In 2004 RISD commissioned Furniture Design Department faculty members John Dunnigan [RISD MFA ’80, Industrial Design], Rosanne Somerson [RISD ’76, Industrial Design] and Peter Walker to design furnishings for the new on-campus housing at 15 Westminster Street. Known as DEZCO furniture design llc, the team worked within very tight time and budget constraints to create two lines of furnishings.

In approaching the project, DEZCO researched current student living and work spaces before proposing solutions that make use of contemporary, ecologically sensitive materials with a minimum of visible hardware or mechanisms; emphasize longevity, along with attention to wear and ease of repair; and are economical and efficient to manufacture. “We want the furnishings to embody the strong design principles we teach here at RISD,” says Somerson. “This project required furniture that is practical, economical and flexible enough to allow students to use the components in various configurations. We also want the collection to reflect the beautiful aesthetics of the building itself, while bringing in contemporary, green materials that are presently absent in existing manufactured lines for this market.”

A campus design review committee worked with the faculty team throughout the process. Dunnigan, Somerson and Walker also met with students, Resident Assistants and potential manufacturers to get feedback on both of the proposed lines. As a result, one line of approximately 15 pieces was selected to furnish the new student housing.

“Projects like this are a positive step toward helping RISD to utilize its own pool of design talent to address campus needs,” Dunnigan says. “As faculty and alumni we are able to respond to these needs in a manner that showcases best design practices and offers tangible proof of what we’re all about here at RISD.”