Education
BFA - Iowa State University: Emphasis in Furniture Design and Metalsmithing --2006
MFA - Iowa State University: Emphasis in Furniture Design and Metalsmithing --2017
Matthew Obbink
Associate Teaching Professor, Industrial DesignContact
Mailing Address
Industrial Design Department
158 College of Design
Ames, IA, 50011
Industrial Design Department
158 College of Design
Ames, IA, 50011
Bio
Research Interests
I am a Maker. My focus lies on how I can bring my ideas and the ideas of my students into reality. I have a great passion for materials as I have spent the better part of 20 years working with wood. I am connected its utilitarian use and its inherent beauty. Every time I work with it I learn something new about it, it has infinite possibilities. I am much newer to the field of metalsmithing, still learning every way to use it. I often times merge wood and metal into my designs, I feel they have a great relationship and enhance each other nicely. I also have a great love and admiration for history, more specifically the industrial revolution. The materials, mechanisms and ideas of this time give great inspiration to my work.
Current Projects
Currently I am focused on building my own shop to explore further the way I can use wood and metal to showcase my ideals. Durning this time of transition I am filling my sketchbooks with ideas ranging from production style furniture to complex useless contraptions and everything in between.