Hi, I’m Sofia Limena, a sophomore persuing a degree in Industrial Design at Carnegie Mellon University with a minor in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and Business Administration.
I’m a multidisciplinary designer obsessed with culture, having grown up in cities across the United States and Europe, my favourite designs are the ones that become a part of, and shake up the cultural zeitgeist.
I take this into my own design practice, with bold (sometimes provocative) visuals, thoughtful modular systems and tongue-in-cheek storytelling.
Outside of work, you can find me lamenting about the Chelsea Hotel, tattooing or adding another book to my “Want to Read” queue on Goodreads.
Resume
Tripod Table, Furniture Design for Carnegie Mellon University
Project Prompt:
Students will move beyond the conventional Shaker-style corner table and reinterpret its
structure through the lense of another culture, and using a combination of wood turning and 3D printed connection components.
Timeline
January 2026 - February 2026
Six Weeks
Skills
3D Printing
CNC Machining
Lathe
CMF Design
Materials & Tools
Canadian Wood
CNC Machine
Orange PLA for 3D Components
Beaded SpindleTable’s Spindle references traditional Armenian clothing, including heavily beaded garments, beaded silver jewellery, and tassles.Round Legs & Supports
The table’s round legs are visually cohesive with the focal feature, the spindle, but additonally reference arcitectural cross sections of early Armenian churches.
Modernist DesignThe table draws from Armenia’s emergence of modernist architecture, which reclaims elements from aincent traditions and translates them into a contemporary post-Soviet design language.
Researching Culture
Research included an experiential visit to the Armenian classroom in Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning, a space dedicated to and decorated in, the style of traditional Armenian architecture and ornamentation. This allowed for a foundational understanding of Armenia’s materials and Research highlighted important visual elements of Armenian culture, particularly the signifigance of geometry, which is prevalent throughout their Medieval and Modernist periods, appearing in both early byzantine churches and traditional jewellry.
Sketches
In sketching, I applied visual elements identified from my research to early form iterations, emphasizing modernist and geometric shapes while referencing aspects of Armenian tradition and craftsmanship.I selected Iteration 7 to continue developing, as the spindle’s geometry allows for the most experimentation on the Lathe while keeping the form modern and culturally relevant to Armenia.
3D and Physical Prototyping
Before fabrication, the table was modeled in Solidworks allowing me to rapidly iterate leg and connector parts, checking how they appear relative to the overall form. A full-scale cardboard prototype was then built to evaluate real-world scale, proportions, and spatial presence, confirming it’s prescence from the digital to physical.
At this point, I had decided to use the seventh iteration of the table’s legs, opting for a simple arch which repeats the curvature seen on the spindle, complimenting this focal feature without making the rest of the table appear visually crowded.
Manufacturing
Making the Tabletop with the CNCThis project provided an opportunity to learn to use the CNC, a tool of certainty that provides insight into mass-maufacturing, highlighting how digital fabrication can translate design intent into scalable production.
Making the Spindle
The spindle was produced on the lathe in a single three-hour session, with its hand-formed character contrasting the precise machining used for the table’s top and connecting components, and reinforcing my understanding of how process directly informs visual and material expression.
Making the LegsThe legs were fabricated with a Shaper Origin, traced first with a handheld CNC , then refined by hand sanding.
3D Prints & FinishesThe joints connecting the table’s legs , spindle, and table top were designed in SolidWorks. The orange colour was a design constraint set by the project guidelines, while the wood was coated with sanding sealer and polyurethane.
Mistakes and AssemblyMy biggest mistake was realised when assembling the legs to the 3D printed bottom connector , in that I had cut the legs inprecisely leading to severley faulty fit. To resolve this, I used the table saw to cut
Final Thoughts
The table’s round legs are visually cohesive with the focal feature, the spindle, but additonally reference arcitectural cross sections of early Armenian churches.
Sofia Limena © 2026