Over the years, I’ve come across so many amazing New England brands that I’ve wanted to share, beyond just an Instagram post or story. To do this, I’m launching a new series called Local New England, where I do a quick five question Q&A with a few of the people behind my favorite brands.
To start, meet Eric Drzewianowski of Dski Design.
Years ago, Eric reached out and offered to make me a nautical chart guest book. Even better, he was able to customize it so that it was a bit more unique and special, and created a book for me that featured a Scituate harbor nautical chart.
Since then, I’ve loved having our house guests sign the book, where they leave fun notes for us to read after they’ve left. It’s found a home on our kitchen island, where friends and family that are visiting will open and read themselves.
1. What inspired you to start Dski Design?
I always say I just fell into book binding, but as I look back I have always had a interest in books. In high school I had a internship at a comic publisher and all throughout college most of my projects turned into books. Once out of college, I was designing a look book for a local architect which was to be bound by Scott Mullenberg of Mullenberg Designs. We had a random connections to my home town of Northampton, Massachusetts where he had apprenticed. A few years later I was looking for a change and contacted Scott about an apprenticeship. I always enjoyed doing the simple bindings in college and thought it be interesting to learn new binding structures.
2. What is it about book bindery that you love?
I love working with my hands, folding the paper and then sewing it into texts blocks. I also love that there is always more to learn in book binding. There are so many styles and structures- always something new you can try.
3. Why do you gravitate to nautical chart designs?
I think it is a combination of my two favorite things – maps and the ocean. When I lived in Maine, I would find old nautical charts at antique shops and flea markets and then use them to cover my books. Eventually I found a database that really opened up the possibilities and I was able to offer custom books.
4. What’s been your favorite custom project thus far?
I was part of a group show this past winter- 15 book binders were sent unbound copies of Uppercase Magazine’s Print / Maker. Everyone created their binding for a online gallery. I liked working on the Print / Maker project because I had to work with the fixed content, but knowing that this was a project amongst makers allowed me to experiment with the binding and fun materials.
5. Where can people get their own book?
I have people contact me for custom orders through my website dskidesign.com or Instagram @dskidesign. I also have some beautiful shops carrying my books – Common Deer in Burlington, Vermont and Made in Jackson, Wyoming.