Elissa Lee
interior and environmental design Bdes (hons)
Duncan of Jordanstone University of Dundee
Graduates: 2025
Specialisms: Interior Design / Furniture / Sustainable Design
My location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Elissa Lee
First Name: Elissa
Last Name: Lee
University / College: Duncan of Jordanstone University of Dundee
Course / Program: interior and environmental design Bdes (hons)
Graduates: 2025
Specialisms: Interior Design / Furniture / Sustainable Design
My Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
About
As a graduate of Interior and Environmental Design, Elissa Lee has an enthusiasm for reimagining the old, as well as conjuring up the new. She is devoted to thinking sustainably and innovatively, striving to have an environmental consciousness in all that she creates. Her design process consists of a combination of sketching, collaging, modelling and making and she is inspired by physical crafts. Elissa is fascinated with how the design of a space can influence how humans interact with one another. However, she is equally fascinated with the objects held within our spaces. Her honours project dispalys a series of hand crafted tangible objects, showcasing her unique ways of thinking, making and storytelling within a three-dimensional outcome.
‘Re-collection’ is inspired by the idiosyncrasies of inherited objects. The outcome is a table and set of chairs, showcasing themes of materiality, re-use and memory. Drawing upon ideas of inherited objects outliving disposable cultures, the physical qualities and hidden stories within our unique possessions were explored. Through a series of ‘Object Biographies,’ individuals were interviewed about their most cherished objects and narratives, quirks and memories were revealed. The unique qualities discovered in these objects, inspired a series of sculptural and structural studies. These studies were a personal exploration into a range of tangible and intangible elements. With a central theme of sustainable practice, found materials and objects were incorporated into each investigational outcome and repurposed materials from existing furniture into the final design. Each material and form in the final design is inspired by the ‘Object Biographies,’ creating a visual language through tactility and composition. Hidden transcriptions are engraved onto the underside of each vegan leather seat. The marquetry on the table and chairs tells a story of personalisation and reuse, made with reclaimed walnut from an antique headboard. The dowels supporting the seats of the chairs were reused from the legs of an old sewing table and the mechanism within the table is repurposed from an existing metamorphic table, still bearing the rust from its previous life. These idiosyncrasies within ‘Re-collection,’ are an abstraction and celebration of the intricate relationships between humans and our cherished objects.
Competitions
