Behind the Design
Nest Baffle
Kelly Harris Smith has worked as a textile and product designer for over twenty years, drawing inspiration from the patterns and textures she discovers exploring her city of Boston. If you follow Kelly on social media, you know sketching and water-coloring are regular rituals and an integral part of her design process. Working in various mediums, from paint, colored pencil, pen and ink, and marker, Kelly creates lively patterns that she regularly translates to her work in product design and textiles.
For the Nest Baffle collection, Kelly reimagines an array of patterns from her sketches and prints in an acoustic system to create custom designs across the ceiling. With just a few components, Nest Baffles can be combined to create endless orientations and repeat patterns that animate the ceiling in bold, expressive designs similar to Kelly’s graphic watercolor prints.
We visited Kelly in her Boston studio, where she shared her collection of sketches, drawings, and paintings that have inspired her work for years, spanning a vast range of projects - from her latest collection of wallcoverings (her textile-inspired collection for Mosaik) to her recent collection of baffles. We chatted more about her process and the rituals she incorporates into her daily practice as a product designer and creative director.
Can you share the inspiration behind Nest Baffle?
Nest Baffle is a celebration of modularity and simplicity. I aimed to design a system that is not only visually striking but also versatile. By utilizing repeated shapes and incorporating shifts in color and height, this acoustic baffle system can be installed in a way that feels both intentional and organic. The ability to group and nest them allows for creative installation around challenging ceiling moments or structural obstacles, making them adaptable to various spaces.
Can you walk us through the evolution of this collection? What was the design and prototyping process like, especially given the scale of the product? Were there versions that didn’t quite hit the mark?
In every project, my focus centers on functionality and the end user. The brief for Nest was refreshingly broad, pushing me to explore new possibilities beyond FilzFelt’s offerings. With FilzFelt’s newer manufacturing capabilities, we could experiment with new forms.
As a fun proof of concept for the Nest baffles, I rolled up my sleeves and created a series of quick (and crude/imperfect) block prints using three shapes: quarter round, half round, and straight. This hands-on exercise not only sparked my creativity but also revealed the vast possibilities this modular acoustic baffle system can offer.
“As a fun proof of concept for the Nest baffles, I rolled up my sleeves and created a series of quick block prints using three shapes: quarter round, half round, and straight. This hands-on exercise not only sparked my creativity but also revealed the vast possibilities this modular acoustic baffle system can offer."
Your collection for FilzFelt spans products for the floor, wall, and now ceiling. How did your approach to Nest Baffle differ from your previous work?
This collection is a unique opportunity to scale up pattern design, reimagining it in both floor plans and reflected ceiling plans. Unlike earlier products with FilzFelt, whose focus has been on surfaces, this design necessitated considering how shapes interact in three-dimensional space, offering a new level of complexity and playfulness.
What challenges did you encounter with this new product category?
One of the biggest challenges is understanding the sheer variety of environments in which the baffle system can be utilized. The combinations are virtually limitless, especially when you consider nesting them and varying their heights. Finding the right balance between aesthetic appeal and acoustic performance in such diverse spaces is both complex and exciting.
What emotions do you hope these baffles will evoke? How do you envision the atmosphere of a space transformed by Nest baffles?
Wool felt inherently softens environments, and with the Nest baffles, I want to amplify that effect. They not only add warmth through material and texture but also exist to absorb sound, creating a more inviting and tranquil atmosphere. My goal is for these baffles to provide a sense of comfort and calm in any setting.
“This collection is a unique opportunity to scale up pattern design, reimagining it in both floor plans and reflected ceiling plans. Unlike earlier products with FilzFelt, whose focus has been on surfaces, this design necessitated considering how shapes interact in three-dimensional space, offering a new level of complexity and playfulness.“
How do you see color playing a role in these curved panels? Are there specific color combinations that excite you for this collection?
Absolutely! I love experimenting with tonal groupings—whether warm, cool, or neutral tones. I can also envision companies incorporating their brand colors in imaginative ways, adding a playful touch to the design while maintaining cohesion.
With three different panels (two round and one straight), what creative possibilities exist for designers in terms of layout? How can they delineate areas within a space?
The design offers incredible flexibility. Designers can create engaging patterns, with designs spanning an entire space or specific groupings related to the furniture placement below. For example, clusters can be arranged around soft seating areas for intimacy, while longer nests can hover above tables or workstations, promoting collaboration.
“Wool felt inherently softens environments, and with the Nest baffles, I want to amplify that effect. They not only add warmth through material and texture but also exist to absorb sound, creating a more inviting and tranquil atmosphere. My goal is for these baffles to provide a sense of comfort and calm in any setting.”
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 until her departure in 2017.