A Design Studio Experience

Courtesy Of Camelot Homes

Desert Design Week (DDW) started off with a bang, with its first season in October; however, its partnership with Camelot Homes Design Studio was the defining storytelling moment that showcased how intentional Founder of Desert Style AZ and Desert Design Week, Ruth Price, is with her project curation(s) and collaboration efforts. 

During the Wine & Design at Camelot Homes Design Studio in Scottsdale, guests were able to revel in the awe of architectural features with an emphasis on tessellation. With collaborators such as Cameron Custom, Facings of America and Alfonso Versuzco Design, it became evident that architecture can be just as creative, artistic, and compelling as what fills the inside of any space.

In fact, event-goers were able to be educated on how exactly tiles can serve as an illustration on their own, without the additive of heavy decor or art pieces that typically make a room come alive.

The event highlight of this evening was a showcase put together by Alfonso Versuzco of Alfonso Versuzco Design. Here, he previewed the craftsmanship that is the Raíces Black Collection—a celebration of individuality and artistry. The intent behind this luxury wall tile series is not only to show the intricacy of the manufacturing process but also the intricacy of Mexican heritage and how it can play into design qualities that bring about a creative presence that is uncommon to mass trades seen on an everyday basis. 

With its brutalist, yet organic quality, the Raíces Black Collection features tile selections: Akamba, Xanamu, Churi, and Chipiri. All of these pieces’ represent actual ideations around nature and the humanistic cognitions that either appear or are of use in our every-day lives. What is even more profound, is that Versuzco has taken inspiration from his travels in pueblo mágicos (meaning: designations for small towns with significant cultural and historical impact) where he has seen other artisans practice craft making with Mexican beloved tools, materials, and food. This collection’s vision specifically comes from his appreciation of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Within this series, delicacies such as corn cob, agave, and a sense of mining are used in order to impact the artistic value that is portrayed in the tile. One told method that became popularly intriguing to event-goers was the idea to take corn cob and slap it into the barro clay as a part of the production process—creating a beautiful imprint that evokes emotion as any viewer can see the depth of strength and motion used within each tile. What’s even more favorable is that because this is craftsmanship by hand and by feeling, none of the prints are the exact same—which promises purchasers exclusivity to their design.

Written by Karysma Hicks