About Me

Ron Haake: Studio Production & Collaborative Build Work

Selected work from studio-based production and design projects, focused on collaborative making, problem-solving, and execution in support of creative teams. Much of this work involved close coordination, shared timelines, and adapting quickly as projects evolved.

I'm a creative maker with deep experience in studio environments, with a background in scenery and model making, fine art production, and digital design. Over the course of my career, I’ve worked with multidisciplinary studios, collaborated closely with artisans, and partnered with designers, artists, and clients to translate ideas into buildable outcomes — often under tight timelines and evolving constraints.

I’m most effective in hands-on studio environments where experimentation, collaboration, and figuring out how to make something are central to the work. I’m especially drawn to studio environments where experimentation, craft, and collaborative problem-solving are central to the work.

Studio Practice & Creative Problem Solving

  • Built and operated a professional scenery and model-making studio supporting designers, artists, and creative teams
  • Collaborated closely with designers and directors to translate ideas into physical form
  • Developed studio workflows that balanced craft, speed, and production realities
  • Solved novel fabrication challenges when no standard process existed
  • Supported and worked alongside artisans and fabricators across multiple projects

RH Logo

Models, Protoypes and Small-Scale Builds

Hands-on development of physical models and prototypes, taking projects from concept through final execution. Focus on materials, process, and build feasibility.

  • Studio brief: fabricate an intentionally inaccessible Cold War–era Soviet payphone.

    Studio brief: fabricate an intentionally inaccessible Cold War–era Soviet payphone.

  • Design brief: Native American chiefs’ faces rendered as topographic forms. Sculpted in clay and cast in Hydrocal.

    Design brief: Native American chiefs’ faces rendered as topographic forms. Sculpted in clay and cast in Hydrocal.

  • Challenge: fabricate poseable frog hands for SF Exploratorium ad campaign.

    Challenge: fabricate poseable frog hands for SF Exploratorium ad campaign.

  • Studio challenge: emulate glazed ceramic. Sculpted urethane foam & epoxy resin.

    Studio challenge: emulate glazed ceramic. Sculpted urethane foam & epoxy resin.

  • Challenge: Make a chihuahua hood ornament styled after Mack Trucks. Cast pewter and nickel plating.

    Challenge: Make a chihuahua hood ornament styled after Mack Trucks. Cast pewter and nickel plating.

  • Client: Make a plane, car & motorcycle hybrid model to shoot on location.

    Client: Make a plane, car & motorcycle hybrid model to shoot on location.

  • Assignment: build a sumo-style foosball game. Cast urethane figures.

    Assignment: build a sumo-style foosball game. Cast urethane figures.

  • Design brief: fabricate a toy-scale version of a video game truck as a believable retail product.

    Design brief: fabricate a toy-scale version of a video game truck as a believable retail product.

  • Design brief: hand-painted silk tapestries created for Age of Empires III.

    Design brief: hand-painted silk tapestries created for Age of Empires III.

  • Production brief: fabricate an oversized logo using high-density urethane foam and resin.

    Production brief: fabricate an oversized logo using high-density urethane foam and resin.

  • Environmental element: detail view of one of two outdoor totems constructed from EPS foam & stucco.

    Environmental element: detail view of one of two outdoor totems constructed from EPS foam & stucco.

  • Film production: life-size foam statuary fabricated for the Her Best Move feature film.

    Film production: life-size foam statuary fabricated for the Her Best Move feature film.

  • Fabrication task: 3

    Fabrication task: 3" high miniature figures sculpted from epoxy putty.

  • Production task: logo from milled and sandblasted aluminum.

    Production task: logo from milled and sandblasted aluminum.

  • Visual requirement: faux “rusted” metal couch fabricated for a luxury leather ad campaign.

    Visual requirement: faux “rusted” metal couch fabricated for a luxury leather ad campaign.

  • Design challenge: create dry lakebed texture. Carved foam.

    Design challenge: create dry lakebed texture. Carved foam.

