Pragmatic, humorous and poetic, are
words that best describe Joel Escalona work. Born in Mexico City in 1986 and
graduated in Industrial Design in 2009 from Universidad Autónoma
Metropolitana-Azcapotzalco he believes in ideas that engage meaningfully, that
push the limits of contemporary design, that have the ability of pulling people
into the stories they shelter.
Design is a statement in itself, thus it should
always have a strong voice that is technologically defiant, symbolically
challenging and of course effective in functionality.
Working with clients in Mexico, USA, Italy,
France and Denmark have led him to aim for a multidisciplinary agency able to
provide tangible value to each project, while enjoying a full schematic view of
the creative process in many levels and different contexts, enriching his
studio's values.
His work has been exhibited in the mayor design
capitals of the world, such as New York, Paris, Milan, and Mexico City. He was
also selected to take part in the ICFF Studio exhibition at the International
Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York and was invited to represent South
America Young Design at the Maison & Objet’s special exhibition Talents À
La Carte in Paris, also featured in the Milan Furniture Fair, Mexico Design
Week and the Beijing Design Fair, among several contemporary design
exhibitions.
Introduced as one of “the new wave of young
designers to watch for in the world” by Wallpaper* magazine, selected as one of
the "50 Emergent Talents of the Americas" by Arquine magazine and
published in GQ’s extraordinary young people feature, Escalona’s work has
appeared in the most prestigious design publications and books worldwide.
In addition to his core design business, Joel
Escalona is a founding member of Cooperativa Panorámica a group of Mexican
designers exploring new design territories, also he is creative director of the
contemporary furniture brand NONO, teaches at CENTRO one of the most important
design universities in Mexico City and is a frequent guest lecturer at several
design schools and events.