Plated – No.4
DANIELA JACOBS
I’m so happy to share the fourth iteration of 'PLATED,' our ongoing series where we ask creative people we admire to share what feeds them — both literally and artistically.
A designer, teacher, and creative consultant, Daniela Jacobs is a breath of fresh air. A true minimalist, she’s the founder of ARC Objects, a conceptual collection of objects for your heart and home from jewelry and apparel to ceramics.
Over some salty sweet ice cream, she talked to us about the calming nature of the coast, the concept of contrast, and her desire to constantly pare things down.
WHAT HAVE YOU MADE FOR US TODAY?
I made black sesame ice cream over (regular) tahini, with black sea salt sprinkled on top in one glass and coffee ice cream with black tahini underneath again with black sea salt sprinkled on top in the other. On the side, I added crunchy-sweet black sesame crackers and more regular tahini. I love the combination of sweet and salty, and when unexpected flavors go together so harmoniously. I also like to think about texture – in this case, how something smooth and creamy like ice cream can have an added dimension with something thick and earthy like sesame paste – each element heightened by the pinch of salt on top.
HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS AT HOME?
You’ll need ice cream, salt (I used black Icelandic flakes), regular tahini and black sesame tahini (nut butter would work too). Note: you could use regular tahini if you want, but I love the contrast that the black sesame paste provides.
Start by pouring about a spoonful of tahini or a nut butter of your choice into the bottom of a glass or bowl – it's more fun if the vessel is glass so you can see it swirl and interact with the ice cream later. Next, scoop some ice cream on top of it, sprinkle a little flaky salt over the top – maybe garnish with something crunchy, like sweet sesame crackers, or round it out by adding another drizzle of tahini. I chose to keep those possible garnishes on the side, but it’s just as enjoyable either way. As the ice cream melts, the flavors, textures, and colors all start to blend into each other in the most delicious way.
WHAT DOES A NORMAL DAY LOOK LIKE IN YOUR WORLD?
An average day starts with a shot of strong espresso cut with the gentle creaminess of a splash of milk. Then I ease into the work day answering emails, making to-do lists, and attending to any studio-related tasks like sketching or refining designs. After that, I go for a swim, which somehow every day manages to help provide both fresh energy and balance. After my swim, I work for hours in the studio and get into the messier part of the day (pouring or mixing porcelain, working on plaster mold-making, carving new pieces, etc) or taking meetings if that's the kind of day it is. Eventually, I ease into the evening, often with a glass of wine and some olives with my husband, and then we make dinner. On a clear day, my favorite thing is to spend some time looking at the sky as it turns gold and then pink at sunset. It's not the sun lowering in the sky that moves me so much as the way the colors briefly get so outrageous. It's a beautiful moment to slow down a little, think about things, and reflect on the day.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO?
I describe myself as a designer. I also teach at Parsons and do some consulting, both of which involve helping other people connect with their inner creative spark and expressing it (visually and otherwise) as best as possible – it’s a nice counterbalance to my own creative practice.
WHAT ARE SOME GROUNDING MUSES THAT YOU TURN TO IN YOUR PRACTICE?
At large, I often turn to coastal areas along the water, especially those of the mediterranean. The way the color of the water changes depending on the time of day, the weeds that tend to grow around the rocks so poetically, the organic forms of rocks and small stones shaped by the time... it inspires me endlessly.
Recently, I've been enthralled by the concept of contrast, both conceptually and visually (which, incidentally, really came through in this ice cream recipe!). I grew up and continue to live between New York and Mallorca, Spain so on many levels, the idea of contrast is something I think about a lot: contrast in lifestyle, in work, in design, and of course in things like color, texture, and material.
WHAT ARE SOME OBJECTS THAT FEEL LIKE IDEAL INTRODUCTIONS TO WHAT YOU DO?
The Full Circle Ring from ARC is a piece that combines porcelain, silver, and simple dynamic boldness – all elements that I play with often in my work (hence the name). The Evening Vessel Set (included in this Plated photoshoot) is also emblematic of ARC tableware in that it's simple in form, considers with the concept of shape informing function, and is made from a shape that I carved by hand. These vessels are interchangeable with other home objects from the collection (like the Day and Night Plate set and Horabaixa Plate set), and were designed with evening snacks in mind, like olives + olive pits for example...
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE POETRY OF THE MINIMALISM AND WHAT CONNECTS YOU TO IT?
A minimalist aesthetic or approach comes very naturally to me because my brain has a constant desire to pare things down to the essentials – of either what they are trying to say or be.
OF ALL THE THINGS IN YOUR HOME, WHAT BRINGS YOU THE MOST JOY?
I have a giant palm branch that I found on the road in Miami years ago. I schlepped it all the way home on the plane and now it sits in rotating spots around my house. It forms a gentle arc and is a soft, creamy brown. I derive so much joy from its presence.
I also really appreciate a simple low table that I created using a sheet of glass that I found and with just two stacks of books supporting it on either side. I love the mysteriousness of glass furniture.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE?
Personally and professionally, it feels like I'm coming back to myself after a period of so much change and, on some level, turbulence. Covid was hard, it overlapped with my Saturn's return, and now it's feeling like the clarity that emerges after a storm.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS TIME IN YOUR LIFE?
Unfolding.
All photography is by Jen Steele, with the exception of Daniela's image of the Full Circle Ring.