Laura C. Mallonee is a New York-based writer. Her articles have appeared in The Guardian, The Atlantic, and The Paris Review.

Armed with an engineering degree from Stanford University, a Master of Fine Arts from the California College of the Arts, and a love for designing and building furniture, Maggie Birmingham founded lab31 in the summer of 2004. Lab31 is located in Oakland, CA, where the cloudless vlue sky, the ripening oranges, lemons, and pears out the office window, and rich red of the mole at our favorite nearby oaxacan restaurant, create a vibrant backdrop for our designs. Our designs are inspired by color, pattern, tradition, and craft. All the pieces are equally suitable in a room full of antiques as they are in a contemporary loft. But no mater where their home is, lab31 furniture makes a statement, and with the variety of color combinations and styles available, reflects the personality of its owner.

The American Design Club—AmDC—was conceived in the spring of 2008. At the time, American relevance in design was in question, and many postulated that US designers would never be as prominent or prolific as European designers. The founders saw that there was plenty of talent and ambition within American designers, but what was ultimately missing was a way for designers to share their work with a broad audience. The AmDC founding members created a platform where designers could launch new ideas and connect with each other. The AmDC began as a community that was submission-based, in which the strongest pieces would be displayed. This method enabled the AmDC to create shows that granted exposure to new designers.

Founded in the Pacific Northwest and practicing internationally, GO′C is an award-winning architecture practice inspired by the interplay of rational design and artistic expression. From residential to commercial and public spaces, we thrive in the challenges of site-specific work, and find opportunity in constraint. Founding Partner Jon Gentry grew up in North Carolina, developing an eye for utilitarian structures and an impulse to challenge norms. Founding Partner Aimée O’Carroll grew up in the heart of London and comes from a family of architects that reaches back three generations. Together, our practice is driven by the concepts of practicality and imagination. When thoughtful analysis meets a spirit of exploration, we know we’re in our element. Our process is as rigorous as it is daring; it takes both knowledge and curiosity to turn a brave idea into something real. Building a foundation under ‘what if’ is where we like to be; the enduring desire behind everything we create is to push the limits of what's possible—in service to clients, communities, cultures, and landscapes. www.gocstudio.com