  • Design brief: Make a car stereo so good you want to take it with you

    Design brief: Make a car stereo so good you want to take it with you

  • Fabrication challenge: create idealized but realistic portable snowman to shoot in real snow

    Fabrication challenge: create idealized but realistic portable snowman to shoot in real snow

  • Studio challenge: fabricate oversized custom cookie. Instacast & spackle.

    Studio challenge: fabricate oversized custom cookie. Instacast & spackle.

  • Production task: fabricate ad headlines from waterjet cut steel

    Production task: fabricate ad headlines from waterjet cut steel

  • Assignment: fabricate custom tandem casket for a man & his sound system.

    Assignment: fabricate custom tandem casket for a man & his sound system.

  • Fabrication task: create faux rosewood auto racing helmet for Lincoln.

    Fabrication task: create faux rosewood auto racing helmet for Lincoln.

  • Creator's challenge: fabricate oversized rolladex model w/minature faux wood doors. Instacast & tubing.

    Creator's challenge: fabricate oversized rolladex model w/minature faux wood doors. Instacast & tubing.

  • Studio brief: fabricate logo from waterjet cut stainless steel and glass

    Studio brief: fabricate logo from waterjet cut stainless steel and glass

  • Design brief: create non-melting ice cream bucks and finished bars, plus chocolate swirl surface. Instacast w/real ice cream inserts for bite shots.

    Design brief: create non-melting ice cream bucks and finished bars, plus chocolate swirl surface. Instacast w/real ice cream inserts for bite shots.

  • Studio challenge: create artifact dig and bas-relief stone trading card. Foam, plaster & dirt.

    Studio challenge: create artifact dig and bas-relief stone trading card. Foam, plaster & dirt.

  • Commercial production: fabricate backlit search bars light enough to be carried in a dog's mouth

    Commercial production: fabricate backlit search bars light enough to be carried in a dog's mouth

  • Assignment: make a lead sneaker with custom patch. Metalized epoxy resin.

    Assignment: make a lead sneaker with custom patch. Metalized epoxy resin.

  • Video challenge: fabricate oversized wall outlet and plug. Foam, acrylic & vinyl tubing.

    Video challenge: fabricate oversized wall outlet and plug. Foam, acrylic & vinyl tubing.

  • Assignment: create a loveable businessman bobblehead doll. Clay sculpt & Instacast final product.

    Assignment: create a loveable businessman bobblehead doll. Clay sculpt & Instacast final product.

  • Advertising challenge: create a battle ravaged truck for Big Rigs video game ad. Rented truck, replacement grill, real & artificial bugs

    Advertising challenge: create a battle ravaged truck for Big Rigs video game ad. Rented truck, replacement grill, real & artificial bugs

  • Production brief: design & fabricate a robot arm that is delicate and grips with finesse

    Production brief: design & fabricate a robot arm that is delicate and grips with finesse

  • Production brief: create a stylized miniature assembly line for Nissan ad.

    Production brief: create a stylized miniature assembly line for Nissan ad.

  • Client brief: create a punk rock venus statue. Foam and epoyx putty.

    Client brief: create a punk rock venus statue. Foam and epoyx putty.

  • Assignment: fabricate a custom metal manhole cover for e-commerce ad. MDF & metallized paint.

    Assignment: fabricate a custom metal manhole cover for e-commerce ad. MDF & metallized paint.

  • Studio brief: create a series of fanciful expository switches for real exhibits at SF Exploratorium. Steel, acrylic, glass & magnesium.

    Studio brief: create a series of fanciful expository switches for real exhibits at SF Exploratorium. Steel, acrylic, glass & magnesium.

  • Design brief: concept & fabricate a series of household objects in the shape of the Hanes logo. UHD urethane, paint & epoxy.

    Design brief: concept & fabricate a series of household objects in the shape of the Hanes logo. UHD urethane, paint & epoxy.

  • Client brief: create a melted shoe outsole to represent excess speed. Cast colored hot glue.

