Life & Work with Cole Slater of Highland Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cole Slater.

Hi Cole, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Investigating how space and form influence movement and emotion has long sparked my curiosity. It began in the theater, where experimenting with scenic and lighting design led me to direct an absurdist production of Sophie Treadwell’s Machinal. Through this process, I became fascinated by how light and objects shape perception and, ultimately, one’s sense of self.

In school, I began prototyping lighting and furniture as a Media Arts + Practice major at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. After graduating, things truly accelerated. I enrolled in floral design classes, an influence that continues to surface in my personal artistic work, and soon after landed my first role at a lighting design studio. There, I began translating these conceptual interests into real-world objects and environments.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
(Laughing aloud as I read this question)

That’s a lovely question to ask and reflect on. The road has been winding and unpredictable, but rooted in thrill. Since I didn’t study traditional Industrial Design, I didn’t naturally funnel into the industry. I had to carve my own path with an unwavering belief in myself.

Self-actualization became the key to unlocking opportunities. When no furniture design firms took me seriously as an applicant, I received a scholarship and attended a creative technology summer program in NYC. I spent a month creating as much as I could, leaving the city with five lamps that became my design portfolio. That experience helped me land my first 9–5 as a lighting designer.

Honestly, every opportunity has been forged through blind optimism. A bit of delusion is necessary to succeed in creative fields.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Luckily, my practice straddles two very different types of design, which is what makes my voice unique.

I spend most my time on freelance and contract design work. Having studied media design, I developed a strong foundation in organic modeling and sculpting, something many traditional industrial designers lack. I’ve been brought on to leverage this integration with my CAD fluency to design products, furniture, and lighting for a handful of incredible clients. Currently, I’m wrapping up a tabletop product for Stereoscope Coffee and collaborating on a handful of designs with Charlap Hyman & Herrero.

At the same time, I create my own collectible furniture and lighting pieces. This side of my practice is rooted in what I’ve learned from spending countless hours arranging flowers with my mentor, Ravi GuneWardena, and has led to the creation of lamps made from leaves, along with several other designs in development. In my 3D work, I often implement procedural and digital noise, which frequently mirrors patterns found in nature. This has evolved into an exploration of bringing plant matter closer to humans by integrating it directly into furniture and lighting. Designing with organic materials teaches us lessons, and living with them offers cues for healthier, happier ways of being.

While I don’t want to share too much about what’s coming, a new body of work exploring mirrors, lighting, and glass is on its way. That said, I believe affordable sculptural lighting should be available to anyone looking to transform their space. As a result, I sell my own custom table lamps on my website. I like to think of them as affordable sculptures for people’s homes.

What were you like growing up?
I was usually the most energetic kid in the room. Creative ideas seemed to ooze from my pores. I was definitely a handful, but always polite and well-mannered. I constantly wanted to make things with the people around me. Not much has changed.

Pricing:

• Loma Lamp (Short) – $85 https://www.coleslater.com/shop/vases/p/lomalamp-short
• Loma Lamp (Tall) – $110 https://www.coleslater.com/shop/vases/p/lomalamp-tall
• Arroyo Lamp (Short) – $115 https://www.coleslater.com/shop/vases/p/lomalamp-short-38zsh-exgd2
• Arroyo Lamp (Tall) – $140 https://www.coleslater.com/shop/vases/p/lomalamp-short-38zsh

Contact Info:

• Website: https://coleslater.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colewslater/

Image Credits
All photos are photographed by Cole Slater