Erik was a such a great intern to have around, he spent the Summer of 2004 with us, in between his MFA studies at Cranbrook. Erik was one of those people who had a huge appetite for learning and a real passion for design. I think an internship in New York suited him really well (in fact it must of because he ended up moving here) but I do remember him spending a Summer in a very small space with very limited AC. That sums Erik up – he’s really prepared to sacrifice and work hard for what he believes in.
I wasn’t really sure where he would end up – he could have moved into either the art or design field so I’ll pass it over to Erik to fill in the gaps…
“What have I been doing since I left Prime Studio?”
“After leaving Prime, I went back to Detroit to finish my MFA at Cranbrook Academy of Art in 3D. After graduating, I headed back to New York City were I started working under the mentorship of Ted Lawson fabricating sculptures for artists such as Mariko Mori, Ghada Amer, and Keith Tyson. I then moved to my current place of work, Raison Pure Groupe, doing product design. Here I have been able to combine art, design, and strategy on a very diverse range of projects for clients such as Pepsi, Dove, Diageo, Armani, and Evian. Outside of Raison Pure, I keep a steady pace working on projects for clients such as Marc Jacobs, JLo, and Vera Wang, all the while staying dedicated to my own work which has been shown in Detroit, New York, and Toronto. Currently I run a blog that consists of my daily observations at http://urbanpatrol.tumblr.com/”
More about Erik’s time at Prime after the break
“How was my time at Prime Studio?”
“My time at Prime Studio only lasted for 4 months, but during this time I was able to work on plethora of projects that included work for the MoMA, Samsonite, and Polder. This was my first ‘firm’ experience and a taste of what it takes to manage and design for your own practice. Stuart’s design process is extremely efficient with award winning results. I was able to participate in all facets from first phase concepts to client presentations. Stuart also pushed the incredible culture of New York City by extending invitations to private openings/events and guidance for what the city of New York has to offer. Not only was he a teacher and superior, but a friend and someone that I continue to count on for advice and mentorship in an extremely difficult and competitive field.”
Not to mention that he also helped me build all my kitchen cabinets from IKEA over a couple of days for which I am eternally grateful.