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Kwadwo Som-Pimpong

Kwadwo Som-Pimpong

Kwadwo Som-Pimpong is the founder and creative director of Crafted Glory, a North Carolina studio making sculptural furniture. With engineering degrees from Carnegie Mellon, he blends West African heritage with contemporary design. Featured on PBS, NBC, and CNN, his work is collected nationwide.

1 Episode

Kwadwo Som-Pimpong's Bio

Kwadwo Som-Pimpong is the founder and creative director of Crafted Glory, a sculptural furniture studio rooted in West African heritage and based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. He creates handcrafted pieces that bridge continents and generations, working from an intimate studio alongside his wife Faith where every design emerges from rigorous engineering thinking and meticulous handcraft.

Som-Pimpong earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical and environmental engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. That technical background gives his furniture structural precision and material consciousness rarely seen in studio furniture. His work draws from the bold forms and textural richness of West African artistry while honoring Scandinavian design's restraint and clarity, resulting in pieces that feel both grounded and unmistakably contemporary.

Crafted Glory has appeared on PBS North Carolina, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in Etsy's Olympics campaign. Pieces are in collections across all fifty states, ranging from intimate side tables to a twenty-foot conference table for a municipal boardroom. Som-Pimpong has spoken at NYC Climate Week's mainstage and was selected for AvroKO's Host on Howard showcase during NYCxDESIGN, positioning the studio for growth beyond furniture into architectural interventions and spatial design.

Career Timeline

  • 2008BS in Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon

    Earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, building the technical foundation for his furniture design practice.

  • 2009MS in Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon

    Completed a master's degree in environmental engineering, adding material consciousness and sustainability thinking to his design approach.

  • 2015Founded Crafted Glory

    Launched Crafted Glory as a sculptural furniture studio in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, blending West African heritage with contemporary design.

  • 2018Featured on NBC Nightly News

    Crafted Glory was featured on NBC Nightly News, highlighting Som-Pimpong's handcrafted furniture and the studio's growth.

  • 2020Etsy Olympics Campaign

    Selected for Etsy's Olympics campaign, bringing national exposure to the brand's handcrafted furniture.

  • 2024NYC Climate Week Mainstage Speaker

    Spoke on the mainstage at NYC Climate Week, discussing sustainable design and the intersection of craftsmanship and environmental responsibility.

  • 2024AvroKO Host on Howard Showcase

    Selected for AvroKO's Host on Howard showcase during NYCxDESIGN, positioning Crafted Glory for expansion into architectural interventions and spatial design.

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