2023
Portfolio
Ryan A. Kahen
Education
Wentworth Institute of Technology_Boston, MA
Master of Architecture
Bachelor of Science in Architecture
Architecture Undergraduate Study Abroad Program_Berlin, Germany
General Assembly Product Management | 50 hours
Experience
Product Manager_Uhuru Design_Brooklyn, NY
Pilots new product development
Manages product life cycle and supply chain
Builds and implements product data systems
Developed and launched multiple award winning product systems
Founder_Kahen Design_Brooklyn, NY
Designs and produces handcrafted products and furniture Development through material research and exploration
Digital Fabrication Manager & Steering Committee Member_The Gowanus Studio Space_Brooklyn, NY
Maintains and manages all digital fabrication tools and machines for an artist studio with over 50 members
Established a new fundraiser, the Gowanus Stoop Sale
Adjunct Lecturer_CUNY City College of Technology_Brooklyn, NY
Taught representation and software for first-year architecture studio
Project Manager_A05 Studio_Brooklyn, NY
Designed and managed a variety of design-build projects
Lead project fabrication and installation
Designer_SITU_Brooklyn, NY
Designed a variety of projects spanning between the Studio and Fabrication departments
Managed teams to execute custom fabrication projects
Directed fabrication for art and architecture projects
Designer_Matter Practice_Brooklyn, NY
Designed for architecture and exhibition projects
Guided fabrication, prototyping, and project installation
ryan.kahen@gmail.com
203_927_7739
Skills
Software_Rhino 3D, Grasshopper, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite, Netsuite ERP, Verenia CPQ
Hardware_CNC milling, laser cutting, 3D printing, wood shop, metal shop
Skills_Product, supply chain and product data management, cross-functional team leadership
May 2013
Aug 2012
Fall 2011
Aug 2022
Oct 2019 – Present
Feb 2016 – Present
June 2019 – Present
Aug 2019 – Jan 2020
March – Oct 2019
Oct 2014 – March 2019
Sept 2013 – Oct 2014
www.kahen.design Brooklyn, NY
MINIM Private Office
Company: Uhuru Design
Launched: 2022
Photography: Courtesy of Uhuru Design
As a Product Manager at Uhuru Design, I developed and launched the Minim Private Office collection. Expanding on Uhuru’s Minim Workplace furniture line, the Minim Private Office Collection is built on the foundation of customizable elements, such as base styles, table dimensions, and finishes that can be combined to build numerous possibilities offering a personalized workspace for any user. With a carefully crafted building block matrix of modular parts, this collection seamlessly integrates fixed and adjustable height desks, return surfaces, storage solutions, and a range of accessories, making it a versatile solution for any private office setting.
7 Uhuru Design MINIM Private Office
In 2022, The Minim Private Office Collection won a NYCxDESIGN award for contract furniture.
Designed as a modular system for a flexible workplace, The Private Office collection is reliable, scalable, and configurable, with features and functionalities that support a dynamic work environment, and designed with minimal and classic proportions.
Inspired by a minimal residential aesthetic, and designed with our Signature Collections in mind, Minim Private Office brings a comfortable, residential look and feel to the office. 9 Uhuru Design MINIM Private Office
11 Uhuru Design MINIM Private Office
MINIM Conference
Company: Uhuru Design
Launched: 2020
Photography: Courtesy of Uhuru Design
As a Product Manager at Uhuru Design, I lead the development to standardize the Minim Conference table system—blending Uhuru’s signature residential aesthetic with the contract environment. I worked closely with Uhuru’s design, engineering, and manufacturing teams to develop a modular kit-of-parts design solution that could easily be adapted to provide endless possibilities for the modern office.
In 2020, The Minim Conference system won a NYCxDESIGN award.
The conference system consists of six steel base styles with a variety of top options including real wood veneers, solid wood and wood slabs each with Uhuru’s classic finish offerings. The modular system was designed to be easily expandable in both width and length, with standard table sizes ranging from 6’ up to 24’ in length. With this versatile design, Minim Conference can generate over 250K unique table combinations with a minimal library of standardized parts, providing endless possibilities for the office.
