Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicholas D’Esposito.
Nicholas, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been into designing and making things since I was a kid. That interest was nourished by my parents, who have been buying me tools, books, and wood for every holiday since I was five. They bought me a table saw when I was 14- it’s a joy and wonder that I still have all my fingers. My uncle, John D’Esposito, was also inspirational and instrumental in teaching me how to use my head and hands from a super young age. My childhood interests led me to study mechanical engineering, but I wasn’t drawn to a “normal” engineering job after school. Instead, I went on to work as a shipwright, restoring and building boats at Long Island, NY-based Wooden Boatworks (woodenboatworks.com). Through my work there, I met and went to work for Kristian Iglesias (studio-arma.com), also based in NY, who introduced me to the world of high-end architectural design/fabrication work. I love this niche, as I feel it provides an outlet for both sides of the brain. The mix of practical and artistic design requirements in work keeps me engaged and happy. I felt a little stagnant in NY after a few years, and loaded a van with my tools and dreams in 2019, moving to San Diego. I set up shop in an industrial space on Santa Fe Street, adjacent the 5, where I’m still operating. The business has two main components, though they often bleed into one another. On one side, work is technical; 3D modeling, machining, and prototyping. My engineering studies and apprenticeship in a machine shop during college prepared me for that. On the other side is the architectural work. My understanding of that world is owed largely to my time in NY with Kristian and his partner Nadira. I love the variety in what I do and rarely say no to a project. It keeps things interesting and encourages me to continue learning.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a beautifully smooth road. I think a huge part of that is the encouragement I received from my parents from day one. They were both schoolteachers and worked hard to give my brothers and me everything we needed to succeed. It’s hard to fail when you’re carried to the one-yard line. The value of education was impressed upon us, and that’s served me well. They taught me by example how `beneficial a positive, easy-going attitude can be, and I think that’s also been immeasurably beneficial.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I take pride in the multidisciplinary nature of my work and capabilities. There’s hardly a straight line on a boat, and working as a shipwright made me comfortable in a world of wood, organic shapes, and aesthetics. Apprenticing in a machine shop and studying mechanical engineering made me comfortable in a world of sharp corners, math, and metal; my projects often pull from my experiences with these different techniques and materials. I think it’s like being bilingual, and there’s evidence of it in the things that leave my workshop. Like when you hear an Italian person speaking English, and you’re like, “Man, that’s attractive.”
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
My uncle taught me a lot when I was doing projects as a kid. One thing he impressed upon me was what an inconsequential barrier not understanding something at the outset is. He taught me to do research, ask questions, make some mistakes, trash a few failed attempts, and ultimately figure things out and succeed. I’ve gone through that process hundreds of times, and it always ends the same way.
Contact Info:
- Website: despositodesigns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/despositodesigns/
Image Credits
Rachael DeSouza
