XAWD Wallpaper Q+A

I recently answered some questions for an upcoming article on XAWD wallpaper and Figured I’d share my thoughts about launching XAWD On here as well…

1. What motivated you to get into the wallpaper game?  

Honestly, it was mainly because I couldn’t find the wallpapers that had the energy and personality that I wanted to inject into certain projects. While I try to distance AWD from being defined by specific aesthetics, I would say one thing we are known for is creating high-energy and unique spaces. And I’ve always favored a bold wallpaper over a simple painted accent wall because I think it’s a great way to inject personality into a space. Hence, XAWD was born. 

2. Explain the inspirations behind these wallpapers and their dark-twist-on-a-classic designs? 

Simply put, I think design should be fun and the majority of the design world takes itself too seriously. There seems to be this belief that things need to be quirky and artsy, or they need to be serious and beautiful. Well, I’ve never been a fan of boundaries, so I say "why can’t it be all of them?”

3. I love that these designs don't take themselves seriously--would you say that's a consistent theme in your design work? 

First of all, thank you for saying that because the fact that you recognize that is a huge relief. But yes, that has always been a goal of mine. I’m not Frank Loyd Wright or Charles Eames... I accept that they won’t be teaching about my designs in future design theory classes. And the reality is that 99.99999% of spaces will never be seen by anyone other than the homeowner and their friends. So why not create spaces that have personality instead of just copying what someone else did? This is all temporary. In 30 years someone else will likely come along and remodel the spaces we design. So why not make the most of it? There are thousands of beautiful toile wallpapers you can put on your wall. But wouldn’t it be so much more fun to have a beautiful toile wallpaper that depicts a post-apocalyptic world rather than people farming or some other mundane activity?

4. Who do you think is your main audience for these designs? 

People who recognize the beauty of being unique and not following trends. People who are bold and tired of the mundane. People who appreciate art and see a wall as a way to communicate rather than something they just need to decorate. And of course, people with a good sense of humor!

5. Do you have a favorite? 

Wow, that’s a hard question. These designs are all coming from the deep and semi-twisted depths of my very sarcastic mind, so they all hold a special place in my heart. And we have so many more on the way that I’m very excited about. But if I had to choose one, it would probably be Apocalypse Toile. Honestly, just because it was the first and the artist who created it, Sarah Hurwitz (who created most of our designs), did such a phenomenal job of creating exactly what I had in mind. Plus, I have a slight obsession with Chinese Blue-and-White ceramics, which is what inspired the pattern.

6. Can you give a short description of each of the designs in the collection?

As of today:

1. Apocalypse Toile- A toile wallpaper executed in the style of Chinese Blue-and-White ceramics that (when you look closely) depicts a post-apocalyptic world. 

2. Glamour Life- Probably our most popular pattern that displays the dangerous nature of our culture by mixing poisonous animals and plants with the “luxurious” and equally poisonous things we indulge on (jewels, sweets, drugs, etc.) 

3. Critters- This is simply a bunch of animals and plants that are beautiful but surprisingly deadly- like the platypus! 

4. Thuglife- This is a fun one. Basically it’s a toile of Romanesque characters partaking in modern “thug” behaviors such as playing dice, hanging on the stoop, drug deals and drive-by shootings (by chariot of course). 

5. The Warped Series- This is a series of 5 classic patterns executed in our warped XAWD fashion (Designed by Sam Buros)

6. God Save the Biebs- A painted Renaissance styled baroque pattern depicting what Heaven and Hell might look like. Obviously, with Hell looking like a popular meme of post Malone choking Justin Bieber in a crowded night club.

7. Real Ones- While this one seems offensive the message is actually pretty important. It depicts iconic peace-keepers throughout history throwing up gang signs, which in my mind communicates what going against the grain of society (but in a positive way) really looks like. 

8. What’s Your Sign?- This sarcastic design just depicts the confusion around the cultural obsession with defining yourself with a “sign.” So we included all sorts of signs, like Chinese Zodiacs, the thumbs up sign, the shakka sign, gang signs, and of course, astrological signs. 

9. War on Plants- Simply put we made an absolutely stunning floral pattern using plants that are commonly used to create recreational drugs. #sorrynotsorry