My name is Simon Comanda, I’m 21 and a Sculpture student at Anderson University. I design and build furniture out of wood, metal, and found objects.

I love to create functional works of art that can not only be admired, but used in a home. My ideas usually start with brainstorming what piece of furniture could be useful for me, and how I can design it in a way that is unique and interesting. I let the materials of the work influence me a lot, leaning into the different strengths of wood and metal. I’m striving to create a finished piece of furniture that would not be out of place in a shop or museum.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself?

Lean into what makes you interested, what keeps you in the studio.

My favorite memories are the parties we threw for the last critique in Ceramics.

What moment, project, and/or critique in your Art + Design career at AU has been pivotal to who you are as an artist or creator?


My first project in Advanced Sculpture where I created a couch, gave me a better idea about the direction I wanted to take my work and it pushed my abilities further than before.

I’m hoping to find a job in woodworking or furniture design after graduation this Spring!

I hope my work is a functional piece of furniture that can be a statement piece, focal point, or accent for a room.

I’m hoping to display multiple pieces of furniture, all functional. I generally have a loose sketch and dive into the making process, letting the material guide my creating.