Providence, Rhode Island, samindaman.com
Samuel Aguirre worked in business development for more than a decade before his big lightbulb moment happened while making papier-mâché with his young son. One MFA in furniture design at RISD later, Aguirre is a star on the rise, and one of a new generation for whom it’s imperative to work within a circular system. Aguirre makes work using natural materials — paper pulp, mulberry fibers, muslin, cornstarch — that will last “as long as you’d like” and then compost at the end of their life. Drawing on pre-industrial processes — like weaving fiber into a grid and then pounding it with a stone to make paper — Aguirre nevertheless works within a wholly contemporary object vernacular: slumped lamps, crisp credenzas, and gridded seats, among them.

What is American design to you, and what excites you about it?

I am happy to say America is slowly moving on from the shades of grey, millennial design we’ve been spoon-fed for too long. There is a momentum behind people acting on their ideas and creating authentic objects, spaces, and communities. The result is a beautiful mash-up of DIYers, hobbyists, artists, craftspeople, and creatives from all walks of life exploring their own aesthetic. Much like the fabric of America, American Design is not just one thing. It’s less about “what is it?” and more about “why is it?” It feels inclusive, authentic, and uninhibited. To be fair, I don’t know what “it” is, but I think in a decade we will look back, identify the golden nuggets of the era and label the movement. Please check back in 10 years with a follow up.

What are your plans and highlights for the upcoming year? 

I plan to…

Collaborate! Collaborating with other creatives has been a staple of my practice. There are a couple of collaborations in process and I hope some of that work will be ready for release late 2025.

Participate! I’ll spend the first half of 2025 in a business development program for early stage, design-driven studios, called DesignxRI (Design by Rhode Island) Spring Design Catalyst Program. Over the past year, I’ve had endless conversations with my maker community about the financial health of our studios. There is a genuine interest and need to create more public discourse about the business end of running a furniture studio, weathering the inevitable hurdles and navigating the sometimes broken distribution models we’ve inherited.

Create inventory! I’ll be stocking a collection of table lamps in standard finishes (Ahem… looking at you retailers…). In the interest of holding myself accountable I am using this moment to say inventory, photos, and spec sheets will be ready to go by May 2025. (I love a deadline.)

Share! I’ll be in the Lookbook section of ICFF Wanted Design with my friend Daniel Lefkowitz of 9&19 (@9and19). His work is drool worthy and there is a clear dialogue between our material and forms.

What inspires or informs your work in general? 

INSPIRES

Right now I’m renovating an old home, which has been so fun and exhausting! Through the design-build process, I find myself designing more architectural elements than furniture. This home space has been a puzzle to solve and is having a clear influence on the application of my work. I’m excited to see how this will influence the direction of the studio work.

INFORMS

The experimental process is so integral to my creative process. Thinking is important. Writing is important. But nothing happens if I’m not doing. I am the type of person who does it wrong MANY times before getting it right. Which is okay because the right way tends to be hidden in the wrong way. It’s where the special “a-ha!” moments are found and eventually become foundational to a collection of work.