twa terminal by eero saarinen, photo by josh withers
“zoomorphism” applies animal characteristics to the expression of form. the exploration of organic and natural shapes is intentional and started in contrast to the more pervasive 20th-century modernist style. in architecture, saarinen’s twa terminal or calatrava’s Milwaukee art museum are sweeping silhouettes that transcend time.
oom stool, steelcase, matthew weatherly + robert leonetti
i invited designers who expressed zoomorphism in their work to bring a cast of friendly characters to life. at the time, i was leading product development for a steelcase design company where our existing portfolio included iconic pieces by the great danish designers hans wegner and finn juhl. their work inspired me to pursue progressive, organic craft solutions as a way to soften the rigid design formality of workplace environments.
furniture craft was deep in the DNA of our company and the heritage of north carolina. my goal was to express our exceptional woodcraft and tailoring of sustainable textiles to a new generation of space planners and designers. we introduced these radically different products before the craft movement became mainstream in workplace design and consumer tastes. the effort brought in awards, press, and a new league of fans.
showroom design, cia + robert leonetti
pool collection, steelcase, mary little + peter wheeler
our craft portfolio included iconic hans wegner and finn juhl uphosltered and wood peices
