Michael Chiarella is a designer, maker, and thinker from the Northeastern U.S. In his short time practicing design, Mr. Chiarella has noticed that people form deep bonds with a few dearest possessions. Designs which lend themselves to these relationships can indeed be minimal, but must leave room for emotion, narrative, and personality. However, recent trends have been stripping design of its humanism, and leaving us with almost nothing familiar with which to connect. Through careful material choices, honest forms, and genuine experiences, Michael hopes to remedy this disparity by balancing "old" and "new" in his own work. Themes of playfulness, interaction, and meditation are woven into every project, without distracting from the importance of deliberate craft and attention to detail.
Iron Studio Ltd., Philadelphia, PA, US, Drafter & Project Manager
Farewell Architects, LLC, Princeton, NJ, US, Designer
Served as designer, project manager, and construction administrator for a wide range of programs. Completed projects include new construction, additions, expansions, and renovations (often for code compliance and accessibility) for private residences, local businesses, and state universities, among others. Through an iterative design process, projects address parking flow and site access concerns, landscaping and hardscaping considerations, improvements to constrained sites, phasing of work, end-user needs, occupant loads and area calculations.
Farewell Architects, LLC, Princeton, NJ, US, Consulting Draftsman/Designer
Developed the full range of drawings and digital models for a wide variety of architectural programs. Incorporated client feedback while updating the designs, and see that the necessary changes are made to all relevant documents. Projects included academic, civic, and institutional buildings often pursuing LEED certification.
ldfSTUDIO, Pennington, NJ, US, Consulting Draftsman/Designer
Drew plans, elevations, sections, and details for small-scale residential projects, usually in the form of renovations additions with plenty of built-ins and similar structures. Coordinated products, materials, finishes, and other relevant considerations.
Taglio Design, Lambertville, NJ, US, Freelance Designer
Designed and fabricated custom furniture, lighting, products, and architectural details for residential and commercial clientele. Sourced and maintain shop tools and equipment.
J. Neal Design, Baltimore, MD, US, Freelance Designer
Cooperated with a Baltimore architecture firm to design and manufacture custom furniture for a residential kitchen. Duties included sketching, planning, CAD modeling, CAM setup, and recommending materials and fabrication techniques.
Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD, US, 2D Prototyping Studio Technician
Oversaw equipment used in print media such as letterpresses, guillotines, binding machines, and button makers. Ensured proper use and care of the tools were exercised, and assisted other students with the execution of their work as needed.
Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD, US, Model Shop Technician
Maintained the tools, machines, and work-spaces in the model shop; instructed students in the proper use of the equipment and safety precautions in the shop; and troubleshot problems regarding fabrication techniques and construction methods. Regularly operated a laser cutter.
TerraCycle, Trenton, NJ, US, Design Team Intern
Designed with recycled and up-cycled materials, and practiced solving waste-streams and consumer needs simultaneously. Learned processes including fusing plastic sheets into workable fabrics, die-cutting, and industrial sewing. Visualized projects (products, props, and architectural elements) through sketches, models, and computer renderings; then executed them.
Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD, US, Bachelors, Environmental Design
Instruction and projects included product and graphic design (packaging, environmental, and web); material culture, sourcing, and properties; the history and practice of architecture; digital visualization, rapid prototyping, and fabrication technologies; and sustainable practices.
