Good design is like a good story. It has rhythm, cadence, and just when you feel comfortable, a small twist appears.
It’s that gentle tension, that slight discomfort, that keeps you hooked—like reading a novel when you know something is about to happen, and you can’t stop reading. Without tension, when everything is too perfect, you disconnect and forget.
The tension between emotion and motion is what makes a piece stand out.
Great design grabs you, moves you, and forces you to look twice. And when you finally get it, it leaves you with a sense of satisfaction, but still craving more.
Born in 1986 and based in Mexico, Joel Escalona’s work explores the power of objects to transcend their function. Focusing on the abstraction of form and sensation, his creations are designed to evoke the nuances of sensation—the subtle shifts and shades of feeling that often go unnoticed in the rush of everyday life. His work invites both subtle and profound experiences of tranquility, serenity, and sometimes, tension.
"Objects are more than functional—they are reflections of emotion, moments of presence."
Joel finds beauty in imperfection. For him, perfection is not about flawless symmetry or rigid structure, but the natural uniqueness found in incomplete, organic forms. "True beauty lies in the spaces between perfection and imperfection." His designs embrace organic forms that reflect the natural world and the unpredictability of life, giving each piece its own unique presence.
With a foundation in industrial design and a master’s degree in Contemporary Art, Markets, and Business, Joel seamlessly merges the technical with the artistic. His career spans collaborations with internationally recognized brands such as Design Within Reach, Roche Bobois, and Louis Vuitton. This multidisciplinary approach allows him to work across diverse fields, moving fluidly between design and art.
Joel has participated in some of the most prestigious design exhibitions, including Art Basel, ICFF in New York, Maison & Objet in Paris, Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan, and Zona Maco in Mexico. As his body of work gains recognition, it has found a growing place within contemporary art collections, and his collaborations with renowned brands reflect the rising demand for his unique vision.
In addition to his artistic work, Joel is the Creative Director of NONO, the furniture brand he founded several years ago. NONO represents the commercial side of his creativity, with furniture designed for both residential and commercial markets. Through NONO, Joel explores the formal and functional aspects of contemporary furniture, all crafted in Mexico and exported internationally. The brand stands as a reflection of his dedication to producing high-quality, design-driven pieces that resonate with clients around the world.
1986 — Born in Mexico City
2009 — First exhibitions in NY and Paris
2010 — Wallpaper* Graduate Directory 2010
2010 — Industrial Design Bachelor's Degree by UAM-A
2011 — Established “JOEL ESCALONA STUDIO” & NONO
2015 — Start teaching Industrial Design at CENTRO University
2017 — Start teaching Industrial Design at Tec de Monterrey
2017 — Mexico, 9th Biennial of Design.
2019 — Creative Director for BREUER
2019 — AHEC Design Awards, Trajectory Award
2020 — Creative Director at Taller Maya
2021 — Design Director at NONO
2022 — Master in Contemporary Art, Markets and Business
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• 2022 | Una modernidad hecha a mano. Diseño artesanal en México, 1952-2022. MUAC | Mexico
• 2022 | Disonancia Mexicana at Museo Frans Mayer | Mexico
• 2022 | DUNA by NONO at ZⓢONAMACO | Mexico
• 2021 | ZⓢONAMACO | Mexico
• 2020 | Noviembre at ZⓢONAMACO | Mexico
• 2020 | Numa at InVisible. Diseño en Vidrio | Guadalajara, Mexico
• 2019 | Toh at Visión y Tradición | Merida, Mexico
• 2019 | Numa at InVisible. Diseño en Vidrio | Mexico City
• 2019 | Toh at Visión y Tradición | Mexico City