    Client brief: create a melted shoe outsole to represent excess speed. Cast colored hot glue.

Sets and Environments

Design and art direction for physical environments, including close collaboration with fabricators and on-site oversight through installation.

  • Assignment: design and build a contemporary kitchen with a concealed Amana refrigerator (sketch). (sketch)

    Assignment: design and build a contemporary kitchen with a concealed Amana refrigerator (sketch). (sketch)

  • Execution: Amana kitchen environment built with birdseye maple, beech, cast concrete, and Venetian plaster.

    Execution: Amana kitchen environment built with birdseye maple, beech, cast concrete, and Venetian plaster.

  • Production brief: fabricate a vintage factory environment within a white studio for a Harley-Davidson brochure. Wood, foam, and fiberglass.

    Production brief: fabricate a vintage factory environment within a white studio for a Harley-Davidson brochure. Wood, foam, and fiberglass.

  • Video challenge: fabricate a haunted dungeon & mansion for music video. Wood, plaster & foam.

    Video challenge: fabricate a haunted dungeon & mansion for music video. Wood, plaster & foam.

  • Design brief: conceptualize an upscale city bus shelter appropriate for Grey Poupon branding. Wood, steel, resin, and fabric. Wood, foam, and fiberglass.

    Design brief: conceptualize an upscale city bus shelter appropriate for Grey Poupon branding. Wood, steel, resin, and fabric. Wood, foam, and fiberglass.

  • Production challenge: prototype, refine, and finalize point-of-sale display systems for Sony PlayStation. Fiberglass, spun aluminum, aluminum tubing, and polyurethane.

    Production challenge: prototype, refine, and finalize point-of-sale display systems for Sony PlayStation. Fiberglass, spun aluminum, aluminum tubing, and polyurethane.

  • Production task: create an environment with moveable elements to advertise Raiders of the Lost Ark tie in promotion with McDonalds. Wood & foam.

    Production task: create an environment with moveable elements to advertise Raiders of the Lost Ark tie in promotion with McDonalds. Wood & foam.

  • Design brief: fabricate a dimensional Lady Godiva painting installed within a museum setting for a Marshall Field’s commercial. Wood and foam.

    Design brief: fabricate a dimensional Lady Godiva painting installed within a museum setting for a Marshall Field’s commercial. Wood and foam.

  • roduction brief: design and fabricate an expansive gallery-style kitchen in a red-on-red color scheme to advertise Thermador appliances. Wood, dance floor, and lacquer.

    roduction brief: design and fabricate an expansive gallery-style kitchen in a red-on-red color scheme to advertise Thermador appliances. Wood, dance floor, and lacquer.

  • Exhibition brief: create an interactive map visualizing changing Bay Area flood patterns for the Chrissy Field Museum. Wood, acrylic, aluminum, and LED lighting.

    Exhibition brief: create an interactive map visualizing changing Bay Area flood patterns for the Chrissy Field Museum. Wood, acrylic, aluminum, and LED lighting.

  • Studio challenge: fabricate life-size two-dimensional cutouts of community heroes for a Chrissy Field Museum exhibit. Wood and laminated photography.

    Studio challenge: fabricate life-size two-dimensional cutouts of community heroes for a Chrissy Field Museum exhibit. Wood and laminated photography.

  • Production brief: design and fabricate a talk show set for PBS America’s Talking. Wood, Venetian plaster, and carpet.

    Production brief: design and fabricate a talk show set for PBS America’s Talking. Wood, Venetian plaster, and carpet.

  • Production challenge: fabricate a stylized pop-art doctor’s office featuring patients from failed magic acts. Wood, tile, and carved foam.

    Production challenge: fabricate a stylized pop-art doctor’s office featuring patients from failed magic acts. Wood, tile, and carved foam.

  • Studio challenge: design and fabricate multiple sets for ZDTV network programming. Wood veneers and lacquer.

    Studio challenge: design and fabricate multiple sets for ZDTV network programming. Wood veneers and lacquer.

