ABOUT & CONTACT

I'm at home somewhere in between the art and the engineering, and have a record of uncovering untapped opportunities in markets, materials, and function.

  • Product designer: lighting, décor, and furniture. Master of Design, School of the Art Institute of Chicago; cross-disciplinary background in spatial design.

    • STRENGTHS: Pre-production problem-solving; balancing aesthetic ambition with manufacturability and cost; prolific ideation and disciplined iteration.

    • TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES: Interprets technical drawings (materials and tolerances); guides CAD development with engineers; translates digital concepts into physical prototypes (3D printing, CNC, traditional methods); coordinates vendors for scaled production.

    • DESIGN APPROACH: Designs behavior-driven products rooted in material experimentation; thinks in collections and campaigns; considers material patina, how use dictates form, and what gives objects lasting value.

    • PRODUCTION RANGE: Designs across production scales—from small-run collections to scaled manufacturing—while maintaining design integrity.

    • MARKET TRACK RECORD: Collections through U.S. and international retailers; commissions for designers (Celery Kemble) and private collectors; self-initiated brand pitches (CB2, The Shade Store).

    • SELECT WORK:
      – ANIMAL : MINERAL lighting – NY Magazine "Top 50 to See" at Salone del Mobile; international press; gallery/showroom distribution
      – CREAM glass vases – proprietary compound created in consultation with NASA engineers; international retail and press
      – CB2 pet furniture – self-initiated; behavior-driven designs with production-ready specs

    • LOCATION: Los Angeles; open to relocation (particularly Austin) or remote.

The result? Lighting named one of New York Magazine's "Top 50 to See" at Salone del Mobile; glass vases developed with insight from NASA engineers and sold internationally; and a self-initiated pet furnishings collection for CB2—designed around how pets sleep, play, and lounge, with production-ready specs.

My collections have sold through U.S. and international retailers. With a Master of Design from School of the Art Institute of Chicago, I design lighting, décor, and furniture—taking products from concept through production while balancing aesthetic vision with the realities of manufacturing, cost, and scale.

I think in collections and campaigns, so form and story advance together—shaping both how a piece is made and how it's received. This means considering how materials perform and patina over time, how behavior and use dictate form, and what gives an object beauty and value.

By anticipating and resolving challenges before they reach production, I solve for the constraints of each project while maintaining design integrity—whether working with small-batch artisans or coordinating vendors for scaled production. I work with engineers on CAD development, interpret technical drawings with attention to materials and tolerances, and translate digital concepts into physical prototypes through collaboration with fabricators (3D printing, CNC, traditional methods).

As the devil's advocate colleagues brace for—then thank, I ask the hard questions that sharpen the work. And I dig deep—for the angle, the specificity, the unexpected ingredient that snaps it all into place.

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Based in Los Angeles and open to relocation—particularly Austin (my hometown)—or remote roles.

CONTACT

G E T I N T O U C H

Alternatively, let’s talk via email:
Valerie@DeKeyserDesign.com

Thank you.
I’ll get back to you within 1-2 business days.