JAKE
TUCCI
WELCOME TO
MY BRAIN SPACE
NOW OPEN 6.5 DAYS A WEEK!
Driven by a desire to make and teach, my work can be summarized as seeking to master the Design Process. More specifically, the genesis of (useful) form, finesse of visual communication, the virtue of crossdisciplinary collaboration and a reverence for the craft of making. Each of these specific elements of my design process manifest in my teaching, presentations, furniture design and consulting work.
ABOUT
DESIGN
I challenge my students and myself to sculpt space and object. I take a serendipitous approach to sculpting form. I see the pursuit of form to be a process of understanding and separating from oneself during the design process to develop novel designs beyond one’s natural instinct or experience. In my furniture design, I seek to experiment with this idea of form and object functional value over time.
VISUALIZATION
One must be capable of both strong hand and digital communication techniques. I value both hand drawing and 3D digital modeling equally for generating ideas and communicating the final representation of a design. I specialize in sculpting space through serendipitous (improvisational) perspective sketching (hand and a digital). This process is showcased in the Foodiverse project below. I teach this creative method in several of my courses.
& MAKING
Using my hands to craft an object is one of the most satisfying aspects of my work. Over the years I have custom built many objects, including furniture, cars, a motorcycle and miscellaneous projects. For the past five years I have primarily focused on furniture. In every furniture design, my goal is to express both the form and construction equally while concentrating on the objects functional value over time. I use all the tools available to me, hand and digital, to design furniture. My most recent design is a 3D-printable lounge chair ergonomically designed for using digital devices.
TEACHING
I believe teachers inculcate in students a working framework of ideas, concepts and strategies that they may continue to rely on and build upon in their future careers. A teacher provides focus, draws to the surface fundamental concepts, wades through extraneous information, builds adaptability and acts as a resource. Several of the wonderful teachers from NC State College of Design, select collegues at PhilaU and my previous colleagues at UNCG have influenced my view of teaching. I hope I can follow in their footsteps.
CV
EDUCATION
Master of Science of Interior Architecture (2006)
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Area of concentration: Interior Product Design within Interior Architecture Department
Bachelor of Industrial Design (1999)
North Carolina State University School of Design
INTERESTS
The generative design process, 2D/3D visual representation pedagogy, BIM pedagogy for interior design, interior product design, furniture making, 3D printing, and lighting design.
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SKILLS
Interior design, furniture design, graphic design, web design, 3D printing, color theory, drafting, hand sketching and rendering, physical and computer model fabrication, US CAD Standards, wood, fiberglass, metal fabrication, and mechanical indication. Autodesk Revit, Rhino, SketchUp, Adobe Software
PEER REVIEWED PAPERS & PRESENTATIONS[MOST RECENT]
A Focus on Illumination – Expanding Lighting Education in an Interior Design Program – IDEC National Conference, Chicago (March 2025) - Future Presentation
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Custom Glow: Empowering Students to Design and 3D Print Unique Bespoke Lighting – National Conference on the Beginning Design Student 40, Raleigh, NC (Feb 2025) - To be Published Paper and Future Presentation (Coauthor: Jinoh Park) - NCBDS 40 Abstracts Compendium
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From Analog to Virtual Reality: Introducing Digital Design Tools to First-year Interior Architecture Students – IDEC National Conference, New York (March 2024) - Presentation (Coauthors: Marjan Miri and Torrey Tracey)
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A Way of Working with Wood – National Conference on the Beginning Design Student 39, Lafayette, Louisiana (Feb 2024) - Published Paper and Presentation (Coauthor: Alyssa Kuhns) - NCBDS 39 Abstracts Compendium
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Habitable Wall (2022) - Publication https://portal.idec.org/commerce/store?productId=IDEC-HABITABLE-WALL-2022
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Focal Glow, Ambient Luminescence & Play of Brilliants – Case Study Using 3D Software to Teach Lighting Design Principles - IDEC National Virtual Conference (March 2022) - Presentation
From Luminaire to Chair: A Collection of 3D Printed Interior Objects - IDEC National Virtual Conference (March 2021) - Presentation
Concept Sketching: A Hybrid Approach for Sculpting Interior Vignettes - IDEC National Conference - Tulsa, OK (March 2020) - Poster
Autodesk Revit: Pedagogy and Practice for Interior Design - IDEC East Regional Conference - Pittsburgh, PA (October 2018) - Presentation (Coauthor: Rachel Tucci)
Chair 29 - IDEC National Conference - Portland, OR
(March 2016) - Presentation - A 3D-printed lounge chair prototype ideal for consuming media on your digital devices.
Respectful Collaboration: Teaching Collaborative Skills to First-Year Students BEFORE They Form Their Discipline Identities - IDEC National Conference - Fort Worth, TX (March 2015) - Presentation - This case study used charrettes and other research to investigate a new common core experience for interdisciplinary collaboration within a multidisciplinary architectural college for the first-year level.