  • Design brief: create a grunge industrial wind tunnel testing the aerodynamics of a Pioneer amplifier. Wood, real and faux metal.

    Design brief: create a grunge industrial wind tunnel testing the aerodynamics of a Pioneer amplifier. Wood, real and faux metal.

  • Studio brief: conceptualize and build a moody industrial factory environment with illuminated geometric forms as metaphorical product. Wood, aluminum, and acrylic.

    Studio brief: conceptualize and build a moody industrial factory environment with illuminated geometric forms as metaphorical product. Wood, aluminum, and acrylic.

  • Production challenge: design and build a hotel lobby set for a Youthful Essence television commercial. Wood, tile, and laminate.

    Production challenge: design and build a hotel lobby set for a Youthful Essence television commercial. Wood, tile, and laminate.

  • Client brief: create background elements and a lectern for world leaders’ speeches at the Tandem Visions forum. Wood and faux marble paint.

    Client brief: create background elements and a lectern for world leaders’ speeches at the Tandem Visions forum. Wood and faux marble paint.

  • Video brief: fabricate a stylized ballroom featuring Magritte-inspired dimensional wall art and a faux marble floor for PBS Dance in America. Wood, musical instruments, and faux marble paint.

    Video brief: fabricate a stylized ballroom featuring Magritte-inspired dimensional wall art and a faux marble floor for PBS Dance in America. Wood, musical instruments, and faux marble paint.

  • Studio brief: design and fabricate a clean, contemporary gallery-inspired kitchen for PBS Cooking at the Academy. Wood, cast concrete, foam, and plaster.

    Studio brief: design and fabricate a clean, contemporary gallery-inspired kitchen for PBS Cooking at the Academy. Wood, cast concrete, foam, and plaster.

  • Design challenge: create a romanticized industrial environment featuring a mechanized platform supporting a full-size Nash Metropolitan car. Wood, fiberboard tubing, and metal.

    Design challenge: create a romanticized industrial environment featuring a mechanized platform supporting a full-size Nash Metropolitan car. Wood, fiberboard tubing, and metal.

  • Design brief: design and build multiple theatrical sets for the PBS children’s show Short Stories & Tall Tales. Wood and canvas.

    Design brief: design and build multiple theatrical sets for the PBS children’s show Short Stories & Tall Tales. Wood and canvas.

  • Studio challenge: design and build a Mediterranean kitchen environment for Biba’s Italian Kitchen. Wood, tile, plaster, and foam.

    Studio challenge: design and build a Mediterranean kitchen environment for Biba’s Italian Kitchen. Wood, tile, plaster, and foam.

  • Production challenge: create a high-key factory environment with oversized magnifying glass for an Epson magazine advertisement. Wood, aluminum, and acrylic.

    Production challenge: create a high-key factory environment with oversized magnifying glass for an Epson magazine advertisement. Wood, aluminum, and acrylic.

  • Design brief: fabricate an infinity tunnel clad in video monitors for a Brazilian financial services advertisement. Wood and vacuum-formed PETG.

    Design brief: fabricate an infinity tunnel clad in video monitors for a Brazilian financial services advertisement. Wood and vacuum-formed PETG.

  • Studio brief: fabricate an impossibly tall wall installation composed entirely of stacked paper. Wood and paper.

    Studio brief: fabricate an impossibly tall wall installation composed entirely of stacked paper. Wood and paper.

  • Production brief: build a clean, minimal product demonstration room for Arraycom. Wood, brushed aluminum, aluminized projection surface, and rubber tile.

    Production brief: build a clean, minimal product demonstration room for Arraycom. Wood, brushed aluminum, aluminized projection surface, and rubber tile.

  • Production challenge: build two old-world façade structures designed for rapid installation during a city street photo shoot. Wood, plaster, and glass.

    Production challenge: build two old-world façade structures designed for rapid installation during a city street photo shoot. Wood, plaster, and glass.

