Stephen Thrasher
’22 Furniture Design
Craft is the human touch, skill, and tradition that go into creating an object. Modern craft also adopts and adapts new technologies into that process. By incorporating CNC (Computer Numerical Control, that is, a robot) into my practice, I’ve been able to push some boundaries of what is possible with traditional craft. The Peanut Bench combines centuries-old coopering techniques with the precision of CNC routing, exploring ways of making that bring together old and new.
By grounding modern methods on woodworking fundamentals, I aim to create objects that are both innovative and deeply rooted in human experience. My approach considers the machine as any other tool and as a unique challenge: What does it mean to cultivate a deep knowledge and skill in CNC? How can CNC and traditional methods go farther by working together? How can I preserve the expressiveness of the human touch alongside the precision of technology? As I explore new ground in digital fabrication, I look for ways to remain firmly within the realm of craft and preserve the essence of what makes craft meaningful.
Stephen Thrasher is a furniture maker in Somerville, MA. He completed the Furniture Design Certificate at MassArt in 2022. His path through the craft started with traditional methods and moved toward digital design and CNC, exploring the parametric design of sculptural furniture and design for small-scale production. This comes full circle from his 20-year engineering career in human spaceflight guidance, for which he earned degrees from MIT and Caltech.
