musicians, professors, artists, and publishers;
portfolio includes design logos, marketing collateral,
websites, user interfaces, books, CD cases, software
packaging, tradeshow booths, and building signage.Colin Gentle
Visiting AssistAnt Professor
B. Eng., University of Connecticut; has worked with
firms like SolidWorks Corporation, Martha Stewart
Living Omnimedia, CADD Edge Inc., SA Baxter
Architectural Hardware, and Hutzler Manufacturing;
comprehensive background in 3-D CAD modeling
technology, rendering expertise, and mechanical
processes; serves as ProductSpark’s lead designer,
where he is instrumental in developing new product
lines, and providing SolidWorks 3-D CAD consulting
services; work has been published in a variety of
publications, including Array Magazine, House
Beautiful, Dwell, Interior Design, Forbes Life and CNBC;
Certified SolidWorks Professional and a Certified
SolidWorks Instructor.Mark Goetz
Adjunct Professor
B.I.D., Pratt Institute; design faculty since 1993.
Goetz has taught Sophomore ID Studio, and has taught
the Graduate Furniture Design Studio since 1997.
He has organized several exhibitions of student work
at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair,
Cologne Furniture Fair, as well as industry-sponsored
projects with companies such as Herman Miller and
Wilsonart. Goetz is also the owner of TZ Design,
an industrial design firm founded in 1988, which
specializes in furniture for the retail, hospitality, and
contract furniture industry.Bruce Hannah
Professor
B.I.D., Pratt Institute; his Hannah Desk System for
Knoll named Design of the Decade by IDSA (1990);
named first designer in residence at the Cooper-
Hewitt, National Design Museum (1992); awarded
the Bronze Apple by IDSA for conference, Universal
Design (1993); authored Access by Design with George
Covington (John Wiley and Sons, 1996); received
National Design Education Award from the IDSA (1998);
Federal Design Achievement Award for exhibition
“Unlimited By Design” (2000) named one of 12 most
influential exhibitions by Metropolis magazine (2006);
authored Becoming a Product Designer (John Wiley
and Sons, 2004).Ben Hopson
Visiting instructor
B.A. Sculpture, Wesleyan University; M.I.D., Pratt Institute;
a designer, artist and educator working in Brooklyn,
N.Y., Hopson is the creator of the discipline of kinetic
design, which involves the aesthetic design of physical
movement by incorporating elements of industrial
design, kinetic sculpture, engineering, interaction
design, and puppetry, the field allows designers to
animate products and spaces in new ways; has worked
with clients on projects ranging from kitchen gadgets to
luggage, from concept cars to lighting; work has been
featured in I.D. Magazine, on boingboing.net, wired.com,
core77.com, designboom.com, and joshspear.com.