  • Studio brief: build a Beefeater guard shack for a comedic film shoot on location in San Francisco. Wood and paint.

    Studio brief: build a Beefeater guard shack for a comedic film shoot on location in San Francisco. Wood and paint.

  • Design brief: fabricate a white-on-white stylized office environment composed entirely of geometric solids. Wood and acrylic.

    Design brief: fabricate a white-on-white stylized office environment composed entirely of geometric solids. Wood and acrylic.

  • Exhibition brief: recreate the Specialized bicycle exhibit displayed at the Smithsonian within a photo studio setting. Wood, acrylic, and foam.

    Exhibition brief: recreate the Specialized bicycle exhibit displayed at the Smithsonian within a photo studio setting. Wood, acrylic, and foam.

  • Production brief: fabricate a Dutch Masters–style Renaissance salon for an automotive advertising campaign. Wood, plaster, and painted tile.

    Production brief: fabricate a Dutch Masters–style Renaissance salon for an automotive advertising campaign. Wood, plaster, and painted tile.

  • Visualization brief: design and render a freestanding mall pop-up retail store for Piperlime. Vectorworks and Artlantis.

    Visualization brief: design and render a freestanding mall pop-up retail store for Piperlime. Vectorworks and Artlantis.

  • Visualization brief: design and render a set for the KQED This Week interview program. Vectorworks and Artlantis.

    Visualization brief: design and render a set for the KQED This Week interview program. Vectorworks and Artlantis.

  • Visualization brief: design and render a teleconference set for Chevron’s annual board meeting. Vectorworks and Artlantis.

    Visualization brief: design and render a teleconference set for Chevron’s annual board meeting. Vectorworks and Artlantis.

Digital, Print & Visual Design

Alongside physical making, I also support artists and organizations through digital design, including graphic and logo design, as well as illustration.

  • Program identity: create vintage inspired Kohanaiki Beach Park grand opening poster

    Program identity: create vintage inspired Kohanaiki Beach Park grand opening poster

  • Communication brief: logo and supporting graphcs developed for artist collaboration fundraiser event

    Communication brief: logo and supporting graphcs developed for artist collaboration fundraiser event

  • Visual support: design of marketing collateral for BMW community event

    Visual support: design of marketing collateral for BMW community event

  • Visual support: design of marketing collateral for Journey Together group show

    Visual support: design of marketing collateral for Journey Together group show

  • Design brief: create nostalgic fine art poster for Duke's Waikiki fundraiser

    Design brief: create nostalgic fine art poster for Duke's Waikiki fundraiser

  • Client brief: design poster for hotel conference in dreamy nostalgic style

    Client brief: design poster for hotel conference in dreamy nostalgic style

  • Design brief: create logo and visual identity for event management company

    Design brief: create logo and visual identity for event management company

  • Studio brief: design promotional give aways based on familar candies for Bank of America conference

    Studio brief: design promotional give aways based on familar candies for Bank of America conference

  • Program identity: design logo and poster for open water swim competition

    Program identity: design logo and poster for open water swim competition

  • Communication brief: provide in museum exhibit graphics and advertising for SF Exploratorium

    Communication brief: provide in museum exhibit graphics and advertising for SF Exploratorium

  • Visual support: provide poster for Disability conference

    Visual support: provide poster for Disability conference

  • Marketing brief: create warm and familiar illustration to promote Kona Coffee Grower's Association online

    Marketing brief: create warm and familiar illustration to promote Kona Coffee Grower's Association online

  • Communication brief: design and implement news and history focused website for Holualoa Village

    Communication brief: design and implement news and history focused website for Holualoa Village

How I Work in Studio Environments

  • Comfortable taking direction and iterating quickly
  • Strong attention to craft, detail, and build quality
  • Collaborative, low-ego working style
  • Calm under tight timelines and changing constraints

Outside the Studio

Distance running and time spent outdoors; activities that reinforce focus, consistency, and physical problem-solving.

© 2026 Ron Haake   CONTACT ME