Pete Oyler is a versatile designer whose work explores the intersections of design, craft, contemporary culture and history. His studio practice emphasizes both traditional and experimental approaches to a wide range of materials and methods of production. Oyler designs for a broad range of contexts including exhibition, mass market and commission. Current clients include Areaware, Tetra and Umbra.
Oyler holds a BA in American Studies from Smith College and an MFA in Furniture Design from RISD. His design work has been exhibited in Chicago, New York, London, Milan, Oslo and Paris, and he has received numerous awards including Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for Art & Design, the Metropolis Likes Award for Innovation in Design, Sight Unseen’s American Design Hot List and New City’s Design 50: Who Shapes Chicago. His work has been featured in various publications including The New York Times, Wallpaper, Surface, Metropolis, Elle Décor and World of Interiors.
In addition to object and furniture design, Oyler also writes about design and culture. He co-founded and served as creative director and co-editor of Outpost Journal, a print publication that featured art, design and community-based arts activism from smaller urban areas. Illuminating the hyper-local arts ecology via photography, design and creative additions, Outpost also worked with local artists, students and small business owners to create a collaborative, temporary public installation in each city featured. Outpost was made possible through widespread support from individuals, community organizations and cultural institutions including the Warhol Museum, the Mattress Factory, the RISD Museum, The Studios Inc. and the Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City. The last issue of Outpost, released in fall 2014, featured Providence, RI.
Courses
Fall 2023 Courses
FD 2580-01 - ADVANCED FURNITURE STUDIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitFurniture Design
Subject Furniture Design
Period Fall 2023
Credits 6
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
FD 2580-01
ADVANCED FURNITURE STUDIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitFurniture Design
Subject Furniture Design
PeriodFall 2023
Credits6
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: TTH | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PMInstructor(s): Pete Oyler, Sara OssanaLocation(s): Washington Place, Room 237Enrolled / Capacity: 14Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This is a required studio for seniors that develops advanced theory and practice in furniture design. Projects include experimental seating design and an introduction to upholstery techniques. Seniors develop a Degree Project Proposal along with a project that explores and tests the proposal.
Prerequisite: FD-2521
Major Requirement | BFA Furniture Design
FD 2580-02 - ADVANCED FURNITURE STUDIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitFurniture Design
Subject Furniture Design
Period Fall 2023
Credits 6
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
FD 2580-02
ADVANCED FURNITURE STUDIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitFurniture Design
Subject Furniture Design
PeriodFall 2023
Credits6
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: TTH | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PMInstructor(s): Pete Oyler, Sara OssanaLocation(s): Washington Place, Room 237Enrolled / Capacity: 14Status: Closed
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This is a required studio for seniors that develops advanced theory and practice in furniture design. Projects include experimental seating design and an introduction to upholstery techniques. Seniors develop a Degree Project Proposal along with a project that explores and tests the proposal.
Prerequisite: FD-2521
Major Requirement | BFA Furniture Design
Wintersession 2024 Courses
IDISC 3340-101 - TOPICS IN EXHIBITION: TRANSFORMING DISCIPLINES
LevelUndergraduate
UnitArchitecture and Design; Fine Arts
Subject Interdisciplinary Studies
Period Wintersession 2024
Credits 3
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
IDISC 3340-101
TOPICS IN EXHIBITION: TRANSFORMING DISCIPLINES
LevelUndergraduate
UnitArchitecture and Design; Fine Arts
Subject Interdisciplinary Studies
PeriodWintersession 2024
Credits3
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2024-01-04 to 2024-02-07
Times: W | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM | 02/07/2024 - 02/07/2024; M | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM | 01/29/2024 - 01/29/2024; TH | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM | 01/25/2024 - 01/25/2024; W | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM | 01/24/2024 - 01/24/2024; M | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM | 01/22/2024 - 01/22/2024; TH | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM | 01/18/2024 - 01/18/2024; TH | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM | 01/11/2024 - 01/11/2024; W | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM | 01/10/2024 - 01/10/2024; M | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM | 01/08/2024 - 01/08/2024; TH | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM | 01/04/2024 - 01/04/2024; TH | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM | 02/01/2024 - 02/01/2024; M | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM | 02/05/2024 - 02/05/2024Instructor(s): Anais Missakian, Pete OylerLocation(s): Washington Place, Room 237Enrolled / Capacity: 16Status: Closed
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Participating students from seven distinct disciplines–Ceramics, Furniture Design, Glass, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture, and Textiles–and faculty from both the Fine Arts and Architecture+Design Divisions will work together to design a cross-disciplinary exhibition that embraces new approaches and perspectives on the interior through art and design for the Salone del Mobile, the largest annual global furniture fair in the world. From developing the conceptual framework, creating graphics and display to documenting the work, students will be involved in all aspects of exhibition design, planning, and execution. This course will make use of design exhibition history and its role in the contemporary, regular critique, and presentations by professionals working in exhibition design and curation. Elective
This course culminates the completion of the thesis body of works and accompanying written document.
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Furniture Design Students.
Major Requirement | MFA Furniture Design
IDISC 3341-01 - TOPICS IN EXHIBITION: IMPLEMENTATION
LevelUndergraduate
UnitFine Arts; Architecture and Design
Subject Interdisciplinary Studies
Period Spring 2024
Credits 3
FormatSeminar
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
IDISC 3341-01
TOPICS IN EXHIBITION: IMPLEMENTATION
LevelUndergraduate
UnitFine Arts; Architecture and Design
Subject Interdisciplinary Studies
PeriodSpring 2024
Credits3
FormatSeminar
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2024-02-15 to 2024-05-24
Times: M | 9:40 AM - 12:40 PMInstructor(s): Anais Missakian, Pete OylerLocation(s): Washington Place, Room 237BEnrolled / Capacity: 18Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
The Topics in Exhibition spring course follows the wintersession course, and is part two of a multiple-semester effort. Participating students from seven distinct disciplines–Ceramics, Furniture Design, Glass, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture, and Textiles–and faculty from both the Fine Arts and Architecture+Design Divisions worked together over wintersession to design a cross-disciplinary exhibition that embraces new approaches and perspectives on the interior through art and design for the Salone del Mobile, the largest annual global furniture fair in the world. From developing the conceptual framework, creating graphics and display to documenting the work, students will be involved in all aspects of exhibition design, planning, and execution. It will make use of design exhibition history and its role in the contemporary, regular critique, and presentations by professionals working in exhibition design and curation. The spring seminar serves to conclude the work, prepare for the exhibition, allow for student participation in Milan, create a report that details the experience for the President and Provosts’s offices, and present aspects of the experience to the RISD community.
