John Dunnigan: In Conversation w/ Amy Devers

Metcalf Audi­to­rium, Chase Center
Rhode Island School of Design
Prov­i­dence, Rhode Island

Talk at 4:00 with recep­tion to follow 

Note: the RISD Museum will feature Dunnigan’s work held in their perma­nent collec­tion on view in a contemporary gallery. 

Rhode Island School of Design | Prov­i­dence, Rhode Island

For 45 years, John Dunni­gan was a pres­ence at RISD as a teacher, designer, colleague, mentor, and advo­cate for a broad and deeply consid­ered under­stand­ing of furni­ture and design. His influ­ence reaches well beyond the objects he has designed and made. It lives in the work and think­ing of the gener­a­tions of students he taught, in the programs he helped estab­lish, and in his insis­tence that furni­ture be under­stood within a larger cultural and intellectual landscape.

On October 17, Dunni­gan will return to RISD for an evening devoted to conver­sa­tion and reflec­tion on that remarkable career.

Amy Devers, designer, educa­tor, podcast host, and former student and colleague of Dunnigan’s, will join him for a live conver­sa­tion in Metcalf Audi­to­rium. Together, they will explore Dunnigan’s evolu­tion as a designer and educa­tor, his approach to teach­ing and mentor­ship, the ideas that have informed his work, and the chang­ing land­scape of contem­po­rary furni­ture over the course of his career.

Rather than a conven­tional lecture or retro­spec­tive, the evening will offer an oppor­tu­nity to hear Dunni­gan reflect on the expe­ri­ences, ques­tions, people, and prin­ci­ples that have shaped his life in design and to consider the lasting impact of a teacher whose influ­ence has extended across generations.

The conver­sa­tion will be followed by a recep­tion, bring­ing together students, alumni, faculty, design­ers, makers, collec­tors, colleagues, and friends of the Furni­ture Society and RISD.

The October 17 cele­bra­tion is the first of two events honor­ing Dunni­gan during the 2026 – 2027 Award of Distinc­tion cycle. The Furni­ture Society will formally present the award at its 2027 Confer­ence in Houston, Texas.

The parking may be differ­ent on an evening when there is a Water­fire. Some streets are closed, etc.

Getting to the RISD Museum
Entrances at 20 North Main and 224 Benefit Street, Prov­i­dence, RI

By Bike
Bike racks are avail­able at 224 Benefit Street.

By Bus
RISD is located near several RIPTA bus stops as well as a short walk from Kennedy Plaza. 

By Car
Infor­ma­tion on discounted parking and nearby parking lots is avail­able on RISD’s website (see ​“Getting Here” > ​“By Car”) and City of Prov­i­dence parking infor­ma­tion.

Week­days (daytime)
Street parking is avail­able on Benefit Street and nearby side streets. Non-metered parking is limited (2 or 3 hours).

Week­days (after 5 pm)
Street parking is avail­able on Benefit Street, on North & South Main Streets, and on surround­ing side streets​.At this time of day, CLASS A, B + C permits are not required.

Week­ends
On the week­ends, street parking is avail­able on Benefit Street, College Street, North & South Main Streets, and surround­ing side streets. Visi­tors may park for free at RISD faculty/​staff lots on week­ends. Closest avail­able lots are located at 7 and 10 Congdon Street and 292 Benefit Street. At this time of day, CLASS A, B + C permits are not required. 

The Award of Distinc­tion recog­nizes and cele­brates outstand­ing achieve­ment and long-stand­ing commit­ment by an indi­vid­ual or insti­tu­tion to the advance­ment of the art of furni­ture making. The Award is intended to strengthen the fabric of The Furni­ture Soci­ety’s commu­nity by naming and cele­brat­ing its aesthetic and intellectual leaders.

Learn More About The Award of Distinction

Please consider making a contri­bu­tion in John’s name to The Furni­ture Society’s Educa­tional Grant Part­ner­ship initia­tive, support­ing contin­ued educa­tion of makers and the next generation.