• 2019 | Cocinova at Pop, populista, popular. El diseño del pueblo | Mexico City
• 2019 | Umbra at Abierto Mexicano de Diseño | Mexico
• 2019 | Laws of Motion at Design Week Mexico | Mexico City
• 2019 | Santos Chair at Diseño México - Italia | Mexico
• 2019 | Fragmentos at Functional Art | USA
• 2019 | Laws of Motion at WIT Feria de Arte | Mexico
• 2019 | Balance and Canotier at Salone Internazionale del Mobile | Milan, Italy
• 2019 | Laws of Motion at ZⓢONAMACO | Mexico
• 2018 | Balance with ammann//gallery at Design Miami/basel | Basel, Switzerland
• 2018 | Castillos by Panorámica for Ángulo 0 at WIT Feria de Arte | Mexico
• 2018 | Dalia for BD Barcelona at Salone Internazionale del Mobile | Milano, Italy
• 2018 | Balance with ammann//gallery at Miart part of Milan Art Week Milan, Italy
• 2018 | Castillos by Panorámica for Ángulo 0 at ZⓢONAMACO | Mexico
• 2018 | Balance at ZⓢONAMACO | Mexico
• 2017 | ARTE/SANO ÷ ARTISTAS 5.0 by Museo de Arte Popular | Mexico
• 2017 | Novena Bienal Nacional de Diseño | Mexico
• 2017 | Contemporary Mexican Design with a Vision for the Future | Switzerland
• 2017 | Milano in Messico Exhibition | Mexico
• 2017 | Salone Internazionale del Mobile | Milan, Italy
• 2016 | "Work in Progress" Exhibition – Archivo Diseño y Arquitectura | Mexico
• 2016 | "Silla Mexicana" Exhibition - Franz Mayer Museum | Mexico
• 2015 | Octava Bienal Nacional de Diseño | Mexico
• 2015 | Level: A new collection by Cooperativa Panorámica for Ángulo at ZⓢONAMACO | Mexico
• 2015 | Expo CIHAC | Mexico
• 2015 | “Le Festival du Design” at Roche Bobois | France
• 2015 | TANE introduces designs by JOEL ESCALONA at ZⓢONAMACO | Mexico
• 2015 | Kitchen & Bath Industry Show | USA
• 2015 | MONO by Panorámica | France
• 2014 | Expo CIHAC | Mexico
• 2013 | Dubai - Italian Luxury Interiors 2013 – Opinion Ciatti | Dubai
• 2013 | Materiality presentation by Panorámica - International Contemporary Furniture Fair | NY, US
• 2012 | Objeto Glocal. Mexico Design Week - Blend | Mexico
• 2012 | Beijing Design Fair | Beijing, China
• 2012 | Salone Internazionale del Mobile | Milan, Italy
• 2011 | Sexta Bienal Nacional de Diseño 2011- Palacio de Bellas Artes | Mexico
• 2011 | Fábrica Mexicana. Diseño Industrial Contemporáneo - Museum of Modern Art | Mexico
• 2011 | Anudando historias, enlazando ideas - Franz Mayer Museum | Mexico
• 2011 | CANTERA: EXPOSICIÓN DE DISEÑO MEXICANO - CENTRO | Mexico
• 2011 | NUEVO DISEÑO México - Crear Hogar - El Palacio de Hierro | Mexico
• 2010 | Design Week’s exhibition “Arquitectura, Diseño y Espacio” - Museum of Modern Art | Mexico
• 2009 | Young South American design exhibition Talents À La Carte - Maison & Objet | Paris, France
• 2009 | ICFF Studio by Bernard Design’s exhibition - International Contemporary Furniture Fair | NY, US
• 2007 | National Design Award in Stainless Steel’s exhibition - Franz Mayer Museum | Mexico City
• 2007 | Whirlpool Mexico Design Award - SHAPE, Design Week Monterrey | Monterrey, Mexico
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• 2019 Mexico | AHEC Design Awards | Trajectory Award
• 2018 Mexico | Delta Awards | Products for indoors
• 2017 Mexico | 9th Biennal of Design. | First place
• 2016 Mexico | Premio Iconos del Diseño 2016 | Best Furniture Design
• 2015 Mexico | 8th Biennal of Design. | Honorable Mention
• 2015 Mexico | a! Diseño | Furniture Category Winner
• 2011 Mexico | 6° Bienal Nacional de Diseño México | Furniture Category Winner
• 2010 China | Annual Original Furniture Design Award | Year Award Original Furniture
• 2010 Mexico | Premio Iconos del Diseño 2010 | Best Furniture Design
• 2010 Mexico | TransForma tus Ideas con CORIAN | Product Design
• 2009 NY USA | ICFF Studio | Furniture Design
• 2009 Mexico | 5° Bienal Nacional de Diseño México | Furniture Design
• 2007 Mexico – Sweden | Volvo for Life Design Awards | Product Design
• 2007 Mexico | 2nd National Competition of Furniture Design in American Hardwood | Furniture Design
