We are an internationally recognized studio creating award-winning design.
about us
UNION brings together thoughtful design thinking with a deep understanding of product development to create human focused products. With a belief that design should be simple and approachable, Union works with clients to make products that are effortlessly user centric and quietly intuitive in their function.
With this function-first approach, UNION goes beyond aesthetics through an exploratory design process to develop a deep understanding of how a user interacts with a product. Together with this informed thinking, UNION embraces each client’s unique needs and the constraints of manufacturing and business, translating them into products their clients can bring to market successfully, and users can enjoy.
Philosophy
Value Partnerships
We strive to not just create products but to unite with our partners in creating lasting relationships centered around innovative design thinking.
Embrace Constraints
Good design embraces constraints. To succeed, we go beyond aesthetics to confront the constraints of manufacturing, sustainability, and business.
Listen & Observe
We listen to and observe our clients to find needs we can translate into objects. Objects that are inspired by experiences, nature, art, or through the design process itself.
founder
Raised in a Pennsylvania community of creatives where Knoll and well-known mid-century modern designers grew out of, Jeff Theesfeld was inspired to create art from a young age. His schoolwork in largescale ceramics won him statewide recognition and drew the attention of the dean of design at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia where he later received a bachelor’s of science in industrial design.
After graduation, Jeff joined the studio of world-renowned former Knoll product designer, Richard Schultz, where he eventually became Design Director. Working alongside Richard to expand his classic collections plus creating new award-winning outdoor furniture pieces, the work instilled a respect for modern design, the rigors of outdoor furniture, and a deep understanding of materials, processes, and manufacturing.
Following his time at Richard Schultz, Jeff became a product developer at Shea+Latone, a product development firm that specialized in the development of products for some of the largest contract furniture companies in the world. In time, Jeff became the owner of the company and further grew his vast knowledge of materials and processes, engineering, regulatory testing, and the business of furniture. While at Shea+Latone, he partnered with well-known product designers and furniture companies including Humanscale, Global, Teknion, and Knoll on the development and testing of products.
A formidable point of his career was working with design legend and father of ergonomics, Niels Diffrient. Working closely with him on the development of several task chairs, Jeff learned the importance of understanding the human body and how advanced mechanisms can solve problems and create lasting innovation. Jeff’s work on several ergonomic innovations for advanced task chairs, healthcare products, and monitor arms awarded him and his clients numerous awards and patents.
Now focused on applying these experiences to his own designs, Jeff has gained the reputation of a firmly grounded and seasoned product designer. His career work has earned him international recognition and accolades including several Good Design, iF Design, Best of Neocon, and MetropolisLikes awards.
select Awards
