Collection by Dwell

Meet the Faces Behind Our 2016 Made in America Issue

For Dwell's annual issue dedicated to American architects, designers, and makers, we visited homegrown residences in Georgia, Illinois, and beyond. Here, we introduce you to the photographers and writers who made it happen.

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For this issue, San Francisco–based writer Deborah Bishop visited The Butterfly Joint, a woodworking studio designed for children. Bishop pens stories for a number of outlets, including American Craft. “I seem to write about a lot of people who define themselves as ‘makers,’” Bishop says. “Speaking as someone who possesses few hands-on skills, I’m both envious and encouraged. And it’s heartening that more than half the kids taking workshops at the studio are girls.” What is your favorite American-made object that you own? “An Arion Press limited edition of The Voices of Marrakesh, by Elias Canetti. With its hand-set type and etchings by William Wiley, it’s about as far as you can get from a Kindle.”
For this issue, San Francisco–based writer Deborah Bishop visited The Butterfly Joint, a woodworking studio designed for children. Bishop pens stories for a number of outlets, including American Craft. “I seem to write about a lot of people who define themselves as ‘makers,’” Bishop says. “Speaking as someone who possesses few hands-on skills, I’m both envious and encouraged. And it’s heartening that more than half the kids taking workshops at the studio are girls.” What is your favorite American-made object that you own? “An Arion Press limited edition of The Voices of Marrakesh, by Elias Canetti. With its hand-set type and etchings by William Wiley, it’s about as far as you can get from a Kindle.”
Based in New York, photographer Brian W. Ferry regularly shoots portraits, travel, interiors, and design stories for international clients and publications including Condé Nast Traveler and WSJ Magazine. For this issue, he captured “Outside Providence,” a story about a coastal Rhode Island getaway. “I was blown away by the skylights throughout the home,” he says. “Watching the light and colors change slowly over the course of the two-day shoot was a real treat—it was like a private James Turrell exhibition.” What’s your favorite city to visit in the USA? “I frequently travel to Los Angeles for work and pleasure, and I enjoy every visit. There’s a wonderful art scene, great food, and the ability to spend time outdoors year-round.”
Based in New York, photographer Brian W. Ferry regularly shoots portraits, travel, interiors, and design stories for international clients and publications including Condé Nast Traveler and WSJ Magazine. For this issue, he captured “Outside Providence,” a story about a coastal Rhode Island getaway. “I was blown away by the skylights throughout the home,” he says. “Watching the light and colors change slowly over the course of the two-day shoot was a real treat—it was like a private James Turrell exhibition.” What’s your favorite city to visit in the USA? “I frequently travel to Los Angeles for work and pleasure, and I enjoy every visit. There’s a wonderful art scene, great food, and the ability to spend time outdoors year-round.”
When visiting a creative live/work space in Decatur, Georgia, photographer Mark Hartman’s favorite moment was “seeing how architect William Carpenter approaches his work as art with consciousness, humility, and creativity.” The New York City photographer, who is currently working on his first book, has contributed to British Journal of Photography, Esquire, The Fader, Monocle, T Magazine, Vogue, and many others. What is your favorite American-made object that you own? “My passport.”
When visiting a creative live/work space in Decatur, Georgia, photographer Mark Hartman’s favorite moment was “seeing how architect William Carpenter approaches his work as art with consciousness, humility, and creativity.” The New York City photographer, who is currently working on his first book, has contributed to British Journal of Photography, Esquire, The Fader, Monocle, T Magazine, Vogue, and many others. What is your favorite American-made object that you own? “My passport.”
The news editor of the website Curbed, Patrick Sisson has written about design and music for several publications, including Pitchfork and Chicago Magazine. Formerly based in the Windy City, he toured the Atrium House, located in the Buena Park neighborhood, for this issue. “The area surprised me,” he says. “Just blocks from Wrigley Field, this historic neighborhood had flown under my radar for all the years I’d been living in Chicago. It was gratifying to find something new.” What is your favorite American-made object that you own? “A set of wooden bars and stars my dad made that replicate the design of the Chicago flag.”
The news editor of the website Curbed, Patrick Sisson has written about design and music for several publications, including Pitchfork and Chicago Magazine. Formerly based in the Windy City, he toured the Atrium House, located in the Buena Park neighborhood, for this issue. “The area surprised me,” he says. “Just blocks from Wrigley Field, this historic neighborhood had flown under my radar for all the years I’d been living in Chicago. It was gratifying to find something new.” What is your favorite American-made object that you own? “A set of wooden bars and stars my dad made that replicate the design of the Chicago flag.”
When reporting on the Lightroom 2.0 house in Decatur, Georgia, writer Feifei Sun was struck by “the many pieces of framed art and artifacts on William Carpenter’s walls,” she says. “They spoke to his appreciation for history and place, which is something you see clearly in his work.” The Atlanta-based writer previously covered style and design as an editor at TIME. Her writing has also appeared in Slate, Real Simple, and Marie Claire. What’s your favorite city to visit in the USA? “New York City. It’s the first city I saw after moving here from China, and I love that it still feels new to me with each visit.”
When reporting on the Lightroom 2.0 house in Decatur, Georgia, writer Feifei Sun was struck by “the many pieces of framed art and artifacts on William Carpenter’s walls,” she says. “They spoke to his appreciation for history and place, which is something you see clearly in his work.” The Atlanta-based writer previously covered style and design as an editor at TIME. Her writing has also appeared in Slate, Real Simple, and Marie Claire. What’s your favorite city to visit in the USA? “New York City. It’s the first city I saw after moving here from China, and I love that it still feels new to me with each visit.”