Introducing the Shifted Shapes of Kelly Harris Smith Collection
FilzFelt introduces the shifted shapes of the Kelly Harris Smith Collection. The seven hanging panel designs by Kelly Harris Smith—Arch, Arrow, Dash, Dot, Loop, Pitch, and Square—begin with the seemingly straightforward circle, triangle, and square. But by combining, repeating, and scaling, the shapes form complex patterning inspired by halftone reprographic techniques from when newsprint was king. This age-old technique reproduces a photograph or other image where the various tones of gray or color are produced by ink dots. In the Kelly Harris Smith collection, repeated shapes shift in scale and spacing to create this gradient-like effect. And to make things even more interesting, shapes are mirrored here and there to bolster the patterning. The intentional location of each pattern’s opacity allows a bit more privacy at seated height, while light and views are filtered above. Need to tweak it? A large pattern repeat allows for easy customization (and privacy at seated versus standing) by simply moving the repeat higher or lower, making this collection endlessly versatile while being downright cool.
Hanging Panels offer the soft texture, thickness, and density of 100% Wool Design Felt that allow these no-nonsense panels to hang freely without a backing or additional support. Plus, this nifty nonwoven textile can be cut with intricate patterning without finishing the edges. All this comes together in a modern screening system that provides varied degrees of privacy and enables flexible space division with visual and acoustic separation.
Speaking of the new collection, Kelly Harris Smith—the collection’s designer—comments: “I’m excited to design a new collection of hanging panels following the success of my original designs for FilzFelt,” explains the collection’s designer Kelly Harris Smith. “The need for visual and acoustic privacy in open workplaces led me to design with simple geometries and shifting patterns. This fulfills the needs for both transparency and opacity, by allowing the user more privacy at seated height versus standing.”
Regarding the new collection, Traci Roloff—FilzFelt’s co-founder and Vice President of Marketing + Communications—remarks: “We’re pleased to again work with my partner-in-crime on a collection of products that balances beauty, design, and functionality so effortlessly.”
About Kelly Harris Smith
Kelly Harris Smith is an independent designer and creative director specializing in natural and sustainable materials in commercial and residential interior design. By balancing intricacy and simplicity, Kelly’s designs are distinctive for their pattern, color, and innovative functionality. Whether she’s creating small accessories or large interior architecture installations, Kelly begins her design process with a thoughtful analysis of how people will interact with the product or environment. A co-founder of FilzFelt, she was Creative Director and VP of Design for Spinneybeck | FilzFelt, a Knoll, Inc. brand focused on wool felt, leather, and cork interior products.
Named one of the Boston Globe’s 25 Most Stylish Bostonians in 2008, Kelly was a recipient of New England Home’s 5 Under 40 Award in 2011. Under her direction, FilzFelt received Interior Design Magazine’s HIP Award in 2014 and 2016, and Spinneybeck’s Beller Collection received Metropolis magazine’s Metropolis Likes Award and Interior Design Magazine’s Best of Year Award in 2016. She is a founding member and board organizer of Boston Design Salon, a women’s design business leadership organization, and sits on the advisory council of the Design Industry Group of Massachusetts (DIGMA), an organization dedicated to strengthening the relationship of design to business, education, and leadership.
Prior to founding FilzFelt, Kelly was the founder of Etcetera Media, a product design company that focused on textile decor and home accessories. From 2007 to 2011, she curated an annual gallery exhibition and sale for Boston’s pinkcomma gallery called Design Nearby, focusing on local designers. She has a BS in Architecture from Northeastern University and spent several years working for Machado & Silvetti Associates, an award-winning architecture and urban design firm. She also gained experience in interior architectural details while working on educational and museum projects at Utile and graphic design and branding skills at over,under. She has been crafting beautiful things out of unexpected materials since she was growing up in Northern Virginia. She lives with her husband, two children, and two vizslas in Boston’s South End.
About FilzFelt
FilzFelt carries German-milled 100% Wool Design Felt in 63 colors and five thicknesses. The product line includes 100% Wool Design Felt by the yard and felt products including acoustic products, drapery, floor coverings, hanging panels, and tabletop. Since felt is a nonwoven fabric and does not require a loom for its production, ancient people were able to produce it quite easily. To produce felt, raw wool undergoes a wet felting process, which involves matting, condensing, and pressing the fibers. Wool Design Felt is high quality, eco-friendly, comes in highly saturated colors, and is perfect for demanding design applications.
FilzFelt was founded in 2008 by two felt-loving designers, Kelly Smith and Traci Roloff. In 2011, the company was acquired by Knoll, Inc. and continues to bring this natural, ancient textile into the 21st century where it balances beauty, utility, and sustainability while meeting the challenging needs of modern spaces.
