Studio FraJas on Collaboration, Community and Finding Inspiration through DESIGN WEEK RI

Photo by Rue Sakayama

DxRI : Can you tell me who you are and what Studio FraJas is?

Francisco : We are artists and designers who have a collaborative practice. Together, we make ceramics, with a big basis in colorful patterns.

Jasper : We are Studio FraJas. It’s a portmanteau made from the beginnings of both of our names, Francisco and Jasper, and then we changed the pronunciation a little so it flowed off the tongue better.

Photo by Rue Sakayama

DxRI : What brought you back to Rhode Island?

Francisco : We were looking to upscale our studio, and we already knew the design community here because we went to school in the area. We had a lot of friends who stayed and built lives here.

Jasper : We knew it had a vibrant design community and we wanted to be part of it.

Francisco : And we missed nature. We were in New York City for about five years.

Jasper : We met at RISD during our sophomore year and started dating around then. We’ve been together ever since.

DxRI : What role has DESIGN WEEK RI played in connecting you with other designers, collaborators, or clients in Rhode Island?

Jasper : DESIGN WEEK RI really helped connect us to the community here quickly. Through the events, we met other designers, made friends, and got to see the variety of creative practices happening in the area.

Francisco : What stood out to me was the curiosity and support. Everyone was genuinely excited to learn what other people were working on. It felt like a moment to catch up, introduce yourself, and learn from each other.

DxRI : How did you first learn about DESIGN WEEK RI?

Francisco : I think we first found it online.

Jasper : I had also been meeting people locally, and someone recommended one of the events. Once I looked further into it, I realized there was an entire week of programming.

The only other reference we had for “design weeks” was in New York, where it’s often more showroom-based. What’s unique about DESIGN WEEK RI is that there’s so much programming, classes, panels, conversations. It feels more insightful and community-oriented.

Photo by Rue Sakayama

DxRI : Was there a favorite moment or event that stood out to you?

Francisco : We actually had a couple.

Jasper : One highlight for me was the opening event talks from Matt and Alaina. Hearing them speak candidly about building their businesses and how programs like 10,000 Small Businesses helped them grow was really inspiring and welcoming.

Francisco : Another standout was the collaboration talks in Newport. As collaborators ourselves, it was inspiring to hear from partnerships with many more years of experience working together. It made us think about how our own relationship and studio practice could evolve over time.

Jasper : It reminded us that building a creative practice is a long game.

DxRI : Were there any workshops or hands-on experiences that particularly resonated with you?

Francisco : We had a lot of fun at the stained glass workshop with Shard Studio. We created a small hanging ornament piece for a window.

Jasper : It was really interesting because we had always been curious about stained glass but never understood the full process or what a studio production requires.

Francisco : We also learned how much of the stained glass industry is focused on restoration work rather than creating new pieces, because the process is so labor intensive and specialized.

Jasper : And there’s a real need for that work in Rhode Island because there are so many historic homes and buildings with stained glass that need preservation and repair.

Photo by Rue Sakayama

DxRI : Why would you encourage other designers or businesses to get involved with programs like DESIGN WEEK RI?

Francisco : It’s a great way to learn from your peers – to see who else is making work right now and to share knowledge. It also helps you step outside your own studio mindset and encounter different visions and perspectives.

People are genuinely curious and supportive. They want to know what you’re working on and how you’re figuring things out. Everyone seems much more willing to go out of their way to introduce you to people or show you their studio.

Jasper : It’s also incredibly accessible. Many events are free, including workshops that provide meaningful educational experiences. We attended activities that we easily would have paid for otherwise.

Francisco : It’s also a great way to discover newer businesses and creative spaces in the area and meet the makers behind them.

Photo by Rue Sakayama

DxRI : As you continue growing your studio, what has been most valuable about connecting with Rhode Island’s creative community?

Francisco : As we upscale our ceramic studio, it’s been really insightful to meet designers and studio owners who have had much longer careers. Seeing that there are multiple paths to building a sustainable creative practice has been very inspiring for us.

Jasper : I don’t have anything to add to that!

DxRI : Can you tell me about your recent series, Prismic Albarello?

Jasper : This series is inspired by cylindrical containers that migrated from the Islamic world across Italy, Spain, and into México. Our ceramic vessels become both sites of historical inheritance and platforms for forward-looking innovation.

Francisco : We’re interested in challenging boundaries between mediums and treating the vessel as object, painting surface, and architectural form. Each work becomes a record of exchange: between two collaborators and two cultures, between ancient forms and contemporary imagination, and between craft discipline and material freedom.

Photo by James K. Lowe