Portfolio: Cecelia Shoenfeld

Cecelia Shoenfeld: Final Portfolio

This semester in Aesthetics of Design has been a fun and educational journey. It challenged my technical abilities, expanded my creative thinking, and deepened my appreciation for the intentionality behind aesthetic design. With two major projects under my belt, a stained glass window display inspired by naturalism and a custom-built modern accent table, I can truly see aesthetics as the foundation of meaningful design.

Upcycle Project: Stained Glass and Naturalism

Our first assignment, the Upcycle Project, introduced the core challenge of working within constraints: use only found or recycled materials to create something beautiful, functional, and aligned with a specific aesthetic. I chose Naturalism which is an aesthetic grounded in the forms and colors of nature. I applied it to stained glass, a medium typically dominated by the Gothic aesthetic.

Historically, stained glass has been associated with large-scale architecture and Gothic imagery. But I wanted to reinterpret this medium through the lens of nature, drawing inspiration from artists like Louis C. Tiffany, who revolutionized stained glass by introducing organic themes.

My design was a small mountain scene made of reclaimed stained glass. I selected greens, blues, whites, and oranges to mimic a natural color palette. The design featured mountains, clouds, the sky, and a geometric sun, following the Naturalism aesthetic.

This was an entirely new technical skill for me. I learned to cut and grind glass, foil each piece with copper tape, and solder them together. There were a few issues with the fabrication process. The foil I used was old and lost its adhesive strength, some internal corners in the original pattern had to be revised for feasibility, and I worked with a 25-year-old soldering iron with no temperature control. Despite these setbacks, I completed the piece and I’m proud of how it turned out.

This project taught me more than technique. It forced me to translate an abstract aesthetic into concrete visual and material choices, while navigating the realities of material imperfections and skill limitations. Even though a few pieces came loose during presentation, I saw that not as failure, but as a necessary part of the creative learning process. I plan to fix the piece with new foil and edging so it can be properly hung in a window, as originally intended.

Main Project: Modern Accent Table

Our second major assignment was to design and build a more complex project over the rest of the semester. I chose to create a custom accent table, originally intended to include a door with a soft-close hinge mechanism. Ultimately, I adapted the design to prioritize clean geometry and visual simplicity, when the door concept became too structurally difficult.

The final design featured a stained plywood frame and a glass display top, intended to showcase decorative objects while remaining functional. I leaned into a modern aesthetic with natural materials, combining warmth and simplicity in a piece that fits in a variety of spaces.

The most valuable learning part of this project was remaining adaptable. My original design was based around a door to cover the two lower shelves. This was not possible due to the necessary structure to place the hinge and how I had designed the frame. Letting go of that part of the design was difficult, but ultimately necessary and I have gotten positive feedback about the open design.

I’m proud of how the final table turned out, it’s sturdy, well-proportioned, and visually balanced. I am very happy with the result and it has inspired me to continue learning and creating more similar pieces.

Reflections

One of the biggest takeaways from this course has been the realization that aesthetics is more than just decoration. Every design choice speaks to a larger intent, whether it’s the ratio of dimensions, the tone of a material, or general outline of a structure. I’ve also learned how essential it is to think about and communicate my aesthetic decisions clearly.

Another important lesson was embracing iteration. Both projects taught me that no design is perfect on the first try. Whether I was re-drawing stained glass patterns or adapting the table’s dimensions due to fabrication issues, every change brought me closer to a cleaner, more effective result.

This class made me excited about creating project. In both the upcycle and main projects, I got to work with my hands, learn new tools, and see an idea transform into something tangible. That sense of physical accomplishment is hard to replicate and deeply satisfying.

Final Thoughts

This course has given me two projects I’m proud to include in my portfolio and more importantly, the skills and confidence to keep designing and building.

I appreciated the help of my instructor and classmates for critiques, inspiration, and encouragement throughout the semester. I look forward to building on everything I’ve learned here in future projects.

Project Links:

Naturalism Stained Glass Window Panel – Design Report

Accent Table: Final Report Part 1

Accent Table: Final Report Part 2

*AI was used in the creation of this post