What exactly is the “History of Chairs” and why is it the name of a designer’s website? It began simply enough, ten years ago while teaching an expansive course called “Period Styles and Décor”. Another professor referred to the course jokingly as the History of Chairs, and that’s what students began calling it.

Throughout my career in teaching, discussing, and working in the entertainment industry, one truth has stood out: most characters and actors are simply looking for a comfortable place to sit. And why not? It embodies humankind’s eternal quest for a place to rest.

The role of designers, cabinetmakers, upholsterers, and tradespeople throughout history has been to imagine, create, innovate, and construct new and unique furnishings. This task remains largely unchanged. As a designer of modern scenery, I find it fitting to study, appreciate, explore, and apply “The History of Chairs” in my work.

The hope is that directors, other designers, actors, and dancers will find this history valuable as they develop new voices and movements in contemporary drama and reimagine classical works.

As creators in the entertainment industry, it's crucial for us to avoid becoming too bogged down or taking ourselves too seriously. Each design presents a fresh opportunity for exploration, a sense of wonder, and even whimsy. In creative work, it is vital to remain open to the world around us and find joy in our everyday explorations.