Zach Raven, Design Lead - IDa Design / Principal

About

Zach Raven is an Industrial Designer with 15+ years experience, living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Winner of multiple awards, including numerous Best of Neocon awards, Good Design and Red Dot awards, he is Design Lead at IDA Design as well as Principal at RVNDSGN.

Education

BFA Industrial Design

Kendall College of Art and Design

2005 - 2007
- Graphic Design

Western Michigan University

2001 - 2004

Experience

Design Lead

IDa Design

Zeeland, MI

Feb 2018 - Present (8 years 4 months)

IDa Design is a small design firm specializing in contract furniture design. I'm currently leading concept development with a collaborative team, managing design from concept to post-launch with client management, engineering, marketing and sales. Major contributions on a team who has developed Allsteel Stride Desking, Stride Bench, Allsteel Gather collaborative family, Gunlocke Credentials Casegoods, Converge Converence Tables, Silea Casegoods and Bench, Allsteel Further system furniture, as well as many other contract and speculative based projects. Winner of 3 Chicago Athenaeum Good Design awards, 2014 IDEA award finalist, 2016 Red Dot Award, and 5 NeoCon Silver awards and 2 NeoCon Gold awards.
Principal

RVNDSGN

Grand Rapids, MI

Jan 2011 - Present (15 years 5 months)

Founded in 2011, RVNDSGN is an award winning multi-disciplinary design firm. Lead by Zach Raven, RVNDSGN has designed innovative products in numerous categories from consumer goods to transportation, furniture to wearables.

Our first foray into timepieces was with the RD.01, the worlds first 3D printed watch. For our next collection, the M1, we have partnered with Swiss manufacturers and suppliers who share our commitment to quality, while designing and developing everything completely in house. The result is a highly considered, new brand of premium contemporary timepieces.
Contract Industrial Designer

Dennis Foley Design

Holland, MI

Jan 2010 - Present (16 years 5 months)

Dennis Foley works as a freelance designer with past work for Herman Miller and Izzy among others. Collaborated on a family of innovative chairs from sketching and CAD, to full-size models and renderings for presentation. Currently working with multiple manufacturers worldwide to introduce the chairs to the market soon.
Senior Industrial Designer

IDa Design

Zeeland, MI

Dec 2016 - Feb 2018 (1 year 2 months)

IDa Design is a small design firm specializing in contract furniture design. I'm currently leading concept development with a collaborative team, managing design from concept to post-launch with client management, engineering, marketing and sales. Major contributions on a team who has developed Allsteel Stride Desking, Stride Bench, Allsteel Gather collaborative family, Gunlocke Credentials Casegoods, Converge Converence Tables, Silea Casegoods and Bench, Allsteel Further system furniture, as well as many other contract and speculative based projects. Winner of 3 Chicago Athenaeum Good Design awards, 2014 IDEA award finalist, 2016 Red Dot Award, and 3 NeoCon Silver awards and 2 NeoCon Gold awards.
Industrial Designer

IDa Design

Zeeland, MI

Jan 2010 - Dec 2016 (6 years 11 months)

IDa Design is a small design firm specializing in contract furniture design. I'm currently leading concept development with a collaborative team, managing design from concept to post-launch with client management, engineering, marketing and sales. Major contributions on a team who has developed Allsteel Stride Desking, Stride Bench, Allsteel Gather collaborative family, Gunlocke Credentials Casegoods, Converge Converence Tables, Silea Casegoods and Bench, Allsteel Further system furniture, as well as many other contract and speculative based projects. Winner of 3 Chicago Athenaeum Good Design awards, 2014 IDEA award finalist, 2016 Red Dot Award, and 3 NeoCon Silver awards and 2 NeoCon Gold awards.
Contract Designer

Windpact

Washington, DC

Sep 2011 - Jun 2012 (9 months)

Provided concepts for safer sports impact protection. Collaborating with designers, engineers, and professional football players.
Industrial Designer

J.RUITER

Grand Rapids, MI

Jun 2009 - Jun 2012 (3 years)

