Mike Newins (they/he) runs Make Nice, a studio based in North Carolina. Newins is a self taught craftsperson and designer, working in warm minimalism inspired by utilitarian function and formal design . The studio is heavily influenced by artists of the Light and Space Movement and the Minimalism Movement of the 60's, as well as neo-noir science fiction movies, magical realism novels and ancient cultures across the world. Gestural minimalism and elevated utilitarian are the primary languages of the studio. Newins’ work has been featured in Dwell, Design Milk and Interior Design, and has been show in the HeadHi Lamp Show, Jonald Dudd, New
Carolina and others.
As a self-taught craftsperson and interdisciplinary designer, I navigate the delicate dance between the soft and the severe, seeking the sweet spot where dichotomies coalesce. Inspired by the Light and Space Movement and Minimalism of the '60s, particularly artists like Donald Judd and James Turrell, my work lives at the intersection of neo-noir sci-fi and warm minimalist craft.Beginning with metal and the precision of lightweight steel tubing in my early years, my transition to wood and stone uses organic materials with similarly harsh fabrication standards . The resulting pieces, intentionally chronologically inconsistent, blur the boundaries between eras, blending utilitarian materials to create a timeless anonymity.In my design process, I embrace the duality of stress and joy, the hard and the soft, past and future – a trickster's approach. The goal is to infuse my work with a casual tension and a subdued uniqueness, inviting viewers to take a closer look and discover hidden nuances. My mantra echoes in every piece: "Think about everything, forever. Use materials to their highest value, not their inherent value. Romanticize everything, romanticize nothing." Through assertive decisions and an unwavering commitment to process and form, I strive to create functional statement pieces that transcend the limitations of intrinsic value.
