Mark Kapka sees furniture as an intimate part of our lives, with our bodies interacting with these objects in personal, tactile ways. Since founding his eponymous, San Francisco-based studio in 1997, Kapka has concentrated on furnishings—and, in particular, seating—for a wide range of residential and contract manufacturers. An understated elegance marks his pieces, which he grounds in the practicalities and technicalities of design, ergonomics, and end use.

A designer and engineer who frequently collaborates with Kapka, Todd Yetman believes a piece must be beautiful. But even more important, it should be comfortable. The founder of Toronto-based Yetman and Co. straddles that fine line between form and function. He designs furniture, adding modern, minimalist twists to classic shapes; he also helps engineer projects in progress, transforming sketches into gorgeous, useful objects.