Alum TJ Thomas Won't Stand for Missing Stool -- He Built a New One

CHICAGO TRIBUNE -- Thomas has a Master's in industrial design at San Francisco State University and later studied under famed architect Michael Graves, who designed hundreds of buildings and later brought his sensibility to Target housewares. Thomas founded Studio Murmur in 2009. The Ursli stools have been in development for about two years. They stand either 24 or 30 inches tall and are made from American ash sourced from Michigan. A steel structure — cut and formed down the street at D & J Metalcraft — holds the legs together. Another steel part attaches the legs to the seat. While Studio Murmur's work focuses on a mix of furniture, housewares and industrial design, the two- to five-person staff finds time to do other projects.