Ben Saks

Product & Creative

BIOGRAPHY

Born in Cleveland, Ohio and a graduate from the School of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University in 2008, Saks has worked in varied capacities in film, design, architecture, and business. Saks brings extensive management experience working with large clients in creative industries. Saks' work with KerfCase has been published in the W.S.J., G.Q., Elle, TechCrunch, CNET, Wired and The Verge. Currently based in Pittsburgh, Saks is the Director of Software Product for Inventables. Prior roles include: filmmaker, adjunct professor of architecture, instructor, and project Manager. With a passion for precise craft, Saks’ fine art practice explores scale invariance in the natural world with a focus on the invisible: air, time, and gravity.

EXPERIENCE

Director of Software Product, Inventables

Founder/CEO, KerfCase

Producer, Clock Shadow Media

Board Of Directors, Center for Victims

Board Of Directors, Protohaven

Adjunct Faculty, CMU School of Architecture

Artist in Residence, Alpha Lab Gear

Instructor, Techshop Pittsburgh

Assistant Director, CMU Architecture Wood Shop

Project Manager, TAKTL, Pittsburgh PA

Project Designer, WET Design, Los Angeles CA


EDUCATION

Bachelor of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University

High School at Shaker Heights High School

General Studies at Cleveland Institute of Art


AWARDS

Best New Product: Accent on DesignNYNOW

Maker of MeritMaker Faire Pittsburgh

Create AwardPittsburgh Tech Council

Peace it Together AwardCenter for Victims

Stewart Brown Memorial ScholarshipCarnegie Mellon University

Luther S Lashmit Design AwardCarnegie Mellon University

Fourth year design award

The Carnegie Hero AwardThe Carnegie Hero Fund Commission

US F1D Team First PlaceFederation Aeronautic International




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SELECTED EXHIBITIONS


2020-2022 Locally Sourced Product Design

The Carnegie Museum of Art,  Pittsburgh PA


2020 Clearly New Group Show Product Design

Pittsburgh Glass Center Gallery,  Pittsburgh PA


2019 Fallingwater Monmade Group Show Product Design

Brewhouse Association,  Pittsburgh PA


2019 Southern Circuit Film Tour Film

South Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts 


2019 Float Documentary Screenings Film

Cleveland International Film Festival  Cleveland, OH

Montclair Film Festival, Montclair NJ

Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, Hot Springs AR

RiverRun Film Festival, Raleigh NC

Indie Film Festival Boston, Boston MA

Woods Hole Film Festival, Woods Hole MA


2019 Float Documentary Premiere Feature Film

Cleveland International Film Festival  Cleveland, OH


2019 ------ (SECRET) Prints of 35 MM Film,

SPACE Gallery  Pittsburgh, PA


2019 Modern Meaning Group Show Product Design

Pittsburgh Glass Center Gallery,  Pittsburgh PA


2017-18 Interiors with Impact Group Show Product Design

Pittsburgh Glass Center Gallery,  Pittsburgh PA


2016 JOHN RIEGERT Digital Prints, Fly Fishing Flies

SPACE Gallery  Pittsburgh, PA


2013 Architectural Perspectives Sculpture

Gallery Chiz  Pittsburgh, PA


2013 Life After Premiere Film

Pittsburgh Filmmakers  Pittsburgh, PA


2012 Hyperlocal Painting

Assemble Gallery  Pittsburgh, PA


2012 Transformer Workshops Performance

Watson Festival, Carnegie Mellon University  Pittsburgh, PA


2010 Group Show Installation

4701 Gallery (Demolished)  Pittsburgh, PA


2007 Examinations in Polarity Digital Prints

The Frame Gallery  Pittsburgh, PA