Milo Baughman (1923-2003) was a pioneer in modern design and one of the leading modern American furniture designers of the second half of the 20th century. Baughman's uniquely American designs are forward-thinking and distinctive, yet unpretentious. Paramount to Baughman's design philosophy was that good design is enduring design. Baughman's characteristic restraint did not permit the look of mere novelty to enter in, rather, he achieved a look that is uncompromisingly modern, but which never violates the timeless standards of good taste. Baughman’s work has been exhibited in several museums, including the Whitney Museum’s “High Styles: Twentieth Century American Design” and in the "Good Design" exhibition at the MoMA. He received the Distinguished Designer Award from the American Society of Furniture Designers in 1987.

Learn more here about Milo Baughman's historic career and his collaborations with Thayer Coggin.

A native of High Point, North Carolina, Ransom Culler has been designing exceptional furniture for more than 25 years. Culler is well known for his ability to work with wide range of materials and for a focus on comfort and proportion in his designs. His work has earned critical acclaim for its contemporary and classic style. With an education in furniture design from the prestigious Kendall Collage of Art and Design, Ransom has created and contributed to hundreds of projects domestically and around the world.

Born and raised in New York, and a graduate of Parsons School of Design / The New School for Design, Friedman is recognized by fellow designers and architects for his clean barrier-breaking modern designs. With an eye on cutting edge technologies, Friedman’s passion for pushing boundaries and experimenting has led to his reputation as a savvy, forward thinking designer. His designs have been published numerous times, and he has achieved many awards and commendations: including the Dupont Antron Grand Prize Award, IBD Awards, ASID Awards , Roscoe Awards, ISFD Pinnacle Awards and many others. Friedman lectures in America on the evolution of modernism. His focused concern is the slow emergence of the understanding and acceptance of modernism in our homes. He lives in New York City with his wife Carole, a fashion designer and stylist and has two children and four grandchildren.

Alexander Guy Hill is Director of Design for Thayer Coggin. Hill studied under the tutelage of Milo Baughman at Brigham Young University. When Baughman relocated his design studio to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he invited Hill to join his staff as an associate product designer. “I cannot overstate Milo Baughman’s influence on my career. The opportunity to work directly with him gave me rare insight and his grasp of all facets of modern design providing perspective that I could not have otherwise experienced," Hill said. However, Hill makes no attempt to create “Milo Baughman” designs. “Milo’s works stand alone,” Hill added. “My designs reflect where I feel modern furniture is today in relation to style, proportion and comfort.” A native of Salt Lake City, Hill is now a resident of Winston-Salem, NC.

An innovator at the vanguard of modern design, Rick Lee combines rational thinking with radical influences to create minimalist pieces with deft whimsical touches. Lee was born in South Korea and came to the United States as a teenager. After obtaining a degree in industrial design, Lee began his career in Chicago. Relocating to Milan, he honed his distinctive artistic style by incorporating the minimal principles of the Bauhaus with experiences gained collaborating at the irreverent Studio Alchimia. Lee's unique aesthetic is both vibrant and charismatic. His work has appeared in museums, movie and television sets and in celebrity homes. Lee’s designs have also been widely exhibited internationally and reviewed in publications such as the New York Times, Interni and Dwell. Working with a wide range of materials and resources, he prefers not to work with any one particular material on a consistent basis. Lee considers “California cuisine” an apt metaphor for his work — a mix of seemingly incongruent ingredients carefully combined to create something new and fresh.