Rachel Walker’s parents vividly recall her first design endeavor. A two-year-old Rachel found the leather arms of her mother’s “Wassily” chair lacking a compelling surface design. So the toddler drew a near perfect straight line in red pen along the caramel colored leather strip. Rachel has been designing ever since.
In the past ten years, Nivedita has received a bachelor's degree in Architecture from India and has attended a post-graduate diploma in Design, at the National Institute of Design also in India. Now, she is a candidate for a M.I.D from Pratt Institute. Upon graduating, Nivedita wishes to pursue designing products, and systems which improve and enrich people's life.
Yuki Hirayama is drawn to challenges and anyone else drawn to them. Among recent tests of her endurance, (besides the thesis project), stand two completed NYC Marathons. During a remarkably whimsical childhood in Japan, she was known to paint snow and suddenly put a friend on hold to run outside and pick flowers.
Architect turned industrial designer… Do you really want to know about me? Just read about the thesis, that's what this is about.
Thriving on the visual, playful, and intellectual, Julie decided it would be a good idea to satisfy all three at once by being a designer. She believes design should tackle big problems and small problems while always remaining human, relatable, and fun.
Polish-born Alexandra Dymowska earned her BFA at Columbia Collage. A Jack Kent Cooke Scholar, she played for the Redskins and Lakers before semi-retirement (Pratt). Given her light workload, she moonlighted for no-profits EarthPledge and archi-treasures, winning Mayor Daley’s 3rd Prize (three projects competed). Next stop-Detroit, designing a quietly-resonant, contemplative Hummer.
Last century, Roberto graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Biological Science and subsequently spent years working in internet and software development. After many days and nights of designing things of bits and bytes, while dreaming off making things of nuts and bolts, he decided that this will be his "Century of Design."
Arthur was sorely disappointed at the tender age of five upon learning that a full scale drivable Mach 5 did not exist, dashing his original career plan of becoming the next Speed Racer. A native New Yorker, Arthur came to Pratt after a career in the financial services industry, which included work as an equity analyst and most recently as a financial PR executive. He holds an MBA from Fordham University and lives with his wife and two children in Westchester County.
Artist, nature lover and adventurer; Preston’s enthusiasm for life is evident in everything he does. After growing up in the conservative south and studying liberal arts as a young adult, he soon realized that his experiences were unique, ultimately to be shared with others. Through design, Preston continues to offer the world his distinct point of view.
Born and bred in Tennessee, Ashley earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree at the University of Tennessee in 2001, and subsequently worked in architecture for four years in both Nashville, Tennessee and New Haven, Connecticut. She moved with her husband to New York City in 2005 to continue her design education at Pratt. Her heart is still in the South, and she longs to return to the land of Dollywood and the Great Smoky Mountains. She is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her first child in August.
Originally from Argentina, Corina moved to the U.S. at an early age. After receiving her B.A. in English at UCLA, she worked in the publishing world but continuously dabbled in her creative interests—studying illustration, architecture, and product design. In 2004, she decided to seriously pursue her passion for creating and began her graduate work in industrial design at Pratt Institute. Most recently, she interned with Laga/One80 Design.
As a child Jennifer Fisher became fascinated with design while constructing a cardboard box tunnel. Now she designs furniture, textiles, and tableware, using materials from fabric to concrete. She has a background in Engineering Psychology and Design Research. In her free time she likes to hang flowers from street signs.
Judy lives in Brooklyn with her husband, two cats, dog, fig tree, olive tree, and blueberry bush. Before Pratt, she worked as a baseball card designer for Topps. Judy has interned at ceMMent Design and Jonathan Adler. She would like to continue to design products and furniture related to gardening.
Akemi always roots for the underdog. This has included choosing a gimpy guinea pig because that was the only guarantee that she would have a good home. Naming her Tilly, short for tilted head, she lived a long and happy life. Tanaka’s passion for the natural world and for other living beings helps guide her design philosophy and uncover universal solutions.
Born and raised in Little Rock and DC, William feels blessed to live the life creativity has built. After studying architecture, graphic, and Industrial design, William now seeks to apply his holistic background to projects, and views design as a service profession that exists to make life better .
Rich Pinto’s interest in design began early in life, constructing fantastical vehicles out of a “digital” toy: the LEGO. Creative design has been integral in his process ever since. Rich has degrees in Psychology, Art History, Biomechanics and Ergonomics, and looks forward to combining these disciplines to answer design questions yet to be posed.