DESIGNERS

Scott Klinker believes a great product should inspire your imagination. Klinker heads the graduate 3D design program at the world-renowned Cranbrook Academy of Art as Designer-in-Residence, where he also received his MFA in 1996. After years of designing in more conventional corporate contexts, like as an in-house designer at Ericsson, or as senior staff at IDEO, Klinker ventured to Japan in 1999 to lead a product design programat the Kanazawa International Design Institute and founded his independent studio, Scott Klinker Product Design - focused on developing licensed designs for contract furniture, household goods and toys.He moved his practice to Cranbrook in 2001 and began to build partnerships with small, design-driven companies that shared his passion for innovation. In 2004, Scott’s Spaceframe Builder’s Kit for Offi & Co. was selected by Fortune magazine as one of the top 25 products of the year. In 2006, he presented ‘Crossing Flatland: New Designs By Scott Klinker’ - a solo exhibition at Cranbrook Art Museum featuring his Truss Furniture Collection developed in partnership with Context Furniture Manufacturing

Husband and wife team Bryce and Kerry Moore developed Context Furniture based on inspiration from both the modernism movement and arts and crafts style. As a result they develop work that appeals to people who love modern concepts but enjoy the warmth and detail of handcrafted furniture. The two met in 1998 at the University of Montana in Missoula. Inspired by the study of semiotics, both were exploring communication through alternative methods.

This small business experience honed creative problem-solving skills, a flexible strategic approach, and an intuitive organization system to manage thousands of parts to final product. From concept to fulfillment I worked with designers, engineers, CAD drawings, machining instructions, production processes, parts management, final consumer assembly with instructions and drawings, terms and services, packaging and shipping. Additionally, responsible for all the marketing, customer service, new customer acquisitions and reseller network. Awards include, 2004 Good Design Award for the Narrative Arm Chair and 2006 Newsweek Design Dozen.

 Bryce studied of furniture and design at the College for Creative Studies. While working with digital media throughout college he was determined to marry digital design with furniture craft. Learning to use CNC routers at a University in the late 90's was challenging as many school simply did not have them. Before graduating in 2001 he starting reaching out to businesses who were beginning to implement CNC routers. Before graduation what would eventually become Context Furniture would begin to emerge. With interest from the local Detroit community the first commissions started. Eventually Kerry and Bryce formalized their first furniture collection and launched the Narrative collection ant the International Furniture Fair in 2004. What was considered the flagship piece of the collection the Arm Chair received a Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum of Art.