Stephen Burks (born 1969) was raised in Chicago and studied architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology, as well as product design at IIT's Institute of Design.  He then studied architecture at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture and Planning in New York.  ;Burks works out of his New York-based design studio called Readymade Projects where he designs retail interiors, events, packaging, consumer products, lighting, furniture, and home accessories.  His clients include B&B Italia, BD Barcelona, Cappellini, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Herman Miller, Ligne Roset, Living Divani, Missoni, Swatch, and Vitra.