November 18th, 2019

Q & A Maggie

Maggie Jo Design

• Who is Maggie Jo Sanderson?

- Maggie is a young female furniture designer which is rare in the furniture design community, she loves surprising people with her level of skill attention to detail. She graduated from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design with a Major in the Interior Architectural Design program and a Minor in the Furniture build program. She is passionate about furniture design she aspires to someday own her own furniture design studio. Making high-end furniture pieces is her specialty she likes to create uniquely crafted furniture pieces that are custom to her clients needs. 

• Is any of your work in public spaces in Milwaukee?

- Sold a piece conversation chair piece also in the gallery photo type showed it Hand made for the people she’s looked up to charlie rake
- collector commissioned her for the chair

• What made you decide that furniture is your passion?

- always knew she would be good at something but after building her first piece desk being in the wood shop

• What is your favorite piece you worked on for a client?

- walnut writing desk prototype is at MIAD wood shop news mag
- changed it structurally  got her foot in the door first career piece
- personally driving it out there to the client

• What is your favorite piece that you created for yourself?

- never made a piece for herself
- it would be cool to own a piece for her self

• How has MIAD influenced your work?

- concept of making things -artistic approach
- giving her the tools and facilities
- no restrictions creative freedom

• Is the Milwaukee area receptive to the work you create/MOWA?

- until you get into a career you don’t realize how small Milwaukee is
- so small and a little competitive but willing to help each other out
- not that many clients in Milwaukee she would like to have more 

• How do you get requests for commissions?

- would like to be more active on social media
- word of mouth everything has come from another
- enter into more shows

• Do you try to stay involved with student work at MIAD?

- more so just people she knew when she was involved
- she would like to be more involved

• What opportunities do you see for MIAD students looking to get into the furniture business?

- yeah its hard its not the most straight forward
- trying to keep a list of things that would have been important
- if you’re the right person with the right mindset

• What are your goals for the future?

- design is her passion
- owning business is her purpose
- has an LLC  Maggie Jo Design

• whats life like after grad?

- slow start have to make
- projects were coming in when she graduating

• where do you want to be?

- having her own business

• pros and cons of your field?

- pros: own business be in control of career and schedule direct impact on her work materiality and how they are going to be made sustainability worth it because you get to do something you like
- cons: hit or miss theater your a success no stability

• what do you want people to get out of your work?

- trying hard to find high end residential so far people have trust in her design
-22 and she has people working for her this surprises people
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• what message do you want to put out to the Milwaukee community

- she's doing this on her own
- she will have her furniture company someday