Dezeen Magazine

Studio Job raids its own archive to create wallpaper patterns

Milan 2014: Studio Job has revisited its own archive to create a unique wallpaper range for Dutch brand NLXL, which debuts in Milan this week.

NLXL launches Archives by Studio Job at Milan design week
Archives wallpaper collection

Studio Job founders Job Smeets and Nynke Tynagel raided their archive and used existing drawings, icons, images and patterns to create unique nine-metre running compositions without any repetition, for the Archives wallpaper collection for NLXL.

NLXL launches Archives by Studio Job at Milan design week
Withered Flowers wallpaper

The collection comprises seven designs: Industry, Labyrinth, Perished, Alt Deutsch, L’Afrique and Withered Flowers, which is available in both monochrome or colour. Made from a non-woven paper with a matte finish, each roll is nine metres by 48.7 centimetres.

NLXL launches Archives by Studio Job at Milan design week
Alt Deutsch wallpaper

"Can you imagine what it feels like to browse through the archives of Studio Job if you love art?" says Rick Vintage, founder of NLXL. "We felt like children before Christmas."

NLXL launches Archives by Studio Job at Milan design week
Industry wallpaper

"This collaboration has brought NLXL to a whole new level. Job Smeets has created stunning sets for the promotional photos as well as our showroom in Milan during Salone del Mobile, so the Studio Job craftsmanship is present in every detail of this presentation," he added.

NLXL launches Archives by Studio Job at Milan design week
Labyrinth wallpaper

"The plain white wall behind a painting is an idea from modernism," said Smeets. "In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it was not uncommon to present art on very ornamented silk wallpaper. But let me put it another way: with this wallpaper you no longer need any paintings. Viewed in this way, per running metre, it is relatively cheap art."

NLXL launches Archives by Studio Job at Milan design week
L’Afrique wallpaper

Archives will be at the NLXL Milan showroom during Milan Design Week from Monday 7 April to Sunday 13 April 2014, 10am – 9pm, at Via Savona 35, Milan.