ABOUT

The Short 

 

Ryan Nesbitt is a product designer and fabricator in Austin TX. He specializes in fabrication, furniture, woodworking, and welding.

 

The Long

I was born and raised in Austin, Texas, the son of an interior designer and an event producer. My dad has always been a handyman, able to take on just about anything with a can-do attitude. Watching him work and learning from his example shaped a lot of who I am today.

 

Since I was little, he kept a workshop in the garage — a place where I could experiment and bring my ideas to life. In high school, I really got into woodworking and discovered it was something I not only enjoyed but could get better at with practice. I loved seeing a sketch evolve from a 2-D drawing into a 3-D object, and I was fascinated by finishes, materials, and the process of making.

 

I’ve also always been a bit of a scrounger — not quite a hoarder, but someone who sees potential in discarded materials. I like finding ways to give scraps new life and keep them out of the trash. That practice of re-using and re-imagining things has carried into my work, which can range from polished and sophisticated to playful and experimental.

 

One of my guiding philosophies is similar to Aristotle’s idea of “knowing a little about a lot.” I think being curious and versatile makes you better at problem-solving and more flexible when tackling new projects. I’m always learning, always collecting ideas, and always looking for ways to fold that knowledge back into my design work.