John Sandell teaches in the areas of design and theory. His practice explores the interaction of natural, human and built domains in site-specific situations. In his work and teaching, particular emphasis is given to recognizing phenomena that draw out hidden properties and create conceptual shifts that inform and refigure a design project. 

His projects and built works range from furniture and private residences to housing and urban spaces. He has collaborated on many prize-winning mixed-use, institutional, and urban design projects in Switzerland and Italy, and completed single-family residential projects in Italy, Texas, Florida, and Oregon. His visual work and texts have been exhibited and published nationally and internationally and have been recognized by the American Institute of Architects with several Florida State design awards. Currently, his visual work investigates three topics: Venetian Landscapes, Public Furniture, and an exploratory project, the Insulae Series, addressing architectural language and its representation in drawings and constructions.

John is a licensed architect in Italy. He received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, his Masters of Architecture from the Cranbrook Academy of Art, and a Laurea from the Polytechnic of Milan. He has taught at the Istituto Europeo di Design in Milan, Portland State University, Department of Architecture, the University of Oregon, Graduate School of Design in Portland, and at California State University, Florence, Italy. In summer, he teaches in the School of Architecture's study abroad program in Venice, Italy.