Tipton Design Studios

Tipton Design Studios- Design + Business + Environment + Technology

Welcome to Tipton Design Studios- Here you will find a mix of our portfolio pieces, presentations, and work we have created both as professional industrial designers for various organizations and as a graduate student at California College of the Arts. At CCA I was one of two people awarded a dual master’s candidacy, completed the three-year program, and received both an MBA in Design Strategy and an MFA in Industrial Design. Through the two Master's programs, I specialized in children’s design and rapid prototyping. I believe that creative self-empowerment and stewardship of our environment walk hand in hand.

My MFA in Industrial design  thesis  explored methods of combining materials gathered from the leftovers, trash and scraps that man leaves behind.  In some cases man changed the landscape and then moved on leaving debris in his wake.  In others  he still actively producing these materials. The materials I used included textile cast offs, old rusty engine parts, wood scraps and design or art products being thrown away.

Eucalyptus cross section held together with Maple Butterflies

Sculpture made from collected copper wire, gravel, silicone, polymer industrial waste  and a doll's hands from SCRAP in San Francisco

This is a sound funnel sculpted from medium density fiberboard. The funnel is 5 inches deep.

A vessel made from Bondo and old nails.

A vessel made from Bondo and old nails.

"Tin Man" Assembled from tractor parts recovered from am abandoned farm in Yolo County

"Tin Man" Assembled from tractor parts recovered from am abandoned farm in Yolo County

Palm skin and steam bent poplar skeleton lit by LED light panel.

Palm lamp casting light patterns on ceiling

Plywood trimmings mortar and silicone fiber screen 

Wood scrap and fiber mesh and grout reinforced with an acrylic additive.

Wood scrap and fiber mesh and grout reinforced with an acrylic additive.

Cutting board was made using the collection and lamination methods developed for the thesis.  Woods used are poplar, oak, and other American hardwoods not commonly used in cutting boards.   All pieces are from industry caste off scraps.