The Studio for Metropolitan Craft is an interdisciplinary design studio that focuses on the intersection of craft, design, and technology. The studio was founded in 2010 by Laurence Srinivasan, an architect and craftsman based in San Francisco, CA.
The studio is committed to exploring the relationship between traditional craft techniques and new digital tools and fabrication methods. They aim to create innovative designs that are rooted in the history and culture of the places where they work, while also pushing the boundaries of what is possible with contemporary technology.
Some of the studio's notable projects include the Bay Area Models Series, a top entry in the San Jose Light Tower Design competition, exhibits at the Art Explosion San Francisco, digitally fabricated furniture, and the Market Street Prototyping Festival.
The Studio for Metropolitan Craft also provides design and consulting services to clients in a variety of industries, including architecture and product design. They have worked with organizations such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Craft & Design, and the DeYoung Museum.
Laurence Srinivasan
designer and owner
“I’m fascinated by interesting structures in architecture and engineering. I studied architecture and design at RISD before working in various architecture firms in New York, Zurich, and San Francisco. I also worked in woodshops making models and furniture for 20 years before starting my product design company.
I like the dynamic and unconventionally cool look buildings like Norman Foster’s Hearst building in NY or the Gherkin in London. I’m inspired by the steel truss work on Bridges and I.M. Pei’s glass pyramid at the Louvre. These examples epitomize the freshness, contrast, and surprise of the modern next to the solid and stable classical.
I believe good design has the power to elevate our daily life experience, augment our daily routines, and remind us that we live in a beautiful world worth protecting and enjoying. “