15 Uhuru Design MINIM Conference
Line Phono
Client: Line Phono
Company: SITU
Completion: 2017
Photography: Courtesy of Turntable Lab
Speaker Stands
In a continuing collaboration with Turntable Lab, I designed the Line Phono Speaker Stands to accompany their Turntable Station. Line Phono is a flat-pack furniture line for turntables and audio accessories for the newest generation of audiophiles.
SAMPLE CUT SHEET 4 5 UNITS PER SHEET BOTTOM PLATE X1 TOP PLATE X1 LEGS X2 SAMPLE CUT SHEET 4 5 UNITS PER SHEET BOTTOM PLATE X1 TOP PLATE X1 LEGS X2
Turntable Lab 19 Speaker Stands
The stands are designed with a multitude of users in mind. With only four CNC-milled parts to slot together, assembly is quick and effortless. Applying the joinery techniques and minimal hardware of the Turntable Station, a triangular stand was developed to add new functionality and flexibility.
The top platform is sized to fit most bookshelf and bluetooth speaker setups with the base plate offering record storage and a ‘now spinning groove’ to display your favorite album artwork. Cable management holes are strategically located, with the option to either showcase the user’s high-end cables or neatly hide them away.
Clear acrylic anglers were also designed as a paired accessory to the speaker stands.
Turntable Lab 21
Speaker Stands
Turntable Lab Storefront
Client: Turntable Lab
Company: SITU
Location: New York, NY
Completion: 2017
Photography: John Muggenborg
As a designer at SITU, I worked with Turntable Lab—A DJ shop and retailer of hi-fi audio equipment —to realize their new storefront in the East Village. This project was designed for maximum flexibility and with the ambition of uniting various aspects of the business, creating a place to showcase high-end audio equipment, while maintaining the charm of a neighborhood record store.
We divided the store into two zones—a display of high end equipment and collection of vinyl records—allowing users to directly engage with Turntable Lab’s curated selection of products. The front-of-house zone features large display cabinets to showcase a range of hi-fi turntables, speakers, and high performance audio accessories. The back-ofhouse is lined with record shelves and browsing bins for users to comfortably peruse through a thoughtful curation of vinyl. Each zone caters to the variety in Turntable Lab’s customer base, while bridging the gap between DJ enthusiasts and audiophiles.
Turntable Lab Storefront 25
A universal cleat system was developed with a family of interchangeable shelves, hooks and display rails to suit the requirements of existing and future merchandise. This kit of parts allows for flexibility in product display and spatial configurations, offering Turntable Lab growth for a continually growing industry.
Mobile browsing bins and display walls can be quickly rearranged, opening up the space for live performances and other events in the confined space.
27 Turntable Lab Storefront
This modular system creates a framework for Turntable Lab to grow with their ever-adapting needs as retailers and a community space for audiophiles.
29 Turntable Lab Storefront
Columbia School
School of Journalism
Company: SITU
Client: Columbia University
Location: New York, NY
Completion: 2017
Photography: © Michael Moran/OTTO
Working as a designer and lead fabricator at SITU, I produced a performative acoustic ceiling installation at Columbia’s School of Journalism. Comprised of over 100 coffered panels, the ceiling creates a new landscape for the recently renovated Joseph D. Jamail Lecture Hall. The coffers allow for integrated lighting, sound systems, HVAC, and projection equipment.
The ceiling was fabricated with ezoBord, a light-weight acoustic material made from recycled water bottles. Each panel was precisely cut utilizing CNC technologies and formed around a custom bent aluminum framework.
