Nicholas Tilma
Nicholas Tilma is a designer and artist based in Detroit, Michigan. Through experimental and traditional fabrication techniques and by mixing material languages he creates otherworldly furniture, lighting, and objects that combine references to artificial nature and science fiction to address the following questions: How will humans of the future memorialize the natural world when our references are themselves the fake versions of the real thing? How can we acknowledge our collective fear of a dystopian future, while romanticizing its aesthetic?
Q&A with Nicholas Tilma
Where did you grow up? How did it influence you?
Grand Rapids, Michigan. The city was known as the "Furniture City" in the early 1900s due to the high production of wooden furniture at the time, so there's a bit of a natural connection there. Herman Miller and Steelcase are based nearby as well. Beyond that, its a nice midwestern city and close to Lake Michigan, with beautiful natural areas and incredible sand dunes. Hikes and visits to the lake have definitely influenced my work.
What’s the most prized object you own? Why?
My road bike. It's an old steel frame painted peach color that my mom got at a garage sale for $10 when I was a kid. Turns out it had really nice components on it and it rides beautifully. I've ridden it since high school and it's just such a beautiful mechanical object. The frame seems to have been handmade and I just absolutely love riding this 40 year old bike.
In a world overflowing with objects, why continue making new things?
There will always be a need for new objects to fill new spaces, and even if that need wanes, people will always desire new and interesting things. Making new things also opens up new possibilities for design solutions and at the scale of output of an artist/designer/ craftsman, the impact remains significantly lower than that of mass production.
What design movement, current or historic, do you think is the most overrated and why?
Modernism. I think Barcelona chairs are perhaps one of the ugliest popular chairs.
What’s your favorite material to work with and why?
I love concrete. There are many different ways to approach using it, from different casting methods to sculpting with it.
If you designed a chair describing your relationship with your father, what would it look like?
It might have three legs and be a bit tippy but strong enough to stand on when placed in the right orientation.
Tell us about something that inspires you.
Insects. They're like actual aliens living among us. Crazy looking little creatures that have evolved such bizarre mechanisms for survival and look just so out there. There's an instagram account called @insectguru. Take a look, this shit is crazy.
What would you do differently if you started your practice today?
Take more time to test materials and processes before making finished pieces.
Any advice for young designers?
Go to the library and find books about design that interests you. The internet as a source of inspiration is leading to all things looking alike. Find the stuff that interests you outside, on a walk, or in a book.
Any regrets?
Not quitting my full-time job sooner.
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