ZAC BANIK IS A JEWISH AND SLAVIC-AMERICAN ARTIST, DESIGNER AND EDUCATOR WHO SPECIALIZES IN ETHNODESIGN AND CROSS-CULTURAL COLLABORATION.

Through a craft-centric process informed by academic and material research, he utilizes the mediums of furniture, decor and wearable objects to explore global craft tradition and reflect upon the nature of cultural identity. He has a passion for cross-cultural collaboration and a desire to leverage design thinking to break down borders, foster connection and understanding between people and create opportunities to celebrate our unique cultural expressions while recognising our shared humanity.

Zac Banik holds a BA in Cultural Anthropology from University of Maryland, Baltimore County and an MFA in Furniture Design with a certificate in Collegiate Teaching from the Rhode Island School of Design. He has worked as a guest lecturer at the Slovak Technical University in Bratislava and taught two semesters as a graduate student at the Rhode Island School of Design. Currently, he is teaching community education courses and workshops at Portland Community College and Wildcraft Studio School.

Zac is also the founder and principal designer of the home goods company Studio Nikto and regularly produces new work for their product lines.