Last week students in a Furniture Design studio taught by Associate Professor Lothar Windels BID 96 visited the Steinway factory in Long Island City, NY to see just how pianos are made. The visit was the start of a fall studio in which they’re creating new custom concepts for the world’s leading maker of pianos.

Steinway is challenging students “to modify specific parts of the piano in order to make a strong statement” while respecting the company’s brand, notes Steinway & Sons President Ron Losby. “In collaborating with RISD, we look forward to seeing innovative designs that embody the quality, craftsmanship and rich historic processes that are symbolic of the Steinway brand, infused with new forward-thinking ideas for a variety of modern aesthetic tastes.”

Sounds like a promising match. We’ll loop back later in the semester to see just what it yields. 

photos by Gregory Geiger