Today we’d like to introduce you to Rudy Sullivan.
Hi Rudy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up, I was always fascinated with how things were built, tools, techniques, and materials. I have a fascination with building and making. As a kid, my favorite toys were legos and do-it-yourself models and toys. I quickly became bored with toys ready to use out of the box. As I grew older, I began to become interested in engines. When I was 12, I took apart a lawn mower engine and put it back together. This was a milestone in my designer/maker career. I also started to assemble remote control cars instead of buying ready-to-drive models. After forming the hundreds of parts, I always enjoyed making something work as intended. When it was time to apply to college, I was confused and unsure of what to do. I knew I loved design and making, but I only had the chance to explore this during my high school career. Most of my family have gone to prestigious liberal arts colleges. So I followed suit – it seemed fitting because I always liked business. My confusion was also compounded by the events of 2020. All the commotion during that time didn’t allow me to focus on my passions, so I chose a more traditional college plan. I completed my first year at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. I wanted to earn an MBA and eventually go into business.
Hopefully, owning my business one day. (That has become a reality, but not in the way I expected.) After one year at Marist, I knew this was not what I wanted to do. Even though I liked business, My friends and family reminded me of my passion for design and building. When I read the description for the Furniture Design Major at Minneapolis College of Art & Design, I read something like, “You’ll spend your days prototyping, ideating, welding, drilling and sanding, etc.” I knew that this was a step in the right direction. I am completing my third year at MCAD as a Furniture Design and Manufacturing Major.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
As I mentioned, I started at a classic liberal arts school at Marist and attended a college, prep high school, DeLaSalle. At Marist, I was used to writing 3 to 4 academic papers a week, so going from that to having drawings and photos due the following week was different. It took a while to adjust to MCAD’s schedule. I was accustomed to classes that were less than 2 hours long, so I was shocked when I read that I had class for 5 hours. But you only have that class once a week, and you have lots of out-of-class time to work. The people are different too. Art schools and liberal arts colleges naturally attract different types of people. I found that my MCAD peers are much more shy than my former Marist peers and less traditional in their tastes and outlooks. It took me a few semesters to find my current friends.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I like doing miscellaneous handyman work around my friends and family’s homes; I occasionally make nonfunctional sculptures, fine art, and other creations.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I am the happiest when I am creating when I have a design in my head and want to bring it to life. Ideating, prototyping, experimenting, and executing that design is amazingly satisfying and rewarding.
Pricing:
- My pricing on my furniture and sculpture reflects my skills and confidence as a maker. I use the best quality materials only if the client has a smaller budget. There is no excuse for mediocrity. My prices also allow me to invest in new tools and materials for further experimentation. The ability to freely experiment with new materials, tools, and processes is essential to any designer’s or maker’s work. My clients are quoted an appropriate price for handmade, one-of-a-kind furniture compared to products sold at Room and Board or other large furniture retailers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rudysullivanportfolio.carbonmade.com/
- Instagram: @RudySullivanStudio