• 2007 Mexico | National Design Award in Stainless Steel | Furniture Design
• 2007 Mexico | Whirlpool Mexico Design Award | Furniture Design
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• 2019 | WHAT DESIGN CAN DO | Mexico
• 2018 | ZONA MACO Design Talks | Mexico
• 2018 | UDEM | Monterrey, Mexico
• 2017 | CEM TALKS — Tecnológico de Monterrey | Mexico, Mexico
• 2017 | DI-Integra — Tecnológico de Monterrey | Monterrey, Mexico
• 2016 | Design Fest International | Guadalajara, Mexico
• 2016 | Gerenation DECODE | Monterrey, Mexico
• 2016 | Chic Haus Design Experience | Monterrey, Mexico
• 2015 | Tecnológico de Monterrey - Guadalajara | Mexico
• 2015 | Roud table at Foro /ENTRE/ organizad by Universidad Iberoamericana’s Architecture Faculty | Mexico Guanajuato
• 2015 | Lecture at 60 years of industrial design in Mexico at Universidad Iberoamericana | Monterrey, Mexico
• 2014 | Design School of Universidad De La Salle Bajío | León, Mexico
• 2012 | Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez | Mexico
• 2011 | Facultad del Hábitat, Universidad Autónoma | Mexico San Luis Potosí
• 2011 | Universidad Iberoamericana | Puebla, Mexico
• 2011 | Seminar: strategic factor for innovation and competitiveness MUTEC, Museo Tecnológico | Mexico City
• 2011 | Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana | Mexico
• 2011 | Universidad de Guanajuato: Virus | Mexico
• 2011 | Tecnológico de Monterrey: PUNTO618 | Mexico
• 2011 | Tecnológico de Monterrey: DESIGNféctate | Mexico
• 2011 | Tecnológico de Monterrey: Design Week | Mexico
• 2011 | INSPIREDESIGN Las Vegas World Market | US
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• 2019 | ABC del Diseño Industrial Latinoamericano| Author: Pablo Díaz | Editorial: Caligrama | Spain
• 2017 | Silla Mexicana | Author: Ana Elena Mallet | Editorial: Arquine | Mexico
• 2017 | Arte/Sano ÷ Artistas 5.0 | Author/Editor: Museo de Arte Popular | Mexico
• 2017 | BD Barcelona’s Design History Book | Author: Ramón Úbeda | Spain
• 2015 | Fachkenntnisse Holztechnik Lernfelder 5 bis 12 | Author: Henner Behre et al. | Editorial: Heidsieck | Germany
• 2013 | Creative Product Design | Editor: Christina Hwang | Editorial: SendPoints | China
• 2012 | FÁBRICA MEXICANA: diseño industrial contemporáneo | Author: Luis Miguel Leon, Graciela Kasep y Abel Matus | Editorial: Museo de Arte Moderno | Mexico• 2012 | De la creatividad a la Innovación 200 diseñadores mexicanos | Author: Dr. Julio Frías Peña | Editorial: Designio, ITESM and Asociación Diseña Mexico, A.C. | Mexico
• 2012 | Bookshelf | Author: Alex Johnson | Publisher: Thames & Hudson | United Kingdom
• 2011 | Plus DESIGN Beautiful Design for Living | Author: Miquel Abellán | Editorial: MONSA | Spain
• 2011 | 1000 Designs for the garden | Author: Ian Rudge & Geraldine Rudge | London, UK
• 2009 | Crazy Design | Author: Claire Chamot | Editorial: Gründ | France
• 2009 | Design And Design Book Of The Year Vol. II | Author: Marc Praquin | Editorial: Index Books | France
• 2009 | Toys for Kids | Author: Claire Chamot | Editorial: Gründ | Paris, France
• 2008 | Design And Design Book Of The Year | Author: Marc Praquin | Editorial: Index Books | France -
— Design Hunter, Mexico, March 2020 Edition
«Su atención por los detalles, su visión panorámica sobre el diseño, la excelente calidad de sus productos y un crecimiento constante no compiten con la importancia de su proceso creativo y la claridad conceptual detrás de cada una de sus piezas. Joel entiende el abanico que se necesita para lograr ser un gran diseñador y hacerle justicia al título mediante cada uno de sus diseños.»
— Cathryn Jakobson Ramin, Introspective Magazine, 2019, Joel Escalona Finds Furniture Inspiration in Mexico City’s Back Alleys
« At 32, Escalona is already one of Mexico’s top designers. He’s constantly in motion, working across disciplines, which perhaps explains why so many of his projects address the physics of movement. »
— Glow!, Mexico, March 2018, Joel Escalona: Mexico (siempre) está de moda.
