FieldAR2023OnlineAll11.13 - Magazine - Page 21
ALUMNI
Making
a
Dif f erence
Finding Color in Life
Ellen Van Dusen ’04
Inspired and driven by vibrant colors and rich textures, Ellen Van Dusen ‘04 has made her mark on
the textile and home decor scene. Ellen is the primary designer and owner of Dusen Dusen, a
Brooklyn-based textile and home goods line, specializing in texture and colors. “My brand is based
on a singular aesthetic that pulls different elements out. The products all come from the ideas.”
Prioritizing the thought process instead of the
art product has been important in her life.
Ellen began Field in the 7th grade at the old
campus on Wyoming. She was impressed
that the School valued and trusted the
students to go out into the world and find a
sense of independence and individuality and
encouraged them to figure things out on their
own. “This gave me a ‘Do-It Yourself’
attitude.”
“I appreciate that art classes were prioritized as much as
the core academic experience.
It was just as rigorous and demanding.”
~Ellen Van Dusen ‘04
These foundational beginnings for Ellen unlocked her creative mind and helped her harness her
passion to shape it into a fulfilling career.
When Ellen graduated from Field, she went on to receive her B.A. in Psychology of Design at Tufts
University in Boston. While she didn’t study art directly, she carried her inspiration and her ability
to ideate through her education, career, and life. She currently resides in Brooklyn where she is
immersed in her company and a backyard DIY project that is covered in a rich array of colorful
mosaic tiles. This avant mosaic tiling work took over a year to complete. “It is really wild. It has all
kinds of stuff happening, including a crazy pattern with figurative details in every color.” You never
know where Ellen’s ideas will lead her. Her vibrant textiles and designs can be seen at
dusendusen.com.