Co-founders Dorian Booth and Anthony Gagliardi established Almost Studio in 2018. Along with junior designer Isabella Calidonio Stechmann, the team considers a successful project "as never complete and always becoming: exposing unknown cultural, social, and spatial potential as time passes." With this design methodology, the team has become well known for projects such as "Playground for a Fashion Designer," RADICAL, House for a Sojourner, and Tent in a Vegetable Garden. The design studio entered the Ragdale Foundation's annual competition, the Ragdale Ring competition, and selected as winners for their design "That's a Wrap." 

The Ragdale Foundation is a national artist residency program located in Lake Forest, Illinois. In 2013, the Foundation launched a competition to "reinterpret the Ragdale Ring" designed by architect Howard Van Doren Shaw in 1912. Shaw's ring design helped spring forward the idea to welcome and promoted contemporary, experimental, and functional design ideas for the competition. Now in its ninth year, designers were asked to submit "inventive, site-responsive, large-scale submissions that explore intersections of architecture, sculpture, landscape, public art, and performance disciplines."

That’s a Wrap proposes a mobile series of stage sets that adapt to the Ragdale Foundation landscape, providing an adjustable backdrop that will amplify this season of performances, discussions, and reflections. - Almost Studio

This year's jury selected Almost Studio's "That's a Wrap" for its "timely and poignant solution to the questions posed for this year's Ragdale Ring competition." The Ragdale Jury continued to comment on the project stating, "with the pandemic still looming, and the notion of artists presenting performative works at a venue that needed to be flexible in both physical structure and concept, Almost Studio truly embraced the challenge with their interpretation of mobility. The range of projects this year is a testament to the relevance of the work of designers, and we are honored to support the vision of this standout proposal."

Gagliardi, Booth, and Calidonio Stechmann shared, "Three bittersweet words that any performing artist eagerly awaits - "that's a wrap" - initiates a transition from one phase to another, from the ending of production to the beginning of the selection, editing, and sharing process. Likewise, following the globally turbulent year of 2020 that has affected so many so deeply, That's a Wrap represents a turning point. It is a signifier that we are nearing the completion of one phase together - a vaccine has been established, an election has been confirmed, heightened social awareness is growing - and we must now begin the process of post-production. What have we learned? What do we keep? What edits must be made? Together, it is necessary to begin this chapter of reflection. 

"That’s a Wrap proposes a mobile series of stage sets that adapt to the Ragdale Foundation landscape, providing an adjustable backdrop that will amplify this season of performances, discussions, and reflections. We are deeply grateful to the Ragdale Foundation and jury for granting us the opportunity to participate in the 9th Annual Ragdale Ring."

Studio co-founders Gagliardi and Booth are graduates of Yale University's M.Arch program and currently teach at Syracuse University and Yale University. Calidonio Stechmann is a graduate of Syracuse University's B.Arch program. 

According to the Foundation, the Ragdeal Ring 2021 performances will begin monthly starting on June 16 and run until September 18. To learn more about the Ragdale Ring competition's finalists and competition details, click here.