Design Student Wins Prestigious Windgate Fellowship

SUNY Buffalo State senior design major Norman Cramer is a recipient of the prestigious 2014 Windgate Fellowship. The Center for Craft, Creativity and Design (CCCD), based in Asheville, North Carolina, annually awards the national fellowships to 10 graduating college seniors who have proven exemplary skill in craft. Each fellow receives $15,000—one of the largest awards offered to art students.

Cramer, a furniture design and sculpture student in the Design Department’s wood/furniture program, was recognized for his exquisitely designed tables and other pieces he created over the past two years. Four judges reviewed a national pool of more than 100 applicants on artistic merit and the potential of each applicant to make significant contributions to the field of craft.

“They told me they loved all the pieces I submitted,” said Cramer, age 28, who transferred to Buffalo State after attending Erie County Community College and working for two custom design cabinet businesses. “Going back to school was the best decision I ever made.”

Cramer is thrilled to have received the distinctive fellowship on the cusp of graduation, and he noted the monetary award will be extremely helpful as he embarks on a career as a furniture designer

“They fellowship award is meant to encourage graduates to continue working on our craft, to help start us off with studio rental space and tools,” said Cramer, who plans to work throughout the summer on projects in a rented space and apply to graduate school in the fall.

During his time at Buffalo State, his professors recognized Cramer’s maturity, diligence, and talent.

“In all his classes, Norman impressed me with his unique ideas and concept development within contemporary design demonstrating a focus beyond his years,” said Sunhwa Kim, assistant professor of wood/furniture design, who worked with Cramer for more than three years.

“Norman is a good problem-solver and a very talented individual who frequently chooses challenging designs to complete his projects in the furniture program. His work ethic during class time and the examples of quality projects he has fabricated serve to reaffirm my contention that he is an excellent student.”

Previously, Cramer received the 2012 Lombardo Award, the 2012 Dean’s Show Award, the 2013 Margaret E. Bacon Best of Studio, and the 2013 Marie Dellas Creative Achievement Award.