Frederick McSwain

Born and raised in coastal North Carolina, Frederick McSwain studied fine arts and design at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Then known as “Hollywood of the East,” Wilmington’s thriving film industry offered a means for many local creatives to earn a living. Having the opportunity to apprentice with a range of set designers, prop stylists, and location scouts, McSwain quickly learned the importance of objects functioning both figuratively and emotionally. Relocating to New York City in 2001, McSwain spent the next decade working for global design brands such as; Terence Conran, Cappellini, Cassina, Poltrona Frau, and Haworth. To expand his creative output, he founded his eponymous studio practice in 2010. Utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach to problem solving, McSwain Studio now partners with leading companies and brands in the areas of product development, branding, art direction, licensing, and consulting. McSwain’s work is known for rich storytelling, historical references, and unique insight while remaining colorful and contemporary. From Paris to New York, he’s been represented in galleries around the world, including the notable exhibition commemorating his late friend, Tobias Wong, at Gallery R’Pure in 2011. Also known for collaboration, McSwain worked alongside fellow industrial designer, Brad Ascalon, to create a collection of home furnishings and personal accessories for cutting-edge aluminum manufacturer, Neal Feay. In 2014, McSwain designed Bernhardt Design’s 125th anniversary “Family Trees” installation for their New York and Chicago locations. More recently, as the acting Chief Creative Officer of LR Paris, a bespoke product design firm, he created products for clients ranging from the White House, Harry Winston and Cartier, to cultural institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Guggenheim Museum. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Graduate Furniture at the Graduate School of Design at Pratt. McSwain Studio is located on Great Jones Street in the Noho neighborhood of Manhattan. He lives and works in New York City with his wife and three children.

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