Pardo’s discovery of the relationship between design and function began early when he became fascinated with boats as a youngster. He appreciated the beautifully formed wooden hulls, the way fine bow designs cut through the waves, and how fresh varnish brings out the beauty of the wood.
In Pardo’s teenage years, when he was not on the water, he held carpentry jobs to build his woodworking skills. Looking to refine his craft and formalize his design education led him to the furniture design and woodworking program at The School for American Crafts at the Rochester Institute of Technology. While at RIT, Pardo’s highly stylized dining chair won Best of Show in the Design Emphasis Competition, widely acclaimed as the foremost furniture design competition for students, sponsored by the International Woodworking Fair. Following RIT, Pardo went to work for well-known furniture designers Alphonse Mattia and Rosanne Somerson before opening his own shop.
Pardo and his wife and their dogs live on Martha’s Vineyard, where the water is never far away.