Side Table 31 - IDEC National Conference - New Orleans, LA (March 2014) - Presentation - A prototype inspired by the idea of increased functionality through the “the despecialization of objects” with flat-pack design efficiency and hand-built sensibility.
Inner-City Senior/Child Mentor Center: Cross-Disciplinary
Collaboration between Interior Design and Occupational Therapy Students (Oct 2013) - Presentation - Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) Regional Conference - Drexel University
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & TRAINING
Guest Speaker - Preparing Nuckolls Fund Grant Proposals - IDEC Lighting Knowledge Network Meeting (Nov 12, 2024)
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​Guest Juror for Furniture Design & Interior Architecture - DIS Study Abroad Program, Copenhagen, Denmark. (July 2024)
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Arkansas Trade Delegation to Finland (May 2022)
Partnership between World Trade Center Arkansas and University of Arkansas’ Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design - 10-day trade mission to Finland - Learned of Finland’s timber industry, the nation's sustainable forestry practices, and its innovative wood products research culture.
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Juror for National IDEC Student Design Competition (2021).
NCIDQ Certification - #33238 (2017)
IDEC (Interior Design Educators Council) (2011 - Present)
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
Assistant Professor (August 2019 – Present)
Interior Architecture and Design Department: Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Associate Professor (August 2016 – May 2019)
Interior Design Program: College of Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE)
Philadelphia University
Assistant Professor (August 2010 – June 2016)
Interior Design Program: College of Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE)
Philadelphia University
Adjunct Faculty (January 2010 – May 2010)
Department of Interior Architecture
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Lecturer: Full-time Faculty (August 2008 – May 2009)
Department of Interior Architecture
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
GRANTS & RECOGNITION
2024-2026 - $30,000 Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education Grant “Elective course on Premiumization, Sustainability, and Making of Bespoke Lighting” (Co-author: Jinoh Park)
This grant funds the creation of a professional elective course that delves into premiumization and sustainability in branding and making a decorative luminaire design. READ ARTICLE
2024 - $50,000 Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund
“Anthony Timberlands Center Student Design-Build Furniture - Phase 2: Prototyping, Production, and Possibilities" (Coauthor: Alyssa Kuhns) In this proposal, funding will be provided to refine and manufacture 125 desks for the new Anthony Timberlands Center set to open in 2025. The additional funding will also support student assistantships, materials, and manufacturing costs.
2023 - $50,000 Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund
“Anthony Timberlands Center Student Design-Build Furniture - Phase I: Research and Design Development" (Coauthor: Alyssa Kuhns) With the financial support of the Weyerhaeuser furniture design grant, the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design plans to design, prototype, and build 125 studio desks for the Anthony Timberlands Center through a series of progressive faculty-led courses and a partnership with a recognized industrial designer Stephen Burks. Desks are to be made of construction-grade materials.
2022 - $30,000 Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education Grant
“Upper-Level Advanced Lighting Course For Interior Designers” Grant supports developing and implementing an upper-level advanced lighting course. READ ARTICLE
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2016 Industry Sponsored Furniture Studio $25,000 - Echo Design, NY, NY - In collaboration with Hitoshi Ujiie multi-disciplinary Echo sponsored a 30-student class to develop an experimental line of residential furniture.
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2016 Sponsorship from Polymaker -$1000 - Sponsored by Polymaker to 3D print Chair 29, a chair capable of being printed on a consumer 3D printer.
EXHIBITIONS
Stockholm Furniture Fair 2025 - Student Work - Sculptural Table Luminaires (Feb 2025) (Co-Instructor/Exhibitor - Jinoh Park)
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International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) New York Student Work - Sculptural Wall Luminaires (May 2025) (Co-Instructor/Exhibitor - Jinoh Park)
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE [MOST RECENT]
Interior Design Consultant (March 2015 – Present)
MJK Creative, Doylestown, PA
Sodexo “ZIME” - Remodel of Luncheon Counter - Schematic
Development - Drawings & Illustrations (Spring 2016)
Sodexo “Natural” - Health food and Smoothie Bar - Schematic
Development - Drawings & Illustrations (Fall 2015)
Sodexo “Foodiverse” -University Food Marketplace - Schematic
Development - Drawings & Illustrations (Spring 2015)
Design Intern (June 2011 – Aug 2011)
Michael V. Oei Architect, LLC, Philadelphia, PA
Design development and construction documents
Design Intern (May 2010 – Aug 2010)
SCM Architects, Little Rock, AR
Design development, construction documents and field measuring
Creative Director & Co-owner (Jan 2003 – 2010)
Gravitation, LLC, Durham, NC
Manage business affairs, meet with clients, design brand identities and produce web sites
ACADEMIC COMMITTEES [MOST RECENT]
Academic Standards Committee - University of Arkansas, Fayetteville - Member (Fall 2020 - Present)
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CHAIR - College Education Committee (CEC) - College of Architecture & the Built Environment (CABE) - Philadelphia University (Fall 2014 - Present)
Academic Opportunities and Oversight Committee (AOOC) Philadelphia University - Member (Fall 2014 - Present)