Working as a couple influences the Mops studio design process, which mostly relies on a discussion between the two designers that ultimately results in a univocal solution. Chomka-Jaworska describes it thus:
In the end there is one voice, coming out of hours of conversations and discussions. At the beginning each of us has his or her own opinion and we defend in any possible way, but with compromise in mind. When we manage to reach it, we both work on the concept. The most important thing is that in the end the product should be convincing for us and well-made at every level (www.dobrewnetrze.pl).
Commenting on her design philosophy, Chomka-Jaworska stresses the importance of craftsmanship, calling herself a craft-designer. Her fascination with traditional craft techniques is something of a family tradition and was allegedly installed in her by her cobbler grandfather. All of Mopsdesign studio's products are made by hand and Joanna admits that such an approach demands lots of patience, a quality that she also has inherited from her grandfather. Working with such a capricious medium as porcelain might be challenging, but it is exactly because this difficulty that Mops Studio finds it interesting. Chomka-Jaworska explains:
What we like about porcelain is its pure whiteness, but also the fact that it is fragile, so it demands a lot of patience and experience. (...) There is something appealing in trying one’s hand at porcelain. And the effects bring an immense satisfaction (www.weranda.pl).
Sets designed by Mopsdesign feature strikingly clean lines combined with eye-catching patterns. Their Scandinavian set plays with delicate, geometrical web-like patterns, while the Mops set uses a silhouette of a pug dog as its main theme. The image of this dog combined with the checked black and white patterns and yellow floral motifs adds an element of wit to this already vibrant design. As avid collectors and flea market attendees, the designers admit that their inspiration also comes from the past and therefore they like to paraphrase shapes and patterns they find on old dishes. That was the case with the Moon bowl, influenced by the design of the sixties. Geometric decoration interrupted the smoothness of the porcelain surface, introducing a new tactile dimension to it. A similar play with the irregularity of surface can be found in plates from the Cream collection, designed for cooks. Jaworski and Chomka-Jaworska love to spend time in the kitchen and sought to design a set that would unleash and stimulate culinary creativity.
Selected awards and exhibitions:
- 2013 Salone Internazionale de Mobile, Milan
- 2012 Unpolished Young Design from Poland, Bucharest
- 2012 Must Have, Łódź Design Festival for Moon bowl
- 2009 Łódź Design Festival Non Objective
- 2008 Ambiente, Frankfurt am Main
Author: Agata Morka, November 2013