Jonathan Adler

“You have no talent. Go be a lawyer.” It’s hard to imagine anyone saying that to superstar designer Jonathan Adler, but that’s exactly what his pottery professor told him many years ago. That statement was all the motivation Jonathan needed to successfully launch his mega-popular eponymous line of furniture and accessories in 1993. His signature “Happy Chic” style combines graphic patterns with modern shapes on decorative objects, tabletop collections, bath accessories, bedding, candles, furniture, rugs, pillows, and lighting. Although he never became an attorney, Jonathan’s company motto offers a playful take on inheritance law: “If your heirs won’t fight over it, we won’t make it.” See what else motivates this sensational design guru in his 10 ANSWERS below.

1. How would you describe your work in three words?
Craft. Design. Style.

2. Who is your creative role model?
My hubby, Simon Doonan, continues to surprise me (16 years later) with his endless creativity and surprising vision.  I hope he doesn’t read this because I’ll never hear the end of it, but it’s true.

3. If you had an extra hour each day what would you do with it?
I suppose I would probably just fritter it away watching tv to be honest.  But what I should do is read more.  I read lots of books but I also watch lots of tv.

4. What place in the world most inspires you and why?
New York, obvs!  I feel so lucky to live in the most inspiring city in the world.  On my 15 minute walk to work in the morning I see about 87 fab outfits, 63 new and creative stores, 745 gorgeous doggies, 256 friends, and 328 beautiful buildings.  I’ve lived here for 21 years and I still feel excited to get up in the morning and discover more.

5. If you could do a different job for a day what would it be and why?
Bricklayer.  I think it’d be wildly satisfying to create a beautiful brick wall in a day.  I love to make things.

6. What is your favorite homemade gift to give?
Too difficult a question for moi.  I’ve spent my entire life making homemade gifts.

7. What is your favorite object in your home?
Our pad is a never ending whirligig of objects coming and going.  I suppose my fave is probably whatever I have most recently made or purchased.  At the moment it’s my new Ravello cocktail table which is made of tiles with pools of turquoise crackled glass.  It feels crisp and summery in the middle of the brutal New York winter.

8. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Brace yourself because I’m gonna’ get all Oprah on your ass.  Here goes.

The best advice I ever got was from my pottery teacher at RISD.  I spent a year at RISD after I graduated from college and, at the end of the year, I went my prof to ask for advice.  I said that I really wanted to be a potter and did she think I could do it.  Her response:  “Absolutely not.  You have no talent.  Go be a lawyer.”

Nothing could be more motivating than someone telling you not to do something.  Her horrible advice inspires me to this day.

I shouldn’t say the name of that mean teacher but I’ll give a hint:  Her name begins with “J” and ends with “acquelyn Rice”.

9. What websites do you use for inspiration?
Too many to list!  I think I spend entirely too much time on 1stdibs.com.  It’s my crack cocaine.

10. When do you consider a piece of your work complete?
When it looks like it’s just supposed to be that way.