Class developing case designs for Steinway

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island School of Design students in the school’s furniture-design program this semester are getting a chance to develop case designs for Steinway & Sons, the famous New York piano manufacturer.
“The main challenge we’re presenting students with is to modify specific parts of the piano in order to make a strong statement but at the same time respectfully integrate established elements that the customer associates with a sophisticated Steinway & Sons piano,” said Steinway & Sons President Ron Losby in a statement.
The project is a studio class in the program. Students began by visiting the Steinway factory in Long Island, N.Y., and throughout the semester will use architectural interiors as inspiration in the design of at least three custom piano concepts in drawings and sketch models.
Steinway will participate in critiques and provide expertise and technical information. Students then will present a refined, scale model and renderings to the company for a final critique. •