2023 - Fernando Ramirez + Justin Beitzel

Fernando Rameriz and Justin Beitzel, two young Kendall trained industrial designers have developed a company called Common Object.  One of its primary product lines is called OkaTerra which makes locally sourced regenerative, nontoxic and reclaimable furniture.  Their innovative approach offers the promise of regionally specific custom products based on the availability of local materials. The Evenson Foundation Fellows award helped OkaTerra with its product verification documentation and the Foundation encouraged the company to do outreach in their supply chain with the purpose of helping to educate product designers about sustainable design.