Mobile Makers ChicagoShape Makers

In this time of tentative gatherings, Maya Bird-Murphy and Stephen Cortez, of Mobile Makers Chicago, have designed configurable furniture for The Arts Club of Chicago Garden. Employing modular, geometric forms in bright color, they transform the tranquil setting into a playful, interactive space. Each practical, moveable shape is designed to be used independently or in combination with others to make individual seating, play-forms, or a bench. Throughout the run of the exhibition, The Arts Club hosts outdoor sound and performance, as well as open hours for meditation or social gathering.

Maya Bird-Murphy is an architectural designer, educator, and maker from Oak Park, Illinois. She is also the founder and Executive Director of Mobile Makers Chicago, an award-winning nonprofit organization that brings design-focused skill-building workshops to underrepresented communities. Maya believes that architecture should not be a privilege and must expand to accommodate more people through teaching and community engagement. She loves Chicago and hopes to make her mark by making it a more equitable place to live.

Stephen Cortez is a recent graduate of the Architecture and Urban Planning program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He’s a Program Facilitator at Mobile Makers Chicago where he leads youth design-thinking and problem-solving workshops. Stephen has an interest in researching critical practice and enjoys exploring the City of Chicago.