While attending art school, the founder of lighting design firm Allied Maker (@alliedmaker), Ryden Rizzo, quickly realized that spending hours in front of the computer was not for him. While experimenting with new mediums, Ryden developed a passion for woodworking. After he taught himself the basics by watching YouTube videos, Ryden continued developing his craft by learning to build classical guitars at a small school in Vermont.
With his skills honed, Ryden set up a woodworking studio in his garage. Today, this garage is home to Allied Maker (@alliedmaker), a team of three that designs and fabricates beautiful custom lighting and shares the process through Instagram. "I joined Instagram because I needed a way to document the work I was doing," Ryden says. "I was instantly captivated and inspired by the work of other people—Instagram has given me the ability to receive instant feedback from a community who shares my passion for design and craftsmanship." To see more photos and videos showing how Allied Maker designs and builds handcrafted lighting, follow @alliedmaker.