Bio
Peter Nasielski is an American industrial designer from California. Peter studied Design at the University of California, Davis and was one of the first graduates of the new Sustainable Environmental Design program. While a student he also worked as an educator, leading the University’s initiative for climate neutrality as part of the UC Davis D-lab (A program launched to accelerate the development and commercialization of low-cost, clean and efficient energy technologies and solutions in developed and developing countries - D-lab Website)
Peter graduated in 2018 with two degrees in Design and received the Outstanding Senior Award in recognition of his singular and lasting contributions to the Design Department. Peter was further distinguished for his revolutionary redesign of the Ceremonial Mace used by the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.
"Peter's design work has been of a professional and even patentable standard, yet it has also been open-minded and joyful. He worked for UC Davis Design and Construction Management as the recipient of a highly coveted internship, while successfully navigating a double major in Design and Sustainable Environmental Design. He was the winner of two industry student design competitions in lighting, and his design of an interactive chalkboard and video monitor space transformed the entry to the Department of Design in Cruess Hall. His commitment, ingenuity and generosity has, in short, been a model for other students.”
- Professor Mark Kessler, UC Davis
Through his work with the UC Davis D-lab, Peter was awarded a travel grant to conduct a three month research project in Sierra Leone. This project aimed to introduce sustainable bio-ethanol fuel as a carbon neutral alternative to firewood, while simultaneously addressing issues of deforestation, poor indoor air quality, and unbalanced gender dynamics exacerbated by firewood dependence. Peter’s specific role was to design a low cost ethanol cookstove which could be fabricated from locally available materials and technology. The result was the Gondaegoti Stove
At the start of 2019, Peter traveled to New Zealand to work for internationally recognized lighting designer David Trubridge. Peter’s concept for the ‘Wave’ Basket of Light has since joined the permanent studio collection and was exhibited at the Milan Furniture Fair 2019. Peter has also exhibited works at LightFair International, The Morris Graves Museum of Art, and the UC Davis Design Museum.
