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On November 21, 2025, the Mainsite Contemporary Art gallery was transformed into a showcase of innovation and craftsmanship for the University of Oklahoma’s furniture design build studio exhibition, “Purpose in Form.” Sponsored by Henry Home Interiors, the event presented the work of 26 senior Interior Design and Architecture students who moved beyond conceptual sketches to build full-scale, functional furniture pieces with their own hands.
The exhibition was the final project for a studio course led by associate professor of Interior Design Chelsea Holcomb. Holcomb explained the intensive process, which began with students producing 50 original sketches in the first week of school. From there, students navigated a demanding process of research, scale modelling, and full-size cardboard prototypes before finally producing construction documents and building their final pieces in the Creating_Making Lab. The entire construction phase was condensed into six weeks.
Students in the Creating_Making Lab work on their full-scale furniture pieces.
“I want them to build something that speaks to who they are as designers,” said Holcomb. “I want them to explore what their design voice is.”
For many students, the biggest challenge and most rewarding takeaway was the hands-on construction process. Many entered the class with little to no experience in woodworking.
One student expressed, “My favorite thing about the whole process was learning how to use tools I’ve never used before and kind of leaving the class with a lot more knowledge and respect for the art of woodworking.”
A selection of student-built furniture pieces displayed throughout the gallery.
Students took on this project from different perspectives; some drew inspiration from their cultural heritage, while others challenged themselves with multifunctional designs. The fast-paced course taught students to adapt and solve problems in real time. One student’s key takeaway was to, “Plan ahead and always have a backup plan, because sometimes things don’t always go accordingly.” Another student advised others to “Be patient and do not rush the process,” and to “Find solutions within the process.”
When asked about how this course helps students in their careers in the future, Holcomb said, “In our role as designers, we have to be able to communicate to people who are going to build the designs. While our students may not build furniture in the future, I think having to do it themselves right now gives them some background and understanding on how important construction document detailing is, as well as the effort that goes into how to build them.”
For Elizabeth Pober, Director of the OU Interior Design program, the success of the exhibition was a testament to the students’ hard work and growth. “I’m really proud of them,” she said. “There’s a lot of growth and development that happens in this class.”
Visitors engage with students and their work at the showcase.
A look at students and their completed projects during the exhibition.
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