As a designer, professor, maker, adventurer, and surfer, I balance professional & disciplinary “creative flows”—where symbiotic connections to energies beyond human understanding coexist. Design, and life in general, is all about learning to balance and flow with these energies in our environment, complex systems, and diverse cultures.
One of the best pieces of advice I've ever received was... "Steve, you can do anything. Choose 3 to 4 areas you want to focus your attention on and be the best you can at them." —Ed Keller
Consultant, 33 years
Educator, 25 years
Lifelong, 38 years
Surfer, 40 years
Over the course of my journey, I've continually developed my gifts & skills into expertise and enjoy practicing and teaching the following disciplines and subjects.
Within design, there are many "languages" to learn, practice, and teach. Three of my design language interests are listed below.
I'm a multidisciplinary designer, tenured Architecture & Design Professor at Orange Coast College (OCC), Adjunct Faculty at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in the Bachelor of Design and Associate degree programs, and 38-year resident of Los Angeles by way of Hawaii.
I earned a Master of Architecture II from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc, 2006), and in 2011, I received an employer-based scholarship to engage in a Doctor of Computer Science specializing in Emerging Media, specifically researching how extended reality (XR | VR & AR) affects design studios and project-based learning (currently on hold).
Recent highlights of my career: $1 million CCCMaker.com makerspace grant & college investment (2016–2019), FormFoundDesign.com (2016–2018), Stoked! The Series (2014–2017), Featured Artist in MANA: The Film (2014); Graduate Faculty at Harrington College of Design (2010–2012); Senior Project Consultant with famed architect Frank Gehry (2007–2010); Design Life Now: Cooper-Hewitt Triennial (2007); and a long list of global surf travel.
View 2023 Portfolios & 2012 Look Book (issuu.com)While not a compendium of all books I have read, these are some of my favorites from Goodreads. Reading is a fundamental act of opening ourselves up to new cultures, ideas, and possibilities. Read something new every day to discover more about yourself and our world(s).
I think it is helpful to share what is currently inspiring and influencing us. What intellectual adventure(s) are you currently on? Which interests are solid enough to get us to read more about them? Theses books are a testament to going beyond inspiration.
Keeping track of the topics, authors, and the titles we most care about is important. Goodreads helps me keep track of and share the things that are gaining traction in my spirit, heart, and mind--past, present, and future--if you will.
Feel free to contact me about anything you think I may be interested in. Also, I'm very happy to provide initial consultation on design, architecture, fabrication, surfing-related projects, and love sharing my adventures! Thanks for coming to check out my website.