# STL244: Laura Mays–The Inquisitive Furniture Maker

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2021-07-02
- Length: 1h 10m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-07-02-stl244-laura-mays-the-inquisitive-furniture-maker
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl244-laura-maysthe-inquisitive-furniture-maker

## Summary

Laura Mays, director of The Krenov School of Fine Woodworking, discusses her journey from architecture to becoming a furniture maker and her current role leading the school. She details her design philosophy, which blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary art, focusing on specific works like her 'wingback' chairs, series of boxes, and a Bluetooth speaker housed in a complex wooden box. Mays also addresses the school's efforts to increase diversity through the Krenov Foundation and the 'Making a Seat at the Table' initiative, highlighting the challenges of inclusivity in a historically male-dominated field.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-07-02-stl244-laura-mays-the-inquisitive-furniture-maker#t=6) Introduction: Laura Mays and The Krenov School
- [3:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-07-02-stl244-laura-mays-the-inquisitive-furniture-maker#t=189) Mays' Background: Architecture, Ireland, and Early Life
- [14:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-07-02-stl244-laura-mays-the-inquisitive-furniture-maker#t=849) Transition to Woodworking: Galway Mayo Institute of Technology
- [21:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-07-02-stl244-laura-mays-the-inquisitive-furniture-maker#t=1284) Studying at The Krenov School and Learning Craftsmanship
- [30:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-07-02-stl244-laura-mays-the-inquisitive-furniture-maker#t=1835) Design Philosophy: Chairs, Boxes, and 'Vehicles for Inquiry'
- [38:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-07-02-stl244-laura-mays-the-inquisitive-furniture-maker#t=2290) Inspiration Sources: Patchwork Quilts, Natalie de Pasquier, and Morton Nestrick
- [52:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-07-02-stl244-laura-mays-the-inquisitive-furniture-maker#t=3121) Leading The Krenov School: Legacy and Challenges
- [54:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-07-02-stl244-laura-mays-the-inquisitive-furniture-maker#t=3282) Making a Seat at the Table: Women in Woodworking and Inclusivity

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- The Krenov School of Fine Woodworking (company)
- Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (company)
- The Krenov Foundation (company)
- James Krenov (other)
- Morton Nestrick (other)
- Natalie de Pasquier (other)
- Sean Scully (other)
- Nancy Hiller (other)
- Christina Madsen (other)
- Yuri Kobayashi (other)
- Yvonne Nicer (other)
- John Makepeace (other)
- John Schmidt (other)
- Memphis (other)
- IKEA (company)
- Fine Woodworking (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 4 - Martin Kastner (9/9)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-04-afterschool-podcast-episode-4-martin-kastner-9-9) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Adopting an Entrepreneurial Mindset in Manufacturing with Krisztina “Z” Holly](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2019-10-28-adopting-an-entrepreneurial-mindset-in-manufacturing-with-krisztina-z-holly) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 19 - Craighton Berman, Founder of Manual (04/16)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2014-04-16-afterschool-podcast-episode-19-craighton-berman-founder-of-manual-04-16) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Episode 092: Good Clean Fun with Nick Offerman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-10-14-episode-092-good-clean-fun-with-nick-offerman) (Making It)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 10 - Joey Roth (11/1)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-04-afterschool-podcast-episode-10-joey-roth-11-1) (Core77 Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2021-07-02-stl244-laura-mays-the-inquisitive-furniture-maker. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Shop Talk Live.