Henry Gutman is a Berkeley-based furniture designer and architect whose work blends modernist clarity with organic warmth. "I believe that great design respects nature, the health of all people, and the planet. I am committed to designing spaces and products that encourage healthy behavior and use non-toxic materials."
Trained at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), he founded Ecomodern Studio to explore how architecture and furniture can work with the land and honor it. His pieces are known for their soft curves, sculptural presence, and playful spirit—designs that are as functional as they are artful.
Two of his pieces were acquired by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art for its Permanent Collection. One of those chosen to be in the SFMOMA is The Sperm Table which will soon be available for purchase.
Over the years, Gutman has created signature works such as the Totem Cabinet, Head Cabinet, Peanut Chair, and the award-winning Sperm Table. Crafted with sustainably sourced woods and non-toxic finishes, his furniture reflects a commitment to healthy, eco-minded design.
Gutman’s designs have been featured in House & Garden, Azure, and the San Francisco Chronicle. He was a finalist at the prestigious Asahikawa International Furniture Design Fair in Japan and has received honors such as the ASID Design Excellence Award.
DESIGN RECOGNITION
SFMOMA Lifetime Artist
The SFMOMA purchased 2 pieces of furniture for their Permanent Collection created by Henry Gutman, Founder of ecomodern design studio.
ASID Design Excellence Awards
Bronze Award: Product design for Sperm Table
Published in S.F. Focus Magazine
Asahikawa International Design Fair
Finalist in Furniture Design Competition
Parameceum Table & Head Cabinet
Attended Awards ceremony in Hokkaido, Japan
House & Garden Magazine
Design Achievement Awards
First Place Furniture Design - Head Cabinet
New York Times
Featured piece in ICFF article
Totem Cabinet
San Francisco Examiner
Image magazine
Design Article
Art Beat’ featuring Head Cabinet and Sperm Table
Marketplace Magazine
Pliable Wares’ featuring Peanut Chair
Conde Nast House & Garden
Hunting + Gathering article
on Storage featuring ‘Totem’ cabinet
San Diego Home / Garden
Design La Jolla article featuring Head Cabinet
Colorado Homes and Lifestyles Magazine
Article on New Product & Design Guide
Featuring ‘Head Cabinet and Sperm Table
AZURE Design
Architecture & Art magazine
Shelf life
Article on News in Design featuring Totem Cabinet
San Francisco Chronicle
Image Magazine
"Craft for Art’s Sake"
featuring Frank’s Wild Years Cabinet
Houzz
We have received high praise over the last 10 years from the community on Houzz. We have 13 projects on the site and you can read multiple reviews from our very happy clients.
HENRY GUTMAN
Owner of the ecomodern design studio
I was born in Brooklyn, New York, and moved to California the same year as the Brooklyn Dodgers. I grew up in a Mom and Pop hardware store in Santa Monica and learned to love the materials of buildings and the craftspeople that made them.
I believe that great design respects nature, the health of all people, and the planet. I am committed to designing spaces and products that encourage healthy behavior and use non-toxic materials.
I was fortunate to study architectue at Sci-Arc in Los Angeles with some of the best mentors you could imagine having as professors. I was taught to think, question, and create ambitious designs. My aesthetic was further informed by the modernist history of L.A. architecture and by the healthy, outdoor lifestyle of Southern California.