Lothar Windels
Lothar Windels designs furniture and objects for production. Born in Germany, he earned his Bachelor of Industrial Design from Rhode Island School of Design in the US and his Master in Design Products from the Royal College of Art in London, UK. He teaches as full professor in the Experimental and Foundation Studies (EFS) division at Rhode Island School of Design and runs his studio in Boston, MA.
Sustainable manufacturing is essential for his current design practice. For example, the Sakonnet Chair designed for the Rhode Island-based company O&G Studio is constructed entirely out of the renewable resource solid wood. The Canadian office furniture manufacturer Nienkämper produces the Brackett Chair in Toronto with responsibly sourced materials and waste stream reduction through reuse and recycling.
Lothar Windels’ projects have been exhibited worldwide including in Berlin, Boston, London, Milan, Munich, Tokyo, and Zurich. His work has been published in several books and magazines including: Abitare, Design Report, Elle Decoration, Frame, ID Magazine, Interni, MD Moebel Interior Design, Metropolis, Newsweek, and The World of Interiors. His clients include: Converse, Inflate, RISD Museum, Steinway & Sons, Swarovski, Umbra, and the Vitra Design Museum.
Academic areas of interest
- Material Research: Low-tech, hands-on investigation to discover innovative design solutions.
- Design for Production: Utilizing contemporary materials and processes to achieve simplicity that supports human interactions.
- Ergonomic Seating: Dynamic support of the human body to create a better work environment that fosters well-being.