Dzek is a design production company founded and directed by Brent Dzekciorius that instigates designer-led architectural materials and material-based design collections. From 2010 to 2013 Brent served as the worldwide director of Phillips de Pury’s retail operations, collaborating with many of the world’s top design studios to develop special projects, exhibitions, and editions for sale through the platform. He has served as an advisor and ambassador for the British Crafts Council since 2011, is a patron for the Design Days Dubai fair, speaks at global forums on design and the marketplace, and mentors several studios in the development of their practice.
How has living in London affected your work? London has an immense design community with people working and interacting across all the sectors: commercial, gallery, makers, industrial designers, architects, institutions, curators and schools. We’re all familiar with one another and there is a real communal tone. It is as though we are all collectively working towards something greater than just our individual ambitions. London provides a continuous stream of inspiration and resources that keep my work moving forward.
What kinds of things are influencing your work right now? My work revolves around developing and making designer-led architectural materials. I’m always taking in my material surroundings, examining what things are composed from be it a bridge, a building, a footpath or a pencil. I’m obsessively curious about these things. And, because the materials are designer-led, I do my utmost to stay informed of adaptable materials research, studio projects and technologies.
What are some recent, upcoming or current projects you are working on? We are in the process of developing a new surface material with the Amsterdam-based, Italian design studio Formafantasma. Next week we are off to Istanbul to meet with the science and technology center of the potential factory we hope to work with. Otherwise Marmoreal has been going from strength to strength, finding its way into more homes and fantastic architectural projects. We’re looking at quite a few exciting collaborations over the next two years but they aren’t far enough along to discuss.
How did your interest in your work begin? Interest in design extends back to as far as I can remember but I don’t think I became as fascinated with Materials until seeing projects like Max Lamb’s Spoon study. Inspiration comes from many sources but Julia Lohmann’s Laminarium with Stanley Picker Gallery in 2010 and Marcus Kayser’s Solar Sinter project in 2011 were certainly eureka moments.
How long have you lived in London and what brought you there? I moved to London from New York in 2010 when I was hired by Phillips de Pury (now Phillips) to start a design retail program for them in the Saatchi Gallery. I assumed it would be a fun thing to try out for a few years and then return to NY. Now it’s been six years and no plans to return. It’s funny how these big life shifts can happen, I always considered myself a NYC lifer.
What do you want a viewer to walk away with after experiencing your work? I want viewers to experience an aha moment for these architectural materials and I want this to extend beyond people directly within the architectural and design community. The aim is for people to immediately recognise how designers and the materials they create can impact space.
What’s your absolute favorite place in the city to be? My favourite place in London is swimming in the Hampstead Heath ponds on a sunny day.
What are you really excited about right now? Autonomous vehicles, graphene, and Donald Trump getting spanked in the general election.
Can you share one of the best or worst reactions you have gotten as a result of your work? I’m sure you can find these in the comments section of Dezeen.
