Hi, I’m Kristi Kautz—the designer and ceramicist behind Mojave Lu. I split my time between crafting photorealistic 3D renderings for interiors and hand-building ceramics in my high desert studio.

Some days I’m refining digital models pixel by pixel. Other days I’m pulling clay out of my hair. Whether I’m at the screen or at the wheel, I’m drawn to form, material, and how objects live in a space. I design with both beauty and function in mind—creating things that not only spark joy, but actually work in the rhythm of daily life.

Over the years, I’ve renovated homes and designed spaces meant to be lived in, shared, and remembered—both for myself and for guests. That background shapes everything I do: how a room flows, how a piece fits into the day-to-day, and how design can make even a regular Tuesday feel a little bit like vacation. I’m always thinking about the little things—how something functions, tucks away, solves a need, or just quietly makes life better.