Born in the US yet having spent most of her formative years in Bangkok, Thailand, Alissa Touranachun's interdisciplinary approach is influenced by her cross-cultural upbringing. Her designs introduce nuanced narratives to mundane encounters. Translating emotions, shared experiences, and a sense of belonging into physical objects.
Informed by her human-centered design background, her work observes the interactions between materiality, the user, and their context. By emphasizing objects’ sensorial engagement, she believes a long-lasting connection between an object and its user can be formed. This includes employing humor, nostalgia, and sometimes childlike narratives alongside the object's intended function.
With nearly a decade of professional experience as an industrial designer at international design studios, she has handled responsibilities ranging from user and market research to concept development, design, material sourcing, prototyping, and fabrication. Her experiences and projects span across various sectors, including hospitality, medicine, academia, retail, and most recently, community.
In her own practice, natural materials (wood, ceramic, paper, etc.) are often combined with industrial-made fixtures and found objects. Leveraging material manipulation to create functional, nuanced objects that lead to emotional connection. By blending efficient mass-production methods with delicate hand-craft sensibility, her work appears machine-like yet exudes warmth.
With nearly a decade of professional experience as an industrial designer at international design studios, she has handled responsibilities ranging from user and market research to concept development, design, material sourcing, prototyping, and fabrication. Her experiences and projects span across various sectors, including hospitality, medicine, academia, retail, and most recently, community.
In her own practice, natural materials (wood, ceramic, paper, etc.) are often combined with industrial-made fixtures and found objects. Leveraging material manipulation to create functional, nuanced objects that lead to emotional connection. By blending efficient mass-production methods with delicate hand-craft sensibility, her work appears machine-like yet exudes warmth.
CV
2024-Present
* Design assistant at Norman Teague Design Studios
* Freelance design and fabrication service
* Founded Asterisk.Zip, a small-batch home goods brand
2023
* Teaching Assistant at UIC School of Design (Design Drawing)
* Graduate Design Researcher at UIC Innovation Center
* Design Internship at Norman Teague Design Studios (NTDS)
2022
* Student coordinator for UIC Public Design Seminar Series
* Student coordinator for UIC Public Design Seminar Series
2019-2022
* Designer at Glo Design International
2019
Education
2024
* MDES in Industrial Design at University of Illinios Chicago
2019
* BFA in Industrial Design at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi
Recognitions / Awards
2024
* MDES in Industrial Design at University of Illinios Chicago
2019
* BFA in Industrial Design at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi
Recognitions / Awards
2026
* Featured article in Color Club Magazine issue 5: Inspired Living
2025
* Showcase Glass Onions at Enid “Dream” group exhibition
* Solo showcase at Chicago Rebuilding Exchange’s featured maker program
* Featured article in Fresh Meat Magazine issue 14: (a) material Architecture
2024
* UIC Board of Trustees for Academic Performance
* Thesis project exhibition at UIC Year-End Show
2023
* UIC Board of Trustees Fellowship
* Bangkok’s Strange Tools exhibition at Bangkok Design Week (Bangkok, Thailand)
* Plastic Ooooh! at Good Chaos (Chicago, USA)
* TXATXA’s Shelf Life, curated by Studio Herron under NTDS (Chicago, USA)
* Bangkok’s Strange Tools exhibition at Bangkok Design Week (Bangkok, Thailand)
* Plastic Ooooh! at Good Chaos (Chicago, USA)
* TXATXA’s Shelf Life, curated by Studio Herron under NTDS (Chicago, USA)
2019 (BFA)
2015-2019 (BFA)
* Petch Prajom Klao Academic Excellency Scholarship