Today we’d like to introduce you to Djivan Schapira.
Hi Djivan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was basically introduced to the art of design and fabrication from the first day I could hold something – anything – in my hands. My father, a master craftsman and furniture designer/fabricator himself, working on larger production projects in Paris & Normandy before moving our family to Hoboken, New Jersey when I was six years old. Starting at about ten, I began an apprenticeship in his studio until University, where I attended Parsons’ Architectural program, and began to experiment with my own methods, such as the relationship and intertwining of resin and natural materials.
This would lead to a deep dive of the medium, ultimately uncovering a new surface technique of embedding cross-cuts of natural materials in resin, which we have now patented. It was in 2016 that I felt confident enough in my skills and what I had created to begin the steps of starting my own company, and tapped my current business partner to found ABDB Designs LLC. Over the course of the last 4 years or so, ABDB Designs has pivoted into a commercial made-to-order operation leveraging the patented technique, while I have evolved my personal creations to go beyond natural materials embedded in resin, and create fully formed and composed pieces of collectible design that are unique to the world, working with materials like bronze, concrete, resin, rosewood, and more. In the recent months 2022 I have had the opportunity to sign with one of the top galleries in the world as well as accept awards for both Emerging Designer of the Year & People’s Choice Awards at NYCxDesign.
Ending up here, and who knows where we will go, was the cause of lots of trial & error, quick decision-making, pivoting, experimenting with new mediums, being exposed to different styles of art and design, and people believing in the work. There are no mistakes, because each decision made impacts the next, which has thankfully allowed us to push forward and continue to allow me to create.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Most definitely not! There are constant challenges, but without challenges how happy are we really when the goal is accomplished? The challenges are learning experience, and as mentioned in my last response – we have had to pivot, a lot. Verbal agreements that turn into nothing, being told “no” on a collection or idea, being told something won’t be successful, inevitable imperfections and issues with large-format or brand new technique-based projects. It’s all there, and it’s all a part of it. The Yeses wouldn’t be so sweet if not being told no first. Finishing a project wouldn’t feel as good if there wasn’t some sort of hurdle to begin with. Of course, we want things to go perfectly, but that’s never the way it turns out. And we are grateful for that!
We’ve been impressed with what you do, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
ABDB Designs is a multidisciplinary studio creating made-to-order surfaces & complete pieces of furniture/interior decor for high-end commercial and some residential projects. Our “surfaces” are our brand – consisting of highly customizable and applicable veneers, finished in high gloss or satin epoxy, created by way of our utility-patented design technique of embedding upcycled cross-cuts of wood in custom pigmented resin. No one is – or can now with the patent – create the same type of vibrant, breathing experience as well can that appears in forms like skateboards, tiles, wall hangings, table tops, and more. We have worked with some of the top hotels in the world, restaurants in the world, offering them the ability to access a piece of Djivan Schapira but accessibly, and aren’t beholden to creating the base (i.e. table), which they can have outsourced, and spend a little more on the surface, which is the eye-catching aspect of the works in question. I’m so proud to have been awarded a United States patent, as I am not even a citizen! As well as the projects we have completed, the brand we have built, and upcoming initiatives like a brand partnership with one of the most famous & historical American rock bands of all time. ABDB Designs offers your readers a chance to incorporate living natural materials in their homes or establishments, in ways that are leveraged completely differently than what’s out there today, and can be completely customized to augment their space in the most collaborative way possible. We love working collaboratively with our clients because everyone has a different relationship/experience/perspective with color and nature, so combining the perceived experiences of all parties involved leads to greater magic that can be created.
Djivan Schapira is my personal brand of collectible design, which is similar to contemporary art, consisting of single or limited editions of pieces that are represented by galleries around the world. The works are meant to be held on to for generations, and combine elements of rare materiality in addition to non-conventional forms, compositions, and ideas. Since beginning to brand this work under my own moniker, we have debuted my first solo show in Chelsea, New York City, won design awards for Emerging Designer of the Year and People’s Choice Awards at NYCxDesign, and signed with one of the top galleries in the world to represent an exclusive collection of works that have begun to debut most recently at Salon Art & Design in November of 2022, and continue across design fairs and gallery openings throughout 2023. Similar to ABDB, I create custom & made to order pieces for select residential and commercial homes, just at elevated price points given the rarity, ingenuity and technical skill required to produce the works at hand. I am proud to have won design awards and to have accomplished my goal of being featured in a major design show, but it’s only the beginning! My goals are to continue to build our brands to never stop growing and evolving.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I love being in the studio and being around the tools. Being so close to the studio, I constantly stay here late hours, creativity strikes whenever so why not make everything accessible? This is happiness for me. I’m also super happy when my work gets recognized. Although art should always be created for yourself first, when you’ve done something your whole life, it feels nice to be appreciated once in a while. Going home to France to see my family, as well as my friends here in the US and music also make me very happy. I will be the happiest when I have a business that is sustaining, a team that I’ve hired, and can really be designing while there is an entire lab prototyping 🙂
Pricing:
- ABDB Designs – $250-$300+ per square foot of patented technique, applied to substrate and finished.
- Djivan Schapira – per inquiry.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.abdbdesigns.com | www.djivanschapira.com
- Instagram: @djivan_schapira | @abdb_designs
- Facebook: Facebook.com/abdbdesigns
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwS1w2HcCtjM4WknS9Kiv8g
