John Black
John Black was a furniture designer and founder of the creative design firm that bears his name, J Black Design. He was the creative visionary behind some of the most compelling furniture designs in the world of interiors. Though not an interior designer, nor a furniture manufacturer, John’s work appeared in beautiful homes, shelter magazines, fine furniture shops, and design studios across the country and actually the world.
At heart, John was both a modernist and a classicist, hardly a conundrum. John became known for an understated, classic approach to furniture forms that captured the essence of traditional silhouettes combined with modern touches. He was an artist and a mechanic with an unfailing, critical eye for scale and proportion.
He grew up in the furniture making tradition in North Carolina and received formal training at Kendall College of Art and Design in Michigan. His 30-year design career included collaboration with interior design leaders such as Barbara Barry, Michael Vanderbyl, Reed Krakoff, Dan Carithers and Michael Connors. Before establishing his own firm, John served as Vice President of Design for Baker Furniture. John traveled broadly for inspiration, his everyday life was a creative force. His legacy endures through the elegance of his designs, which continue to shape the world of interiors.
