Seijaku

Tranquility or an energized calm (quiet), stillness, solitude. A Japanese aesthetic that delivers tranquility in the midst of activity. A calm state of mind in a busy life.

During COVID-19 when our homes were being transformed into productive work spaces, this piece highlighted the urge to equally protect spaces of rest and true human interaction.

Building off of zen garden styles and techniques, this tea table allows for a moment of genuine social interaction face-to-face. With no room for laptops or anything other than yourself and a glass of tea, partaking in the ritual of traditional tea drinking and slowing down challenged the idea of boundaries and headspace within a multifaceted environment.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Designed Objects 4: Systems Design

Fall 2020

With an emphasis on design systems and cohesion, the angles and shapes mimic each other like puzzle pieces that can fit together in various configurations.

Similarly, these pieces dance with systems of zen garden principles such as asymmetry, stillness, mystery, and a break from the ordinary.