BKLYN DESIGNS

Mark Goetz

Furniture Designer & Professor of Industrial Design, Pratt Institute, Pratt Institute

Mark Goetz thinks about furniture in ways that most of us do not. In his 20-year design career, he has been responsible for numerous collections of seating and furniture pieces with a classically modern appeal.

Since the inception of his firm TZ Design, Goetz has worked with many companies and produced a stream of noteworthy projects. At Brickel Associates he introduced a series of lounge and guest seating which continues to be carried through Geiger International.

While with Bernhardt Design, Goetz created a line of enduring furniture. He conceived and developed an extensive collection of chairs, case goods, lounge chairs, and occasional tables. In a period of 15 years, he has realized over 70 chair designs for Bernhardt exhibiting a range of styles that utilize a variety of materials from metal and glass to wood and upholstery. Goetz has established a high level of design integrity and a strong design presence that continues to stand out in the current Bernhardt Design offering.

Herman Miller invited Goetz to design a sofa for their Home division. The goal was to create an innovative piece that would compliment the work of great design icons Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, and Isamu Noguchi. The Goetz Sofa is a design of beauty, comfort, and functionality, which is perfectly suited for everyday living. Through the years, Goetz has forged a strong working relationship with Herman Miller where he also has been engaged in several projects including ergonomic task seating, the Intersect Portfolio for Collaboration, and the Aside stacking chair.

In addition to his professional career, Goetz has been an adjunct professor of industrial design at Pratt Institute for the past 16 years. Students in his graduate furniture design class are responsible for the ideation, design, and execution of an actual piece of furniture. The emphasis of the course is to encourage them to develop their own individual point of view as designers.

Wendy Goodman

Design Editor, New York magazine

Wendy Goodman is the design editor of New York magazine.
She is the co-author of the best seller, Tony Duquette, published by Abrams.
She also is a contributing editor at Departures magazine and writes for German and French Architectural Digest.

Jason Horvath

Co Founder of Uhuru Design, BKLYN DESIGNS 2009 Exhibitor, Uhuru Design

Co founder of Uhuru Design, Jason Horvath was born and raised in Louisville, KY and currently lives in Red Hook, Brooklyn. He grew up mountain biking, skating, surfing, and competitive rock climbing at a national and international level. After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in industrial and graphic design, he moved to New York City to pursue a career in the Art and Design world. Jason worked as an interior designer for Stedila Design in NYC for four years as he built Uhuru Design.  Currently working as CEO of Uhuru, Jason is also involved heavily in the NY art scene. 

Eric Manigian

Founder of Eric Manigian Studio, Eric Manigian Studio

Eric Manigian founded Eric Manigian Studio in 1999. An artist by training, Manigian received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Pratt Institute. Since then he has created works for a number of high-profile private clients as well as commercial commissions, including works for, Morgan Stanley; Frederic Fekkai Salon at Henri Bendel, NY; Calvin Klein; and Brooklyn’s favorite brew master Steve Hindy to name a few. The Studio fuses clean minimalist design with hand craftsmanship to create custom hardwood furniture. Battle scars and victory badges, EM Studio has been a proud veteran exhibitor of BKLYN DESIGNS every year since its beginning.

Tim Richartz

Furniture Designer & Professor of Industrial Design, Pratt Institute, Pratt Institute

Timothy Richartz is an expert furniture designer with more than 20 years design experience.

Richartz graduated with honors from the Industrial Design Department of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y. where he is currently an adjunct professor in the senior furniture design studio. His professional career includes design for award-winning seating, tables, and case goods, as well as several conceptual design programs. Richartz has collaborated with a wide range of contract furniture companies, including Herman Miller, ICF, and Bernhardt Design. Along with his manufactured work, his portfolio includes custom design and fabrication for corporate and private clients, including conceptual seating for the Ford Motor Company’s THINK vehicle and set design for the Sci-Fi Channel.

Partnering with California-based blankblank, Richartz is developing a number of distinct designs for production. The introduction of his Tubes lighting represents the first of his personally branded modern design collection. His website timrichartz.com is coming soon.