J.RUITER is a small design firm specializing in furniture, marine, transportation, product, and concept design. Managed design projects from ideation through CAD development and prototyping, including concept development, sketching, 3d modeling & rendering, and mockup models. Worked together with Joey and clients' teams to develop Nucraft Cavera Casegoods, and Passport Conference Tables, Izzy Nemo Bar, Conference, and Trellis, concepts for Sassy Baby, as well as bicycles, a pontoon skiff, custom buggy, electric motorcycle, and others. Winner of 3 NeoCon Gold awards, including Best of Show.
Industrial Designer

IDa Design

Zeeland, MI

May 2008 - Mar 2009 (10 months)

IDa Design is a small design firm specializing in contract furniture design. Oversaw product brochure layout, rendering, and photo retouching. Collaborated in a team environment on all aspects of the design process developing Allsteel Stride openplan casegoods, and Gunlocke Silea casegoods.
Industrial Designer

ADAC Automotive

Grand Rapids, MI

Aug 2007 - Mar 2008 (7 months)

ADAC Automotive produces aftermarket automotive products using it’s unique set of proprietary technologies.
Managed showroom, product boards, brochures, and web icons for 2007 SEMA Show. Lead design conceptualization projects for Honda, Harley Davidson, and Cadillac.
Industrial Design Intern

Turnstone Furniture

Grand Rapids, MI

Jan 2006 - Jan 2007 (1 year)

Turnstone Furniture focuses on smart design and good value for the contract furniture industry.
Worked as a team designing open-plan casegood products. Managed development on side tables and screens.

Awards

2023 Neocon Innovation Award - Darran Dove Seating Collection /

2023 Neocon Silver - Darran Dove Seating Collection /

2023 NeoCon Silver - Darran Susu Table Collection /

2023 ID HiP Honoree - Darran Susu Table Collection /

2019 Interior Design Magazine Best of Year Finalist - Allsteel Radii Collection /

2019 Interiors/Sources Readers Choice - Allsteel Radii Collection /

2019 NeoCon Gold - Allsteel Radii Collection /

2019 ID HiP Honoree - Gunlocke Liv Seating Collection /

2018 Good Design Award - M1 Timepiece /

2018 Red Dot Award - M1 Timepiece /

2018 Spark Award Finalist - M1 Timepiece /

2018 NeoCon Silver - Gunlocke Silea EH Casegoods /

2018 ID HiP Honoree - Gunlocke Silea EH Casegoods /

2018 A' Design Silver Award - M1 Timepiece /

2017 IDA Design Award Honorable Mention - M1 Timepiece /

2017 Architectural Record Best Furnishings - Allsteel Vicinity Lounge /

2016 Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award - Gunlocke Saranac /

2016 ID HiP Award - Gunlocke Trillia /

2016 ID HiP Award - Gunlocke Saranac /

2016 Metropolis Likes - Gunlocke Trillia /

2016 NeoCon Silver - Allsteel Approach /

2016 Red Dot Award - Clestra Irys /

2014 IDEA Finalist - Allsteel Further /

2013 Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award - Allsteel Further /

2013 NeoCon Gold - Allsteel Further /

2012 NeoCon Best of Show - Nucraft Passport /

2012 NeoCon Gold - Nucraft Passport /

2012 NeoCon Gold - Izzy Nemo /

2011 NeoCon Gold - Nucraft Cavera /

2011 NeoCon Silver - Gunlocke Silea /

2011 NeoCon Silver - Allsteel Gather /

2010 NeoCon Gold - Allsteel Stride Desking /

2010 NeoCon Silver - Allsteel Stride Desking /

2010 Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award - Allsteel Stride /

2008 Kendall College Innovation Award /

2007 MDRA/OMNOVA International Scholarship /

Affiliations

IDSA; Design West Michigan

Industries

Skills

Elsewhere on the Web

n
k
I
4

On Coroflot

@zraven, member since 2006

Following 12
Followers 17

Zach Raven

Industrial Design Project Manager (Fractional / Part-Time)

Sr. Industrial Designer