Background information
From volcanoes to the Alps – when Mexican design meets Swiss expertise
by Pia Seidel
«Trendy designs are our biggest enemy» – David Pompa on good design
5.2.2024
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Pictures: Pia Seidel
More than just lamps – Mexican studio David Pompa produces light sculptures made of volcanic rock, diving deep into the craft in the process. All with the aim of designing long-lasting products.
The minimalist shape and colour of the lamps created by design studio David Pompa radiate a peculiar calm. And this despite the fact that the stone fragments are evidence of past volcanic explosions. Team member and namesake David Pompa seems equally serene. In our conversation about his design philosophy, the Mexican with an Austrian mother is extremely deliberate in his choice of words. He’s reluctant to use the word «I». He isn’t a fan of going at it alone, instead he’s an avowed team player.
After studying Product Design in London, he founded his own product and graphic design studio, initially carrying out commissions for other brands. However, around 13 years ago, the 37-year-old wanted to tackle his own projects. He discovered the Barro Negro in Oaxaca by chance on one of his annual trips to Mexico. Until then, this black clay was only used for objects in folklore. He and his team wanted to change this and transform the initially coarse-looking material into something elegant. The aim was also to emphasise the handmade and translate it into a contemporary style.
Why did you never want to work alone?
David Pompa: When I founded my company at the age of 20 and hired my first employees, they were about the same age as me. At the time, I found establishing hierarchical structures very strange, and was also regularly on longer trips. This would’ve been impossible without relinquishing responsibility. In addition, I still believe the team is the most relevant part of our company. The name David Pompa only came about because many creative minds at the time gave the studios their own name – Tom Dixon, for example. I wouldn’t do it today. But it’s difficult to change the name now because it’s already established.
What does your studio look like today?
We create light sculptures unparalleled in their form. Unlike conventional creators, we bring out the essence of a material culturally and geographically anchored in Mexico. We always start with extensive research and work together with the Department of Geology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), among others. Then we look for the best local workshops to realise creations together and exploit the full potential of a material.
Source: Pia Seidel
What’s your personal design philosophy?
My approach is very different from the classic understanding of industrial design, where a genius designer draws and realises something on their own. I prefer to work with our international team and our selected artisan workshops. This collaborative and organic process is also very characteristic of Mexico. If I were to put it in a nutshell, Mexico, unlike Europe, is a melting pot of different cultures and people who together create something out of chaos. Mexican cuisine works in a similar way.
Source: Pia Seidel
How do you gather your inspiration?
It’s a big challenge for creative people to organise influences so that you can find them when you need them. Technology helps, of course, but I use several devices. For example, I collect ideas on both my iPad and my laptop and send myself around 20 e-mails a day with photos and notes. I fully believe the design process doesn’t just begin with a new order. It starts with what you’ve observed in the months or years before.
Who are your design heroes?
When I was a student, we all looked up to greats like Philippe Starck, Marc Newson and Jasper Morrison. Today, it’s someone like Achille Castigilioni. About 60 years ago, he designed things like the Taccia table lamp, which is still well received today. That’s a goal designers should have, to create timeless pieces.
Source: Pia Seidel
Which contemporary trend do you like? And which one don’t you like at all?
Trendy designs are our biggest enemy. If we look at a design and a team member says it’s quite trendy, we kill it. We’ve already chosen against bringing several promising designs to market. There’s nothing worse for us than sending light sculptures from Mexico to Switzerland just for them to be out of style after five years again and get thrown out. Our lights are currently hanging in the Zurich Gin Lab [Turicum], for example(/s7/product/turicum-handcrafted-dry-gin-50-cl-gin-6427453).
Source: Valentina Verdesca
We also want to follow the trend of increasingly shorter gaps in development. Previously, a product went from designers to the manufacturing company, to the brand, to the distributor and then perhaps to the architecture firm. We believe that this period between the initial idea and the end customer is too long.
Finish the sentence: «Design needs more…»
Time. Nowadays we take too little of it. Instagram assaults us with instant gratification in each post. Renderings or virtual reality make it possible to visualise an idea immediately. This is exciting for certain media, but far too hasty in product design to me. On average, we develop a light sculpture series over four years. We believe that a good product needs a thorough development phase. Only then can it become sustainable – both regarding environmentally friendly materials and years of relevance. Fortunately, my dad is an engineer in our company. He makes sure that enough time is spent on product development, even when I get a little impatient.
Source: Pia Seidel
If you happen to be in Mexico City, the exhibition Sociedad Volcánica is taking place from 5-17 February as part of Mexico City Art Week. It focuses on the formation of ancient stones and research intended to stimulate a discourse on geological topics in lectures, among other things.
Pia Seidel
Senior Editor
Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.chLike a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.
