Craft in a Time of Tariffs

Julie Lasky is a journalist, editor and critic who specializes in design, architecture, and real estate. A widely published writer, she contributes a monthly column called “Living Small” to the New York Times real estate section and edits the domestic and international Special Design Report supplements produced by the Times. She is also a part-time assistant professor in the Industrial Design MFA program at Parsons School of Design.

Brett Binford is an artist and entrepreneur based in Portland, Oregon. He is the co-owner and CEO of Mudshark Studios, a space dedicated to celebrating and supporting the ceramic community by providing designers and artists with a local production outlet. Brett is also the co-owner of Eutectic Gallery, Kept Goods, Clay Street and Colour De Verre, in addition to serving as the Exhibitions Director for NCECA and the Board President for the Portland Art Dealers Association.

Chris Farrell is senior economics contributor at Minnesota Public Radio and Marketplace, American Public Media’s nationally syndicated public radio business and economic programs. Chris is a columnist for PBS Next Avenue and the Minnesota Star Tribune. He is also host of Office Hours podcast for the Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute at the University of Minnesota. He has written for Bloomberg Businessweek, New York Times, Kiplinger’s, and other publications. Chris is the author of five books, including The New Frugality, Unretirement, and Purpose and a Paycheck.

Robert Sukrachand is a Thai-American designer, craftsperson, and founder of PERN BAAN, a design studio bridging traditional craft techniques with contemporary design across the U.S. and Thailand. Working between New York and Chiang Mai, Robert collaborates with artisans and small workshops to produce lighting and furniture collections rooted in material storytelling and cross-cultural exchange. His unique position navigating two manufacturing landscapes gives him first hand insight into how global trade policies—like tariffs—impact independent designers, craftspeople, and the ecosystems they depend on. Prior to launching PERN BAAN, Robert spent 10 years producing custom furniture from a group woodshop in Brooklyn. In 2020, he was named as “one of the 20 names to know now in American design” by the editors of Sight Unseen.

Sharon Z, owner of Sharon Z Consulting, is a business advisor and metalsmith who thinks wielding a torch is pretty bad-ass & wants to show you how to use it for good. Dubbed the “Pricing Queen” by clients and students.