A designer with built architectural work and numerous design and art collaborations, Andrew enjoys blurring the lines between urbanism, architecture, and art to create meaningful designs and installations. After eight years of working on commercial art and design projects across Asia and the United States, he started Studio Hai in New York City to wholly investigate and develop his signature approach to client commissions and collaborations.
Studio Hai, New York, NY, US, Founder | Creative Director
Studio Hai is dedicated to enhancing the experience of our built environment. Utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach, they craft environmental experiences, installations, and sculptures that conjure visions of what people intrinsically yearn for: a more ecocentric world.
With both decorum and whimsy, Studio Hai believes that nature is as much a part of our cultural heritage as language, art, and history. Their work straddles the spheres of sculpture, installation, and landscape architecture - blending nature and the built world into imaginative and immersive environmental experiences. Drawing on specific local cultural, historical, and ecological vernacular, they visualize parallels between the human-made and the natural, rousing our moral obligation to stand up against the destruction of the natural environment to create a future where nature, cultures, and people all thrive together.
Founded in 2020 by New York-based designer Andrew Furmanski, the studio builds upon his background immersed in nature, making, and contemporary art and design. His curiosity and creativity in problem-solving through the medium of art, design, and environment create the studio’s inclusive design process that values a client’s vision, the human experience, and the responsibility to create enduring works of value together.
UAP Company, LLC, Shanghai, CN, Associate: Art + Design
As an Associate lead designer with UAP, I’ve successfully collaborated with numerous international artists and designers by driving the design direction and outcome of client commissioned creative works across all spectrums of the public realm: including residential, commercial and institutional.
Notable completed projects include but are not limited to:
• Andrew Furmanski’s, Emergence A 2018 World Architecture News: Metal in Architecture Award Finalist
• Charles Petillion’s, Cloud
• Christian de Vietri’s, Between Heaven and Earth
• Ding Yi’s, Appearance of Crosses Late 2019 Unveiling
• Lawrence Argent’s, Beyond Reflection
• Richard Sweeney’s, Reflection
In a majority of projects, I engage in all aspects of the delivery process from commissioning and curatorial services, through concept generation, artist liaising and design development then into fabrication, quality control, and installation.
IMG3, Shanghai, CN, Lead Designer
• Led a team of designers to numerous victories during competitions for projects encompassing commercial, residential, office, institutional and urban design developments throughout China.
• Developed design plans and innovative solutions to technical problems posed by a project’s scope.
• Independently evaluated, selected, and applied standard urban and environmental design
techniques and procedures while using judgment to make adaptations when necessary.
• Managed the presentation and report development for clients then attended meetings to both deliver and ensure the design objectives clarity and comprehension.
• Participated in the refinement and expansion of the firm’s branding, marketing, and business platform in preparation for market expansion during the opening of two new domestic offices.
DNA Design and Art, Shanghai, CN, Creative Consultant
• Provided visual identity consultation for branding, logo development, business stationery, presentation aesthetics, and info-graphic design.
• Brainstormed and advanced the social media, marketing, and outreach campaign leading to the successful launch of the business and several thousand interactions.
• Led design development of the gallery space, cafe, flower shop, studio space, and bookstore.
• “Readers Pick: Best Cafe” by ShanghaiWOW.
Island 6 Art Collective, Hong Kong, HK, Research Assistant
• Assisted the curatorial team for the exhibition Urban Operandi at Island 6’s Hong Kong gallery.
Ecoland Planning and Design, Beijing, CN, Environmental Designer
• Involved in several aspects of the planning and design process for projects of varying scales across China including research with senior architects on the form and function of a 5700 meter2 green roof design as well as contributing towards a winning design for the Dalian Wanda Group.
Fanning Institute, Athens, GA, US, Research/Design Intern
• Part of an eight-person team that drafted an inspiring redevelopment plan via thorough textual/graphic reports conveying design strategies inspired by interviews and focus groups with Donalsonville community members.
World Architecture News: Metal in Architecture, Honorable Mention
'Emergence' selected as 1 of 4 finalists for the World Architecture News Metal in Architecture Award
ASLA Student Honor Award, Award
Awarded to the top student in the School of Environmental Design at the University of Georgia by the Georgia Society of Landscape Architects on behalf of the American Society of Landscape Architects
Neel Reid Memorial Scholarship, Scholarship
School of Environmental Design Scholarship, Scholarship
URG Design Merit, Award
Awarded for finishing second place in the URG Design competition held annually at the University of Georgia.
H.B. Owens Award, Scholarship
Fine Arts Institute Award of Excellence, Award
