Acme

ACME Studio is an international product design company that produces and markets writing instru-ments, stationery accessories, watches, men’s silk ties, men’s accessories, and other design objects. Its prod-ucts are the result of cooperation with the world’s leading architects, designers, artists, foundations, es-tates and institutions.

ACME Studios was started in 1985 by Adrian Olabuenaga and his wife, Lesley Bailey. The first project which, as Adrian says, “set the ball rolling,” was a collection of twelve brooches by California artist and Memphis designer Peter Shire. Then, with the help of writer Barbara Radice and designer Ettore Sottsass, ACME Studios organized Mem-phis Designers for ACME, a collection of over 100 designs by 14 designers and architects, including Andrea Branzi, Aldo Cibic, Nathalie Du Pasquier, Marco Zanini, Michele De Lucchi and others.

Architects for ACME followed, and with this col-lection “we explored postmodernism, neo-modern-ism and pluralism, to name a few,” says Olabuenaga. American architects (Richard Meier, Robert A.M. Stern and others) were organized under the guidance of noted architect Phillip Johnson.

In an effort to include the world of fine art, Artists for ACME was formed with the assistance of artist Billy Al Bengston. Subsequently, Alchimia for ACME was organized with the collaboration of Milanese ar-chitect Alessandro Mendini. Other collections have included the ACME Collection, rendered by leading graphic artists.

In 1989-90, Hispanic Artists for ACME, was organized. It included Carlos Almaraz, Frank Romero, and others. The New Pop Series, featur-ing artists such as Robert Williams, Georgeanne Deen, Neon Park and others, and the ACME Classics, ACME’s first collection of sterling silver, followed.

“By virtue of the small size of items we work with, we are able to work with more designers, artists and architects than any company in the world,” says Olabuenaga. “Historically, when there has been any significant movement in design, architecture or art, there have always been jewelry and other objects re-flecting those styles. What we have done is invited the actual people behind all the current movements ...to design for ACME.”

In 1996, the company began to organize a new category to explore: writing instruments. The first collection, which features imagery by Frank Lloyd Wright, Piet Mondrian, Michael Graves, Keith Har-ing, Kenny Scharf and others, was released in 1997 at the New York Stationery Show.

In 2000, the company began a new direction in writing instruments and has developed several new pen-making techniques. A variety of materi-als, such as acid-etched brass, lathe-spun celluloid, lacquers and various other metals and materials, are employed. For this collection, Collezione Materiali (meaning, Materials Collection), ACME invited Ettore Sottsass, Michael Graves, the Campana brothers, Andrée Putman and just a few others.Future plans are to push pen design forward and to forever change the industry.

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