33 Columbia School of Journalism Acoustic Ceiling O P P C - 9 C -1 C -1 C -1 6 C -1 5 C -1 2 C -1 2 C -1 5 C -9 CC -8 CC -7 C -7 C -7 C -7CC -7 C -7 CC -1 C -5C -6 C -5 C - 1 C - 0 C -5 C -7 C -8C -1 2 C -1 2 C -1 3 C -1 2 C -1 2 C -1 2 C - 2 CC - A C - 2 A C -12 A C -1 A C -4 CC -1 2 C - 8 CC -1 C -1 7 C -1 5 C -1 2 C -1 2 C -1 2 C -1 C -1 C -9 C - 0 C - 0C -8 CC -7 C -7 C -7 C -7 C -7 C -9 C -7 C -8 C -7 C -7 C -7 C -7 C -1 C -1 1 C - 0 C -5C -1 7 C -1 8 C - 5C -1 4 CCC -3 O P P C - A C -1 2 A C - 2 A C -1 A CO P P
EX STING CE LING 20 - 8 7/8" SUB FLOOR BOTTOM OF GYP SOFFIT BOTTOM EXIST. GYP 17'-2 3/4" SUSPENDED CLG PLANE 0' 0 8 - 8 1/4" 17'-0 S -9 1 01 BOTTOM OF TEE GRID 03 15 - 9 3/8" SF-9 2 1/2 EZOBORD PANEL WHITE (OF07) 15/16 T-GRID PROJECTOR SUSPENDED LED LIGHT PANEL 1 24 T P 21 - 7 3/8" 8' - 8 1/4 0' - 0 17 - 0 BOTTOM OF TEE GRID STRUCTURE SUB FLOOR MEZZANINE BEAM EXISTING CEIL NG 9' - 7 1/4 T.O. PROJECTOR PLATFORM 15 - 9 3/8" SUSPENDED CEILING PLANE 15/16" T-GR D 1/2" EZOBORD PANEL WHITE (OF07) SUSPENDED LED L GHT PANEL UN STRUT LIGHTING SUPPORT F-9 0 0 01 SF-9 2
35 Columbia School of Journalism Acoustic Ceiling
Hardware Furniture
Company: SITU
Client: Private Tech Company
Location: Mountainview, CA
Completion: 2018
Photography: SITU
39 Private Tech Company Furniture
Working as a designer and lead fabricator at SITU, I produced a collection of furniture pieces in a new campus for a private tech company in Mountainview, CA. The family of furniture was comprises of 11 unique items with over 50 pieces fabricated and installed. The main elements were a series of mobile storage tables with built in cabinetry, large plank tables with integrated power, mobile ideation boards with writable surfaces and built-in screens, and sliding whiteboard panels.
The furniture was built using reclaimed douglas fir that was recovered from the pilings of San Francisco’s Transbay Terminal. This wood created the framework for the tables and storage bases, and was paired with white laminate table tops or blackened steel bases.
41 Private Tech Company Furniture
West Village Terrace Seating
Company: SITU
Client: Private Location: New York, NY
Completion: 2018
Photography: SITU
Workinging with SITU’s fabrication division, I designed and engineered a pair of slatted wood benches for a private roof terrace in Manhattan’s West Village. The benches are made up of water jet ipe slats that curve over a blackened stainless steel structure.
Each bench measures 12 ft in length, with an 8 ft seating area that swoops up from the wood decking. The bench seat cantilevers out over the terrace plantings, floating the wooden seats into the landscape. Along the north bench, the ipe slats continue curving up to create a seat back.
45 West Village Terrace Bench Seating 1/2" x 1 1/2" MTL-01 BUILT UP SUPPORT 1/4" x 1" MTL-01 FLAT BAR HDPE SUPPORT RAIL (3) 1/4" x 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" MTL-01 ANGLES (3) 1/4 x 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 MTL-01 ANGLES 3/4" MTL-01 VERTICAL SUPPORT THICKNESS VARIES (+ / - 2" HIGH) 2" x 1 1/2" WD-02 SLAT, TYP 1/2" x 1 1/2" MTL-01 BUILT UP SUPPORT 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 1/4" MTL-02 ANGLE, BELOW GRADE 1/2" x 1 1/2" MTL-01 BUILT UP SUPPORT
Neon Stitch
Company: Kahen Design
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Completion: 2021
Neon Stitch is a one-of-a-kind light piece that creates a design language between its two materials: wood and light.
Inspired by traditional woodworking joinery methods used to reinforce naturally occurring checks, Neon Stitch uses bent neon to join two walnut slabs. While butterfly joints are typically used to reinforce cracks within wood, this approach is revisited to replace and augment the joints with a contrasting material—neon tubes—thus, ‘stitching’ together two live edges of walnut. The precise bends of the neon tubing interact with the live edges of the walnut, creating a synergy between natural and handmade. The end result is a sculptural light piece that adds dimension and light to any environment.
Kahen Design Neon Stotch 49
Ryan Kahen
ryan.kahen@gmail.com
www.kahen.design
