Ben Blanc

Ben Blanc is a designer and educator whose practice bridges craft, sculpture, and functional design. He is currently a critic in the Furniture Design department, where he previously taught from 2009–22, mentoring undergraduate and graduate students through material experimentation, critical inquiry, and hands-on making. He also served as a visiting guest critic from 2022–26. In addition to his teaching, he served as lead designer for The Pearl Café at the RISD Museum, collaborating on a high-profile public project that integrated furniture, lighting, and spatial design within one of the institution’s most visible cultural spaces. 

Ben’s professional studio practice spans furniture, lighting, mirrors, and sculptural objects, integrating traditional craft techniques and contemporary design processes with a fluidity across glass, metal, wood, silver mirroring, ceramics, and other experimental media. His work has been exhibited extensively throughout the US and internationally and has garnered recognition from such publications as The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, and Vogue. His work in lighting and furniture as part of Ben & Aja Blanc Studio has been commissioned for museums, hotels, restaurants, and private collections in more than 25 countries. 

Drawing on extensive experience in concept development, prototyping, fabrication, and collaboration with many of the world’s leading architects, designers, and institutions, Ben brings to graduate teaching a practice-based perspective that emphasizes rigorous material research, technical excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the cultivation of a distinctive creative voice. His teaching encourages students to understand not only how to make meaningful work, but also why it is important to consider their role and responsibility within the broader global discourse of art, craft, and design.