You might say that Furniture designer Jonathan Nesci is doing things in reverse. Rather than a long career, starting in a small town, ending with his work selling at auction in the big city, he is making a go at high design in a small community. Starting at the Wright design auction house in Chicago, Nesci made the seemingly unconventional move away from the furniture mecca to a small town in south central Indiana. But that small was none other than Columbus, Indiana, the Modernist playground.
AN Interior: Perhaps the first question many may as is, why the move from Chicago to Columbus, Indiana?
Jonathan Nesci: Primarily, my move was a family decision. During the financial mess of 2008/9 my time at Wright Auction had come to an end and I felt like we needed a fresh start. I felt like I could really work from anywhere and the thought of my kids getting a chance to grow up in a place like Columbus was and continues to be very appealing. This is not meant to ignore my obvious connection to the architecture but on a whole the appeal of Columbus is very broad.
AN: Have you found living surrounded by many masterpieces of Modernist architecture to be beneficial to your work?
JN: It’s undeniable. It’s energizing to see the Henry Moore sculpture at different times of day or catch a different view of a Saarinen project that I hadn’t seen before. So much of my design work is informed by the past and I feel very fortunate to get to interact with these places on a regular basis. It’s also encouraging to see some great examples of the built environment really working for people. Architecture and design can make a difference and is doing so here. Not just for me but for an entire community. That’s really powerful.
AN: You’re are often associated with the architecture community, through collaborations, exhibitions, etc. What do you take from those formal or informal relationships?
JN: I’m eternally grateful for the connections to my peers in the design and architecture community. These relationships inform and inspire me. Columbus is my creative island but it’s important for me to travel and see other ways of working and learn from my contemporaries. I have so much respect for work that rises above the norm and I admire those who are pioneers in this industry.
I feel like my world is all about connections and dialogue.
AN: Your work is directly tied to the manufacturing process. Could you talk about that back and forth, and maybe how/if that process has changes since moving to Columbus?
JN: I study the industrial processes and have accumulated years of experience and have gained a deeper understanding on how it effects the production of my work. I don’t physically make my work but rely on talented crafts people within various industrial industries. I learn as much as I can from their years of experience and try to push them to limits outside of their norms. My hope is that the relationship between designer and producer makes both of us better at what we do. This collaboration pushes design and fabrication further and it’s this fusion of ideas that excites me. I guess the most significant change since moving to Columbus is developing a great relationship with numerous local firms specifically Noblit manufacturing. It’s rewarding and beneficial to see multiple projects through with the same team.
Portrait, Above: (Hadley Fruits)