student profile
Peter Zweifel BFA Product Design Sophomore
Peter Zweifel came to Parsons to study
a problem-solving system. And that it is
product design after many years in another
as expressive as the field I was already
expressive field—classical dance. Aware
in.” He traveled back to Texas, where he
that a dancer’s career has limits, he began
was a principal dancer with the Texas
looking for a way to combine his creativity
Ballet Theater, with a plan.
and passion for environmentalism for the
next chapter of his life. A trip to New York
sophomore, putting his ideals into action
City to see his sister’s graduation show from
through projects exploring new materials,
Parsons’ BFA Product Design program gave
methods, and settings where design
him some new ideas.
makes sustainability a priority. He’s also
discovered the broad applications of the
Taking in the impressive student
Now Peter is a BFA Product Design
work on view at a major industry venue,
design research process. Working with his
Peter imagined himself on a new creative
sister’s social innovation–focused design
path. Much of the student work reflected
firm, Peter has helped lead workshops
surprising ways of thinking about
demonstrating to major companies how
environmental sustainability, community,
to apply design methods to promote
and the boundaries of design itself. “Until
innovation. “Design is giving me a career in
then, I hadn’t made the connection that
which my values are central to the process.”
product design—all design, really—involves
The new school PARSONS
“Design is giving me a career in which my values are central to the process.”