DesignHER is a platform that celebrates the vision, craftsmanship, and innovation of women in design. By curating stories from leading female designers, artisans, and creatives, our latest series, in collaboration with Women Create, offers an intimate look at the diverse paths these women take to shape their industries and their own businesses. Through thoughtful interviews and features, the platform illuminates the artistry and technical mastery that define their work, while exploring the deeper narratives of creativity, resilience, and leadership. DesignHER honors the unique perspectives of women, fostering a community where design excellence and empowerment intersect to inspire the next generation of trailblazers.
Motivated by the desire to elevate ordinary objects and familiar forms into unexpected delights, Erika Cross investigates the relationships between object, scale, and user. Her aesthetic fuses sculptural forms with utilitarian functionality. working at the intersection of product and process, she has a hands-on approach to design. The workshop becomes the source and site of her creative energy; both library and laboratory. Using research, intuition, experience, and experiment, Erika purposefully challenges limitations to develop innovative methods and objects.
Born in Michigan, Erika is the founder of Erika Cross Studio. She received an MFA in design products from the Royal College of Art in 2014. Prior to that, she studied simultaneously at two universities, earning a BFA in art and design from the University of Michigan in 2011, and a BS in interior design at Eastern Michigan University in 2012. See more of Erika’s unique designs in today’s DesignHer.
Erika Cross adds a bold, playful touch to this space with her signature “Squiggles” installation. These undulating shapes combine form and function, turning walls into dynamic visual experiences.
aspire design and home: What inspired you to pursue high-end artisanal crafts specifically?
Erika Cross: I love creating at the intersection of art and design. I feel that the high-end market allows for more artistic freedom, with a more specific audience that finds greater value in expressive designs.
adh: How do you see the future of women in the artisanal craft industry?
EC: The future of women in the artisanal craft industry looks promising, with opportunities for women to showcase their skills and creativity in a growing market that values handmade pieces. By continuing to support and promote women artisans, we can ensure that our contributions to the industry are recognized and celebrated for years to come.
The Step coffee table demonstrates Erika’s versatility with materials and forms. The rippling base not only provides stability but also serves as a striking visual element, making this piece a perfect conversation starter in any space.
adh: Are there any particular themes or messages you aim to convey through your art?
EC: Elementary forms play a large role in the majority of my compositions, as do interaction, configuration, and reconfiguration. I tend to design objects that are defined by dialogue – conversations among their elements involving geometry, joinery, simplicity, and monolithic elegance. I also consider the relationships between the objects and the user. I hope that by engaging users, I will create objects with lasting value and longevity.
“Design is intelligence made visible.” — Alina Wheeler
adh: Have you noticed any shifts in the industry regarding the recognition and support of women artists?
EC: While the furniture design industry is still predominantly male, there are now far more opportunities (such as exhibitions) and support (like grants) focused on female designers than ever before. I expect to see this support continue and to see more women enter the furniture industry.
adh: Can you talk about a breakthrough moment in your career and how it impacted your trajectory as an artist?
EC: There are two moments in particular that really stand out for me. In 2020, I won Best in Show at the NYCxDESIGN Awards – for Step table. Later on, in 2022, I won WantedDesign’s Best of Launch Pad for Furniture – for my first furniture collection, Elements. I am so honored to have won both of these awards!
This close-up showcases the meticulous craftsmanship behind Erika’s Anvil table. The unique interlocking joinery is both a visual and functional highlight, demonstrating Erika’s hands-on approach to design and fabrication.
adh: What are some misconceptions about women in the artisanal craft industry that you’d like to address?
EC: As a female designer, I’m often met with surprise when people find out that I make the majority of my pieces with my own hands. There are only a few objects where I haven’t been right there casting, cutting, sanding, finishing, and so on. I am proud of my extensive knowledge of materials, processes, and fabrication skills, which I have worked hard to acquire. Women also rock in the workshop!
adh: What impact do you hope your work has on those who experience it?
EC: By designing for reconfigurability, using high-quality materials, and employing careful craftsmanship, I hope to provide well-made pieces that are highly valued by the users. I want to create pieces that never need to be replaced and move through and adjust to life with their users.
These height-adjustable tables use a playful twist mechanism, mimicking the action of a bolt and nut, making them both practical and visually engaging.
adh: Can you describe a particularly challenging project and how you approached it?
EC: Which one?! Design/engineering/fabrication challenges tend to be a theme in my work, it’s kind of my thing. Because many of my pieces are reconfigurable or adjustable (without needing hardware), a lot of engineering goes into them. For instance, with my latest piece, Bolt – a height-adjustable coffee table which functions like a nut (the tabletop) and a bolt (the central column) – I spent many months engineering to satisfy seemingly opposing objectives. My goal was to keep the central column’s diameter small while keeping the whole table sturdy and stable with a low center of gravity. I wanted the column (made of marble) to be light enough for one person to move, but heavy enough to stay in place while rotating the tabletop. I also wanted to make rotating the tabletop a tactile experience, so I needed it to move smoothly and easily. So I wanted the top to be tight enough to move only when desired (and not wobble) but loose enough that rotating it was easy and smooth. Working all of these requirements into a functional design, while refusing to compromise my vision, took a ton of consideration and creativity. And in the end, I created what is now one of my favorite pieces!
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