Founded in 2013, David Pompa is a Mexico City-based studio comprising designers, engineers, and makers established in Mexico and Austria. David Pompa grew up in both countries and studied product design in London. The idea of working with Mexican crafts began during a 2009 trip to Oaxaca, where Pompa first saw artisans working with “barro negro” (black clay). This inspired him to begin experimenting with the material, resulting in the studio's first collection. Since then, the studio has remained committed to Mexican culture, describing their work as an ongoing journey to create beautiful, accessible design objects.
For their latest release, the studio presents “Can Large,” a collection centered on the barro negro of San Bartolo Coyotepec, Oaxaca—a material exclusive to this region. The magic behind the material lies in the polishing and firing processes, both of which require immense sensitivity and time. This traditionally sourced material takes center stage in a contemporary context. Barro negro is a unique Oaxacan clay characterized by its deep black color, which is achieved by trapping smoke during the firing process.
The work of David Pompa Studio represents the spirit of innovation in Mexican craftsmanship and materials, utilizing barro negro, talavera, hand-blown glass, copper, and natural stones. Learn more here.
This article was written by Mónica Arellano. The translation is powered by AI.
