An exhibition of Isamu Noguchi-inspired work by 30 Pratt graduate interior design students is on display at the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City, Queens through June 28. The work was created as part of the “Interior Design Graduate Level Qualifying Design Studio” course taught by Visiting Assistant Professors Wendy Cronk and Rachely Rotem and Visiting Associate Professor Tetsu Ohara in spring 2015.
The course challenged students to draw inspiration from the Noguchi Museum, which was designed and created by renowned Japanese-American sculptor and artist Isamu Noguchi. The students chose items from the Noguchi to research and drew on their knowledge to design a hypothetical annex for the Museum in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn. The project also involved designing a temporary exhibition for the annex space using the subjects of their research. The month-long exhibition of work at the Museum, titled Noguchi + Pratt: An Exhibition, was featured in Architectural Digest and includes six select student projects in their entirety as well as analyses of Noguchi objects from all of the students.
“A client-specific design approach was a significant concern for the class. The students dealt successfully with the challenge of knowing the client, which will be critical for them to do with every future project.” said Ohara.
The project gave students the chance not only to research Noguchi’s methods and objects but also to apply that knowledge in a public setting. “Designing an annex for the Noguchi Museum was a dream exercise. Noguchi’s work is so rich and varied,” said Matt Dowsett (M.S. Interior Design ’17). “It’s been a tremendous opportunity and privilege to have my individual vision for a project on display for such a broad audience,” he added.
More information on Noguchi + Pratt: An Exhibition can be found here.
Image: Work on display at Noguchi + Pratt: An Exhibition (photo by Katherine Abbott for The Noguchi Museum)