Hello I’m Nicole!
I am an interior and furniture designer from the US, currently living and working from Florence, Italy. I have always been passionate about design at every scale, from large commercial projects to custom furniture and product design. To me design isn’t just about creating something beautiful. It is about discovering new solutions to old problems. Its about finding the right balance between the needs of the client and the appropriate experience for the user. It is a way to communicate with people without using words by creating interior environments and objects that inspire. My work reflects my passion for design as I focus each project on integrating technical knowledge with creative solutions in order to enhance life in the built environment.
Furniture Design
Throughout my career as a designer, I have worked on several project specific, custom furniture designs with RIOS including custom conference tables, desk systems, dining tables and sofas + built-in banquettes. In 2020 I graduated from the Masters in Furniture Design program at the Florence Institute of Design International. Since then I have worked as a freelance designer, creating a range of lounge chairs, coffee tables and side tables for several direct-to-consumer retail furniture brands.
Product Design
In recent years I have been involved in several product development projects from a custom tile line for Fred + Cathy Home, to a salt and pepper mill for KeepLife in Milan, Italy. In 2020 I started a puzzle company called Naked Bits with my friend and business partner, Delta Murphy. We raised over $16,000 in funding through our Kickstarter campaign in order to launch our first puzzle release.
Interior Design
In 2013 I graduated from California State University Long Beach with a BFA degree in Interior Architecture. The IA program at CSULB focuses the curriculum on balancing knowledge of building codes and technical skills with design theory and project conceptualization. It gave me a strong foundation to build on as a young graduate. Since then, I have gained 8 years of experience working on a diverse range of project types including commercial, residential, hospitality, retail, workplace and healthcare typologies through all phases of design from concept development to construction administration. I have worked on projects all over the world including the US, Thailand, China, Australia and Europe.
