## Meet Our Newest Team Member: Cassie Stepanek
We're excited to introduce Cassie Stepanek, who has joined Tangram Studio as our newest Industrial Designer. With a creative background spanning furniture design and exhibition curation, Cassie brings fresh perspectives that will strengthen our design capabilities.
### From Dallas to Design
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Cassie earned her Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design from the prestigious Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. Her educational foundation, combined with two years of hands-on experience at MASHstudios in Los Angeles, has shaped her approach to thoughtful, functional design.
"I've always been drawn to creating, inventing and designing," Cassie explains. Her journey into industrial design stems from childhood fascination with inventors throughout history—a passion that naturally evolved into her current expertise in bringing innovative concepts to life.
### Beyond the Studio
When she's not designing, Cassie embodies the modern creative professional's balance between social connection and focused work time. As she puts it, channeling Courtney Barnett: "I wanna go out but I wanna stay home." This duality often drives the most innovative design thinking.
An interesting chapter in her background includes touring the country as a soccer player—an experience that likely contributed to her understanding of space, movement, and user experience that proves invaluable in commercial design projects.
### Looking Forward
**What excites Cassie most about joining Tangram?** "I'm excited to collaborate on designs and learn new perspectives." This collaborative mindset aligns perfectly with our studio culture, where diverse viewpoints strengthen every project outcome.
When asked about time travel, Cassie's response reflects her forward-thinking design philosophy: "The future for sure. The past is jaded." This perspective positions her well for tackling the evolving challenges in commercial interior design, from workplace transformation to sustainable material innovation.
### A Fresh Perspective on Design Education
Cassie brings thoughtful insights about design education, noting that schools should teach "how to travel"—a skill that broadens cultural understanding and spatial awareness, both crucial for creating inclusive, globally-minded commercial spaces.
Her diverse experience in furniture design, curation, and exhibition design adds depth to our studio's capabilities, particularly as we continue expanding our approach to comprehensive commercial environments.
Welcome to the team, Cassie! We look forward to the innovative perspectives and collaborative energy you'll bring to our upcoming projects.
