Not everything has to be serious. In Mexico City, one studio builds furniture around that idea.
Joyful Objects, Yes! makes wavy mirrors, rattan cabinets and sun-shaped lamps that look like they are about to start dancing. Founded in Mexico City in 2021 by industrial designer Joana Valdez, the studio has made it its mission to prove that design does not have to take itself so seriously all the time.
“Everything has inspiration to me, from our Mexican culture to my childhood memories,” Valdez says. Her work draws on Mexican traditions of celebration and craft, and on soft, wavy shapes that feel very much of now. Below, ADORNO looks at the ideas behind the studio and eight pieces available today.
Who is Joyful Objects, Yes!?
Valdez grew up in Mérida, Yucatán, trained in industrial design and now runs her studio from Mexico City, producing limited editions. From the start, she set out to make cheerful objects. “I want to maintain the understanding for myself and others that not everything should be nor [has] to be serious and elegant. I have always loved cheerful spaces and the philosophy of making designs that are not normal; designs that are fun and unique,” she explains. As a result, her practice has few limits, and each collection is a chance to experiment. The studio is part of a wider wave of Mexican design studios mixing craft with a contemporary eye, a scene Wallpaper* has followed closely.
Celebration as a Mexican tradition
At first glance, a focus on fun might seem light. However, celebration runs deep in Mexican culture, where Mesoamerican and Christian rituals have blended into a national habit of marking life together. “We are happy and proud people that love celebrating!” Valdez says. The studio’s first collection was named for exactly that: La Celebración, a statement mirror and its smaller version, La Celebración Natural. A later series, Jolgorio, a Mexican word for a lively party, continued “the idea of the celebration, party, jolgorio … the idea of representing Mexicans,” in Valdez’s words.
Chuspata, rattan and Mexican craft
Craft is central to the studio. For Jolgorio, Valdez put chuspata, a reed woven by hand in Mexico, center stage. “The collection is [in] chuspata because it is a material that represents Mexico, [and is] easily recognizable,” she explains, adding that “the entire process [of] making the piece is amazing, from collecting the material to weaving.” Today, the same approach runs through the studio’s rattan and natural-fiber pieces, as well as its work in oak, parota, fiberglass and resin. Indeed, Valdez believes that “[w]ith so much incredible workmanship and craftsmanship in Mexico, anything is possible.”
The wavy mirror and the shape of joy
The studio’s best-known shape is the squiggle. Valdez traces it to “unusual kinetic forms,” and its rippling outline recalls waves, which gives the pieces a calming quality despite their bright colors. That line first appeared on La Celebración, a wavy mirror that has since become the studio’s calling card, and it now runs through cabinets, tables and smaller objects. For a wider look at the category, see ADORNO’s guide to the types of mirrors and its full range of mirrors.
8 pieces by Joyful Objects, Yes!
La Celebración – Handwoven Fiber Mirror by Joyful Objects, Yes!
The studio’s signature piece, La Celebración is a full-length wavy mirror whose frame is handwoven in natural fiber by artisans in Mexico. Its rippling outline was inspired by what Valdez calls “unusual kinetic forms,” so the mirror seems to move even when the room is still.
By Joyful Objects, Yes!
€6.000 incl. tax
La Celebración Natural Mirror by Joyful Objects, Yes!
The smaller version of La Celebración sets the same wavy line around a diamond-shaped glass. Woven in natural fiber, it is a rattan mirror for an entryway or above a console, where a full-length piece would be too much.
By Joyful Objects, Yes!
€1.500 incl. tax
La Celebración Miniature Mirror by Joyful Objects, Yes!
Cast in fiberglass and finished in a semi-matte gel coat, this miniature brings the wavy mirror to a dresser or desk. Each one is made by hand in Mexico, and the soft pastel colors keep the studio’s sense of humor intact.
By Joyful Objects, Yes!
€450 incl. tax
Ventura Cabinet by Joyful Objects, Yes!
Woven rattan wraps a scalloped body set on stepped wooden legs, with two blue rings for handles. As a result, the Ventura Cabinet reads like a cheerful character in the room, a rattan cabinet that refuses to be ordinary storage.
By Joyful Objects, Yes!
€6.900 incl. tax
Ventura Console Table in Solid Oak by Joyful Objects, Yes!
Built from solid oak, the Ventura Console stacks its legs in steps that recall pre-Hispanic architecture. Paired with La Celebración above it, it makes an entryway that feels both rooted and playful.
By Joyful Objects, Yes!
€4.500 incl. tax
Kuni Floor Lamp in Rattan and Natural Fibers by Joyful Objects, Yes!
Natural fibers are woven over a metal frame in the shape of a flower, or a sun, with a glowing globe at its center. A tribute to Mexican sunsets, it is a rattan floor lamp that brings warmth to a living room corner.
By Joyful Objects, Yes!
€2.900 incl. tax
Jojo – Resin Chair by Joyful Objects, Yes!
Cast in translucent resin, Jojo has chunky, rounded legs and a scooped seat that looks soft enough to squeeze. The resin keeps the studio’s bright colors while adding an almost glowing lightness.
By Joyful Objects, Yes!
€4.500 incl. tax
Hooop Accent Chair by Joyful Objects, Yes!
The studio’s newest piece, Hooop, is made in solid parota or oak, with a backrest of three wooden rings and a seat handwoven in natural wool by artisans. The textile and color can be customized, so each chair suits its room.
By Joyful Objects, Yes!
€2.700 incl. tax
How to style playful furniture at home
Entryway. A wavy mirror above a console table gives guests one strong first impression. Hang it so the center sits at about 57 to 60 inches (145 to 152 cm) from the floor.
Living room. Let one whimsical piece lead, such as a rattan floor lamp or a colorful accent chair, and keep the rest of the palette calm so it can shine.
Bedroom. A full-length mirror leaning against the wall or a miniature on the dresser brings the same joy at a smaller scale. For more color, see ADORNO’s maximalist decor edit.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Joyful Objects, Yes!?
Industrial designer Joana Valdez, originally from Mérida, Yucatán, founded the studio in Mexico City in 2021.
What is a wavy mirror?
A mirror with a rippling, squiggly frame instead of a straight edge. It works as both a mirror and a sculptural focal point.
What is chuspata?
A natural reed fiber that is collected and woven by hand in Mexico, traditionally used for mats, baskets and seats.
How do I hang a heavy wavy mirror?
Use two anchors rated for the mirror’s weight, screwed into studs or solid masonry, or lean a full-length mirror securely against the wall.
How do I care for a rattan mirror or cabinet?
Dust with a soft brush, keep it out of strong direct sun and very dry air, and wipe spills with a barely damp cloth.
Why Joyful Objects, Yes! earns its place
Joyful Objects, Yes! builds a visual language rooted in Mexican culture while catching the current taste for soft, organic forms. Consequently, its pieces do something rare: they make a room more personal and more cheerful at the same time.
