At DESU DESIGN, we strive to make innovative products that blur the boundary between art and design. Our goal is to create pieces of lasting quality, retaining their beauty and functionality for generations. We utilize the precision of modern manufacturing methods with the unmatched skills of the human hand. Inspiration comes from forms found in nature, the history of modern design, and the combined beauty of geometry and the machine.
David Scott, Director
I began designing furniture at the age of 18 as means of improving life in a dorm room. 5 years and a BFA later, I ended up in Japan working with an international team of artists designing and building nightclubs by day, and inhabiting them by night. The learning curve was fast, steep, and a great deal of fun.
Upon returning to the states, I was accepted to the Master's of Architecture program at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc). After the first year, I decided that borrowing $25,000 a year to build imaginary projects was not as much fun as doing the real thing. I convinced Lawrence (Larry) Scarpa, who had been an instructor for one of my classes to hire me to build some metal stairs for Pugh + Scarpa's new office, and DESU was born. Much collaboration with the Pugh + Scarpa team followed, and other architects in the burgeoning vanguard of the LA architecture scene became clients. Paying the rent became less of a problem, and in the off hours, product ideas became realities and were tucked away for a future line.
In 2000, I moved to New York in order to develop the DESU line and bring it to market. DESU has been steadily growing ever since, and I look forward to working toward its continued expansion. My philosophy for the company has always been to build what we want, the best way possible. I spend a great deal of my time seeking out the highest quality materials and vendors that are masters of their discipline. Learning about new technologies and how we can incorporate them into our designs is one of my favorite pursuits, and keeps our ideas fresh. My goal for DESU is to continue on this trajectory of innovation and to above all else, enjoy doing it.
Elizabeth Cordes, Designer (2008)
Designed: HUG
Originally from Saint Louis, Elizabeth started as a product development intern at DESU Design while she was working toward her Masters in Interior Architecture and Product Design at Kansas State University.
Elizabeth left DESU to complete her degree and is now currently working for herself. While with DESU, she worked most independently on the HUG, but her hand can be seen throughout the DESU pieces developed during her time here.
