thomas.oliphant@thomasoliphant.com
http://www.thomasoliphant.com/
he/him/his

BIO 

Thomas Oliphant makes furniture and furnishings for contemporary living, including tables, seating, hardware, and lighting. His professional practice is inclusive and collaborative with work in the collections of distinguished institutional, corporate and private clients nationwide. Thomas Oliphant teaches in the College of Design at the University of Minnesota and the Graduate Program at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. He retired young as an Architect and holds degrees from Cranbrook Academy of Art and the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY & MENTORSHIP

My agenda when teaching is to guide all students to a safe mind-place where they may take risks, make mistakes and realize their own success. No-one learns when they are afraid. Fear may motivate a recital of technique or fact, but will never spark the freely associative thinking of self-discovery and understanding.

It is my responsibility is to meet all students where they are. One can never know another’s experience or intent ­­—only through conversation can one begin empathize with the feelings that may guide that individual. To teach is to first listen, then to facilitate connections between persons and, across things to ideas.

I am fiercely loyal in fostering the development of every individual who works hard to realize and communicate a personal agenda they believe in. The undergraduate student is guided by teaching the history, culture and methods of the Discipline. The graduate student is challenged through the testing and questioning their original thinking in advancing their Discipline.