Spotlight on Jonathan Adler: Evolving in Design and Business
Do you ever think about where you might be in 10 years or even a year from now? Does your career path or business plan follow a straight and rigid line or do you see lots of curves and changes along the way?
As a designer and business owner, I am constantly thinking about how my skill set can expand and evolve to translate into new opportunities. It is important to take a step back once in a while and question what you can possibly bring to a different business opportunity or industry.
This was my fascination with the recent news that Mattel's Fisher-Price named one of my favorite contemporary designer's, Jonathan Adler as the new Creative Director for the popular preschool brand. The partnership is focused on targeting design savvy millennial-aged parents – which are making up a larger slice of adults with children ages 0-5 in their homes.
I have been collecting Adler's modern home pieces for the last couple of years. It was with surprise and awe that I could suddenly envision his style translating to toys and children's products. I wonder if Adler himself ever envisioned designing for children one day.
This is the kind of thinking ahead of the curve that we as designers and business owners must evolve to. Even if it is on a smaller scale. What plans do you have for the future? DRP DESIGN would love to hear how your career or business path has changed. Let's spark some new ideas together!
More about Jonathan Adler
Adler has 28 retail stores worldwide, an e-commerce site, and a wholesale business with over 1,000 locations worldwide. In addition to ceramic design, Jonathan Adler Enterprises has expanded to become a design brand offering decorative objects, tabletop collections, bedding, bath accessories, gifts, candles, furniture, rugs, pillows and lighting. Adler is the author of four books, My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living and the Happy Chic Book series
In a statement to Fortune Magazine, Adler said, “Toys are the landscape of your house – they need to work well and look pretty. I’ve taken what Fisher‐Price was already brilliant at and amped it up.”