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About
T.J. Thomas is founder of the award winning consultancy Studio Murmur and the design brand MAKOKOMO. With degrees in both industrial design and psychology, T.J. also trained under master German craftsmen, learning fine furnituremaking. He worked as a designer in the studios of Eric Pfeiffer and Michael Graves and in 2009, founded Studio Murmur on Chicago's north side. He has served as adjunct assistant professor at the School of Art and Design at the University of Illinois – Chicago (UIC) and as lecturer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in the Department of Architecture, Interior Architecture and Designed Objects. From 2017-2020 he served as Principal Designer for Steelcase Inc. leading design and product development efforts for various Steelcase brands.
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Education
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M.A Industrial DesignSan Francisco State University
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B.A PsychologyUniversity of Michigan
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Experience
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FounderChicago, ILSep 2016 - Present (9 years 9 months)MAKOKOMO designs and produces functional objects for living and working.
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Founder - Principal DesignerChicago, ILMar 2009 - Present (17 years 3 months)* Directing a full-service design consultancy specializing in product design and development of consumer products, public design, housewares, furniture, and lighting.
* Manage all functions of the office including business development, creative direction, project management, product licensing, talent acquisition, strategic partnerships, marketing, etc.
* Providing design services to furniture, housewares, and lighting manufacturers, architects, hospitality and aerospace industries -
Principal DesignerSteelcase Inc.Grand Rapids, MISep 2017 - Sep 2020 (3 years)www.steelcase.com
* Bringing best-in-class solutions to the evolving workplace and educational institutions.
* Working with cross-functional, global teams, lead design and new product development for various Steelcase brands including, Turnstone, Steelcase Education and Steelcase Inc. -
Adjunct FacultyChicago, IL2014 - 2016 (2 years)www.saic.edu
* Designed curriculum and led graduate portfolio seminar preparing design masters candidates on positioning methods and professional practice -
Adjunct Faculty2010 - 2011 (1 year)www.uic.edu
* Developed and led graduate seminar on design localization -
DesignerPrinceton, NJ2007 - 2009 (2 years)www.michaelgraves.com
* Design and product development for the retail, hospitality and healthcare industries
* Design support on large scale architectural programs
* Product research, ideation, model making, 3-D modeling, rendering, 2-D CAD drawings
* Clients included: Target, Stryker, Resorts World Sentosa, Baldinger, Slice -
Contract DesignerOakland, CA2007 - 2007www.pfeifferlab.com
* Design support and product development for award-winning studio of designer/author Eric Pfeiffer
* Furniture and home furnishings product ideation, modeling, CAD drawings
* Clients included: Crate and Barrel, CB2, Habitat (U.K.), Wieland, Paul Frank, 10-Grain -
Fine Furniture MakerJulian Giuntoli Custom FurnitureSan Francisco, CA2004 - 2007 (3 years)Apprenticed under master European furniture makers
* Fabrication and engineering of custom and small-run production furniture pieces for interior design and architectural clients
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Industries
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Skills
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Elsewhere on the Web
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On Coroflot@tj_thomas, member since 2017
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Following 2
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Followers 2
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