Designer Karson Shadley in his rented room with Ooh Ooh, an upholstered gorilla that doubles as furniture. Shadley is a member of the Lift Collective, made up of five graduates of the California College of the Arts in San Francisco. (Rick Loomis / LAT)
Designer Amit Mirchandani lounges in a multi-function chair called “Cellu” in his Santa Barbara home. He designed the chair with fellow Lift designer Pichaya Puttorngul. (Rick Loomis / LAT)
Designer Eric Bergman, who graduated from California College of the Arts in San Francisco, relaxes in a hammock on his deck in Santa Barbara. (Rick Loomis / LAT)
