The Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills has named Leon Ransmeier the new head of the industrial design program at the academy.
Ransmeier will succeed Scott Klinker, who is leaving at the end of the academic year to pursue his full-time industrial design practice.
Ransmeier also will help shape the new Architecture and Design Department at the academy. Beginning in the fall of 2025, the industrial design program will begin working in collaboration with the architecture program under the newly formed Architecture and Design Department in order to enhance collaboration and foster connections across disciplines.
Ransmeier is the founder and director of Ransmeier Inc., a New York-based design office he launched in 2010 that has collaborated with iconic brands such as Droog, HAY, Herman Miller, Maharam, and Mattiazzi. His notable designs include the Revolver Bar Stool for HAY, and the Chiaro chair for Mattiazzi.
His work has been exhibited at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; Friedman Benda Gallery; Swiss Institute; and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and is included in the permanent collections at SFMOMA and the Corning Museum of Glass. Ransmeier holds a BFA in furniture design from the Rhode Island School of Design.
Ransmeier’s design philosophy is rooted in simplicity, usability, and a profound understanding of materials and manufacturing processes.
“We are thrilled to welcome Leon to Cranbrook Academy of Art,” says Chris Whittey, interim director of the academy. “Leon’s work transcends the boundaries of industrial design, inspiring both established and aspiring artists while shaping contemporary design practices around the world. We believe Leon’s experience will provide our students with valuable insight into launching a design career, while his deep roots in the design community will create extraordinary opportunities for them to network and showcase their work. We look forward to the impact Leon will have on our design program as we shape Cranbrook’s future.”
Regarding his new position at Cranbrook, Ransmeier says, “I am sincerely honored to join the Cranbrook community, a crucible of American Modernism and forum for international creativity for over 90 years. Cranbrook’s exceptional architecture and legacy of design provide an inspiring context for the education of future generations of designers. It is thrilling to be given the opportunity to facilitate an ambitious program for our current time.”
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