Class of 2008
Thomas Farhad Both
Thomas Both is a designer, engineer, and artist interested in human-centered design, beautiful objects, experiences in space and through time, flipping expectations, simplicity, elements in repetition, defining the design problem, needfinding, and considered details. He earned a BS in engineering for Harvey Mudd College in 2003, and is currently a second-year master's student in the Stanford Joint Program in Design.
Andreas Braendhaugen
Andreas holds a BA from the University of Oslo, where he attempted to unify the fields of psychology, cultural history, Hindi, and linguistics. His spare time was spent promoting and arranging concerts at the University's student union. Since then he went on to work as a journalist and a graphic designer. His favorite things include print media, grand pianos, and improvised travel.
Edward Paul Browka
A big picture synthesizer of the disparate; Ed has driven forward innovations in a broad range of products, from hand assembled diagnostic instruments, to patent pending high volume medical devices. While growing up on a family farm instilled a love of life and hard work, his BS in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer honed his technical abilities. Inspired by the interesting people that surround him Ed constantly strives for the ideal. Now as a Masters Candidate in Product Design Ed aims to make the world a much better place.
Carissa Lark Carter
Originally a right coaster, Carissa is a kung-fu and sneaker-loving geologist who was very excited to discover product design and join the loft community. She holds a BA in Geoscience from Williams College, and a MS in Earth Science from UCSC. She spent the past four years living in Santa Cruz, working at the USGS and fully embracing the Vans-wearing culture of this other coast. Carissa enjoys fusing her background with a wide-reaching interest in design.
Elysa Fenenbock
Elysa, an artist and dancer by background, loves hugs and soft things. Having already reached the retirement age for a professional dancer, she now dances through form in design. Though misunderstood by the engineers around here, she provides an oasis of emotion in design through sensual tactile expressions. Elysa enjoys long walks on the beach...and giggling until she cries.
Emilie Fetscher
A fifth-generation Montanan from Missoula, Emilie loves the outdoors especially skiing. Previously she studied at Dartmouth College earning a BA in Studio Art & Engineering followed by a BE in Mechanical Engineering. Instead of following a career path in engineering she worked for the past few years in the outdoor industry in various roles from mountain lodge manager to river guide to ski coach. Emilie is intrigued by and loves all the people in her life and wants to bring that passion to design.
Francisco Franco
Francisco was the sole member of a design guerrilla operating in the mountainous regions of Northern Mexico. Obtained a BS in Mechanical Eng. by the ITESM in Monterrey, later infiltrating the core of the automotive industry. An insatiable creative itch forced him out into many other ventures. Always interested in the democracy of art and the relation between nature and human craft, Francisco hopes that his experience in the loft will help him find his way into the cosmic papaya.
Peter Wilbur Gleason
Pete double majored in Mechanical Engineering and Environmental Studies. Since earning his piece of paper, he has done varied activities including installing solar systems in Berkeley, travelling in New Zealand and Australia, and leading outdoor trips in Wyoming. His fetish is rock climbing and cooking, ideally at the same time. His educational passions are in leadership and communication. Pete is often spotted dancing quitely by himself in the corner.
Don't worry, he is okay.
Jean Shio Hsu
Shio-shio - Jean
BS in Electrical Engineering - MS in EE - Design
Worcester, MA - Madison, WI - Lansdale, PA - Austin, TX - California
Tumbling - Hiking - Muay Thai - Ultimate Frisbee - Yoga - Cooking
I was a product debug technologist working with laser based diagnostic tools at Intel, but now I'm a designer learning how to be an anthropolog-biolog-psycholog-art-*insert here*-ist.
Phong David Ngo
A bouncing ball of creative energy, David has been reborn from the life of a rocket scientist. Once intent on gathering graduate degrees from MIT and Stanford to one day design lunar bases and spaceships, David has since changed his path. Like a wayward wanderer wandering his way to Wandertown (no such place exists), David has fallen in love with the world of design and all its boundless beauty. He is a man of paradoxes. Rational, yet ridiculous. Idealistic, yet practical. Devilishly attractive, yet huggable. His name is David, but his friends call him "Awesome".
Jesse Amos Silver
Although Jesse holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Factors engineering, sang in an award-winning a-cappella group, served as a recording engineer in Sausalito for 2 years, worked in the Knowledge Sharing Department at Landor Associates (a branding firm) for 5 years, builds wood furniture and sculpture, and is an avid aquarist and audiophile, none of these skills is surpassed by his ability to consume massive amounts of dark chocolate.
Simon Morris Shand Weiss
For his Thesis, Simon is focussed on how the design process can lead to enhancements to how we sense our surrounding environment and ourselves. Of particular interest are the ways that we can enhance and modify our existing set of senses, as well as create new data streams of information not currently experienced in real time.
Scott Witthoft
Several years into being a folk-icon, Scott Witthoft left reason with a roadside breeze and headed westward, toward thoughts of design and building. He learned many things in many states of school, things he shares unwittingly with strangers and familiars. Sleepily hungry, Scott finds each day a tasty meal, among discovered travelers.
Class of 2009
Dave John Evans
Dave is a native Californian trying to find transcendence through design. After earning his BSME from Stanford he has worked on everything from robot sharks, to submarines, to bike lights, to iPods. He can often be found playing acid jazz on the guitar he handcrafted, riding the bike he handmade, or making just about everything else he loves. Combining a passion for craftsmanship, an insatiable curiosity, and a deep sense of the spiritual, Dave seeks to find the place where the soul meets the physical in the creation of wonderful things.
Joe Robert Mellin
After realizing that Physics wasn't for him, Joe went in search of the unknown that lead him to mobility device design in the Philippines, production engineering in Ghana, with a heavy dose of branding and print/web design work along the way. He is currently interested in the frontiers of design/problem solving.
Lauren Kirk Milroy
Lauren was born and raised in Palo Alto. She attended the University of Southern California, where she received a BS in Mechanical Engineering. She worked for several years as a lead engineer in the aerospace industry before leaving the technical to focus on her creative inclinations at Stanford. Lauren is an avid soccer player and snowboarder, preferring to spend time outdoors and in the company of others.
Peter Raphael Russo
Originally hailing from Iowa, Peter spent six years at MIT and three years in the semiconductor industry before realizing that his calling was design, not electrical engineering. At Stanford he has gladly traded silicon for silicone, the cleanroom for the machine shop, and the cubicle for the studio. Peter is particularly interested in exploring how the mantra "reduce, reuse, recycle" can be applied to make products more environmentally friendly.
Brendan Kurt Wypich
Brendan is from Toronto, Canada. He holds a BComm from Queen's University, and a BFA from Ryerson University's New Media program. He has worked as an interactive designer, technology consultant, educator, and new media artist. His research explores interpersonal and human/machine relationships through the use of telematics, control systems, and multimedia.
