NATASHA

Hi, I'm Natasha. I was raised in Maine. Where I spent summers at the lake, passing by the Shaker Village on drives home. Mainers are hearty people, less touched by the commercial and outside world, and they pride themselves in their self-reliance.

If you stepped into the past, into the home I grew up in, you'd see a place filled with signs of the handmade. I learned how to conceptualize and shape the world around me at a young age. I built furniture with my father, partly because he was thrifty to, but also because we could make anything we could dream up.

My mother was an avid sewer. I'd select fabrics and patterns, improvising and making alterations to patterns. I learned to appreciate aesthetics, quality, and functional design early on. These influences shaped who I am, and led to my career in industrial design.

In college I had the opportunity to work in many different areas. In addition to foundational courses and lecture based humanities I chose to work with many different materials and processes, with coursework in jewelry & small metals design, sculpture, furniture design, glass blowing, mold making, fibers, fashion illustration, human factors and ergonomics, interaction design, corporate identity, brand development, sustainable design, design manufacturing, and marketing.

In the professional world I’ve learned about product design, development, market research, product and brand positioning, brand development, product testing, packaging, and the list goes on. I’ve created product in footwear, sports equipment, handbags, apparel, uniforms, bags, travel and carry goods, fashion accessories, and tech accessories.

I value these learning experiences and believe my knowledge and appreciation for the design and craft especially of the handcrafted greatly enrich who I am and my process.