Head judge of Top Design, Jonathan Adler was born in New Jersey in 1966. He has become a notable figure in the design world, from his humble beginnings in pottery as a child. During the early 1980s, Adler started throwing pots in his parents’ basement. He studied art history and semiotics at Brown, but was more interested in the art of pottery-making. This soon led to a quilted line of Chanel-inspired pottery which he eventually sold. His first order of pots was at Barney’s. He vowed never to have a real job again, much to his parents’ disapproval. In 1990, he moved to New York and began to work in a talent agency. Adler had dreams of making it in the movie business, but after facinga number of letdowns, he returned to his studio to recuperate.
As his small business of pottery flourished with several orders, he opened his first store at SoHo in 1998. Since then, his designs have branched out into bedding, towels, stationery, and others. He launched glamorous furniture collections and was applauded for his talents in interior design. His other projects included working on swatches and clay, and he soon developed a fondness for needlepoint, chinoiserie and acid green lacquere. Before long, he went on to design The Parker Palm Springs Hotel. In 2005, he opened a number of stores, located in Chicago, Miami, San Francisco and Madison Avenue. That year, he wrote his first book, titled My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living. Adler’s signature work is celebrated for its mod shapes, vibrant colors and eye-popping patterns. His style has been described as happy, and handcrafted, being seen on shows like Will & Grace, Sex & the City and The Today Show. His business has expanded to more remarkable upholstered groups and casegoods. Jonathan Adler is also a fan of Friends and Law & Order.