Erik Newman

Erik Newman is a Lecturer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), teaching courses in Furniture Design within the Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects department. He holds a BS from the Institute of Design at Illinois Institute of Technology (1998). Concurrently, he operates Erik Newman Design and Fabrication. His work focuses on furniture as a cultural artifact, integrating structural and material exploration with socio-political contexts. Recent courses include Furniture 1: Chair Studio and Advanced Furniture, emphasizing hands-on production and critical design discourse.

Exhibitions include the Great Chicago Fire Festival, Guerrilla Flotilla, and Chicago Design Show. His bibliography includes Experimental Eco-Design, and he is a member of the Chicago Furniture Designers Association. Courses emphasize historical precedents from Shaker traditions to contemporary designers like Wendell Castle and Max Lamb, paired with critical readings from scholars such as Galen Cranz and David Getsy.

No scientific awards or grants are explicitly mentioned. Advising details are absent, but his courses involve mentorship in design development and fabrication. His practice extends into independent design through his concurrent professional studio.