Woodworking has taught me to think carefully about how an idea becomes a usable object. A design may begin as a sketch or digital model, but the real problem-solving happens through material, structure, proportion, and finish. I enjoy the point where a project moves from planning into making, because each decision has to serve both the appearance of the piece and the way it will function in daily use.

My floating bookshelf project reflects this balance between design and practicality. It was not only a shelving unit, but a response to a specific space and the needs within it. Lighting, storage, wiring, and finish all had to be considered together so the final piece felt integrated rather than added on. That kind of thinking is useful in exhibit work, where built elements need to support the larger environment rather than stand apart from it.

Woodworking is also part of my teaching and mentorship practice. When supporting a student through the process of building an electric bass guitar, I had to make unfamiliar tools and processes approachable without taking ownership of the project away from the learner. I see this kind of mentorship as a form of design communication: breaking a complex build into understandable steps while helping someone develop confidence through the act of making.