« Esa extraña capacidad y muy atípica cualidad de crear ideas poéticas y diseñar pragmatismos, es el manifiesto con el que Joel satisface las necesidades de cualquiera que se acerque al diseño en busca de una solución. »
— Architectural Digest México, Mexico, 2018,
«Bajo la primicia de retar los límites del diseño contemporáneo, a su corta edad Joel ha creado piezas icónicas que sobresalen en la escena internacional. Desde objetos cotidianos hasta mobiliario extravagante, en cada proyecto plasma su creatividad infinita y completo entendimiento de la forma. »
— Interni Magazine , Italy , 2018,
« Joel, unlike many others, has operated as an ally of business, immediately grasping an opportunity. With confidence, without hesitation, he knocks on the doors of companies with his projects. In this way he has been able to work, among others, with Roche Bobois, TANE, Urrea, Libbey. He acknowledges that he has learned a lot, above all with the latter two, because he had had the chance to become part of multidisciplinary groups. »
— México Design, Mexico, December 2019 Edition, Joel Escalona: Un acorde visual
«El trabajo de Joel Escalona hace posible pensar el diseño como una línea adyacente de las artes, una quizá mucho más consciente del objeto, del recurso material como herramienta, pero también como estrategia para crear algo hermoso y enigmático.»
— Forbes (web): 4 Diseñadores de mobiliario en México para Observar, México:
«El diseño mexicano se encuentra en una etapa de florecimiento. Ferias internacionales, convocatorias y nuevas plataformas han servido de espacio de exposición para que numerosos diseñadores puedan demostrar su talento y visión vanguardista. De entre ellos hay algunos que han destacado aún más por sus propuestas que rompen paradigmas y crean tendencia.»
— Arts Illustrated (Volume 02, issue 06), India, 2015, pag. 109
«The Booleanos cabinet designed by Joel Escalona is an intriguing piece with an arquitectural curiosity […]»
— Louis Vuitton’s City Guides, USA, pag. 218
“Joel Escalona is an enterprising young entrepreneur who creates sleek and whimsical designer objects. His stackable Dancing Plates, Pogo Collection for kids and humorous USB Bomb have been big hits on the international marketplace.”
— Samael Barrios, Código 06140: Especial de Diseño, México:
“Su lenguaje, a primera vista, nos puede parecer alejado del imaginario nacional; sin embargo, su secreto está en la manera sutil en que traduce la tradición formal y la lleva a una estética global contemporánea. […] Escalona va camino a convertirse en un diseñador mexicano de exportación.”
— Ricardo Mazatán, Layout: Joel Escalona portafolio — el diseño como oficio multidisciplinario, México:
“El trabajo de Joel Escalona llama la atención por su rigor en el tratamiento de sus formas y contornos. La abundancia de líneas rectas o circulares puras, que rara vez se mezclan en un mismo producto, proyecta una limpieza y una simplicidad que hacen a sus objetos apropiados para su gozo estético tanto como para su uso cotidiano.
— María Alcocer MM, Architectural Digest México: Sexta Edición de Iconos, México, pp. 74, 76:
“Joel Escalona es un contemporáneo del diseño que cautiva miradas con sus creaciones. Fusiona en ellas un lenguaje global, moderno y por supuesto el sello Hecho en México […] El trabajo de Joel Escalona es crear escenarios innovadores plenos de poesía, atractivos colores y formas exquisitamente limpias.”
— Ximena Orozco, Código 06140: Diseñadores Iberoamericanos, México:
“Con un diseño de líneas limpias y simples, este objeto resume la personalidad creativa de este joven diseñador mexicano, donde el folclor es traducido a un lenguaje contemporáneo y global. […] Joel Escalona (1986) consigue una buena mezcla entre lenguaje global, contemporáneo y mexicano, con escenarios innovadores, colores brillantes y formas limpias.“
— Boris Alexandrov, MD, Bulgaria, pp. 56-59:
“A single look at Joel Escalona’s work is enough to find out playfulness is the leading motif. […] The young designer creates plain, practical and at the same time innovative products. They fascinate with dynamic forms, teasing interpretations and, of course, functionality.”
— Muebles y Decoración, México, pp. 22, 23, 24:
“[…] su trabajo es una combinación entre su entendimiento del “mainstream” del diseño, el folklore que lo rodea y teoría del diseño, siempre guiado por conceptos con discursos inteligentes.”
— Gerardo León, El Universal: Ingenio con identidad, México:
“Joel Escalona hace uso de la tecnología para crear mobiliario sencillo y divertido, de formas inimaginables y sobrio colorido. […] En su trabajo, resaltan piezas de líneas sencillas, materiales simples y estructuras inusuales como sillas conformadas sólo por tubos que […] nos hacen pensar en los muebles de un siglo aún lejano.”
— Wallpaper* Graduate Directory 2010. Londres.
“Even before he graduated Joel Escalona had his own studio and several industrial design projects in production with Mexican and North American manufacturers” …
