Marii JJ Design, created by Maria JJ Juchnowska in New York

Marii JJ Design, created by Maria JJ Juchnowska. Juchnowska is one of the 32 finalists and the only Polish designer selected for the Launch Pad program--part of the WantedDesign Manhattan in New York, the creative destination for international design community. One of the marquee events of NYCxDESIGN, it will take place from May 20 to 23 at the Terminal Stores building on Eleventh Avenue in West Chelsea's Historic District.

Marii JJ Design will showcase their "Useful-Unique" series--a selection of the designer's most recent ceramic innovations, including porcelain jewelry. The ceramic, primarily porcelain designs are hand tinted and decorated from the initial phase to a finished product. "Useful- Unique" is a collection of innovative functional pieces characterized by an interactive surface that gives the receiver a sensual experience by touching and using it. For example, the "Cup" is specially designed to prevent the hand touching the hot surface while consuming a drink. The "Bowl" is designed with special supports to stop it from tipping over, while still retaining its unique decorative shape.
Marii JJ Designs featured jewelry is made of porcelain, gold, platinum and sterling silver. Each set of pendants, earrings and rings is handmade using a special technique of melting porcelain. All jewelry sets were inspired by taking waste and defects from factory tableware porcelain production and transforming it into unique wearable designs.

Founded in New York City in 2011 by Odile Hainaut and Claire Pijoulat, WantedDesign has established itself as a constant and staunch supporter of the U.S. and international design via events, conversations, and its yearly programming, aiming to nurture New York City's design dialogue.
Launch Pad is a competition program which features the newest cutting edge design and is dedicated to independent international designers and small companies who seek to manufacture and promote their new products worldwide. This exhibition serves as an inspiring meeting point for designers, manufacturers, buyers, distributors, craftsmen, students, institutions, the press and all design lovers.

Maria Joanna Juchnowska was born in Poland in 1985. In 2000 she enrolled in art school specializing in ceramics. In 2010 she graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in WrocBaw, Poland and the following year from the University of Arts, Craft and Design Konstfack in Stockholm, Sweden. Maria worked at the Tate Modern and Tate Britain museums and has participated in solo and group exhibitions in New York, London, Liverpool, Berlin, Frankfurt, Stockholm, Athens, Oslo, Bergen, Tunisia, and Poland. In 2016, was a guest teacher at the Parsons School of Design in New York. Maria is based in Oslo and works out of her studios in Norway and Poland.

Marii JJ Design participation in Launch Pad exhibition platform of the WantedDesign Manhattan is organized in collaboration with the Polish Cultural Institute New York, and supported by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute Poland, Design and Architecture Norway and General Consulate of Norway in New York., City of Kielce Poland, and Kielce Culture Centre in Poland.