March 4, 2025 | Talk: 1:30 PM | Workshop: 3:00 PM @ Gibbs College of Architecture Gallery Room 130
Join us for an inspiring talk and hands-on workshop with internationally renowned designer Satyendra Pakhalé.
Satyendra Pakhalé is a globally recognized designer whose pioneering work bridges industrial innovation, craftsmanship, and cultural narratives. With a career spanning decades, his multidisciplinary practice has redefined design across industries, from industrial design to architecture. His work is known for pushing the limits of materials and technology while maintaining a deep connection to human experience and sensorial design.
Chairs designed by Satyendra Pakhalé.
In the talk, we will delve into his design philosophy, cultural background, and key themes from the recently published monograph, Satyendra Pakhalé: Culture of Creation (nai010 publishers, Rotterdam). The book examines his body of work through topics such as the culture of making, poetic analogy, plurality of expression in design, social justice, and secular humanism. Our discussion will offer insight into how these themes shape his practice and the broader field of design.
Satyendra Pakhalé: Culture of Creation
Immediately following the talk, the Shifting Scale. Sensing Space. workshop invites students to explore the dynamic relationship between object and space. Through an in-depth study of a selected design object—analyzing its morphology, materiality, cultural significance, and historical context—participants will generate spatial designs that are inspired by but do not directly house or display the object itself. This hands-on session, co-led by Satyendra Pakhalé and Tiziana Proietti, will challenge students to think beyond conventional spatial design.
Shelf designed by Satyendra Pakhalé.
Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with one of the leading voices in contemporary design thinking!
For more information, please contact Tiziana Proietti: tiziana.proietti@ou.edu
Gibbs College is pleased to present the exhibition Vollendorf in Oklahoma: The Architecture of Dean Bryant Vollendorf during the Spring 2025 semester. It will be on display in Gould Hall, on the OU-Norman Campus, from February 16, 2026 - March 13, 2026.
On November 21, 2025, the Mainsite Contemporary Art gallery was transformed into a showcase of innovation and craftsmanship for the University of Oklahoma’s furniture design build studio exhibition, “Purpose in Form.”
Associate Professors Lee Fithian, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Pober have published a chapter in the recently released New Perspectives in Indoor Air Quality, published by Elsevier. Their contribution, titled “Chapter 16 – Architecture and the Challenges of Indoor Air Quality,” examines the relationship between architecture and indoor air quality.
