Brooklyn-based illustrator, artist, and wallpaper designer Dan Funderburgh is the designer behind the Cairo City Wallet. You might have seen images of the oft-photographed wallpaper that he created for the Wythe Hotel in New York City. Known for his designs that play off of of historical ornamentation, his work seamlessly bring together the decorative and the everyday. Likewise, the Cairo City Wallet features intricate designs that speak of the city’s rich history and culture, yet rendered in colors that are refreshingly modern. In today’s interview, we speak to Dan about his experiences in Cairo, aesthetic and his travel style.

You can see all our City Wallets here. Until June 1st, 10% of proceeds from wallet sales will go to 826LA, a nonprofit writing and tutoring center that provides under-resourced students aged 6-18 with opportunities to explore their creativity and improve their writing skills.

1. What was your inspiration for the Cairo City Wallet?
Watching the footage of protestors in Tahrir Square was really, really inspiring. The city itself has amazing colors and art history, so it seemed like a great time and place to try and capture.

2. Have you been to Cairo? If so, could you describe some memorable experiences you had there?
The good people of The Articulate Baboon Gallery brought me out in preparation for an exhibit in 2010 shortly before the revolution. Unfortunately due to a combination of a slightly dicey political climate and my own procrastination I have yet to make it back for the show. Work is still in progress though. I’m very excited to return and install the show.

3. Can you describe your aesthetic and share how you got started as an illustrator?

I would describe my aesthetic as fancy and derivative. I got started making illustrations and textile patterns for baggy hip-hop clothing in the early 2000′s. It was very educational but I think wallpaper is a better fit for me.

4. What is your travel style like, and how has traveling influenced your work?

I walk a lot. I like the pace plus I don’t have a driver’s license. There is beautiful crazy patterns and textures and signage everywhere. It drives me a little bit mad that I cannot be constantly exploring some new country, but of course plenty of that crazy stuff is home as well if you remember to look for it. Often times it’s something completely unexpected that has the most influence. The hieroglyphics and museums were remarkable, but ultimately not that different than images I have in books. I was more struck by the colors people choose to paint the residential towers in the poorer areas and the anarchy of Cairo traffic.

5. Your work is rooted in the decorative arts and everyday items…what details do you find yourself drawn towards when you look at such objects?

I’m attracted to the honesty of tools that are purely utilitarian and the singularity of purpose of decoration that is purely superficial. I guess.

6. Which destination(s) is high on your travel list this year and why?

Everywhere ! I know it’s ambitious. Iceland and Alhambra are definitely on the short list. Also Patagonia.

7. What are some current themes that you are working with?

Entropy. Heredity. World History. Permanence. Decoration as Art.

For our next artist interview for the City Wallets series, we find out more about Emily Dumas, the designer and illustrator of the Brooklyn wallet. Dumas runs Flowers in May, a design and illustration studio north of Boston that specializes in uniquely handmade art prints, paper goods, invitations, and miscellaneous housewares. Today, the self-professed concert junkie shares with us her artistic inspirations and recommendations for visiting Brooklyn!

1. Please tell us more about yourself, and share with us your background, how you got started as an illustrator and how you define your artistic style.

I graduated from a state school in graphic design 8 years ago and was interested in Illustration from early on. I did the big ad agency job as a designer for over 6 years but knew ultimately I wanted to have my own business. I always considered myself as having two jobs. When I was done with work, I’d go home and work on my own personal projects. My love for illustration grew when I started working on invitations for friends and family. And Flowers in May was formed.

Simple color palettes and tiny details are what I’m all about. I love clean lines and symmetry. I work in my own strange way, it’s not always the same every time. But I do pick a topic, a color palette, write out a list of words, do quick sketches and then create them in Illustrator.

I’m constantly rearranging my illustrations until they fit into the perfect puzzle that I want. The sizes of the images as well as the flow of color are really important when I’m working.

2. How did the design for the Brooklyn wallet come about?

I had a lot of fun with this one! I’ve not been to every Brooklyn neighborhood. But I love it! Brooklyn is so hip. It embraces art, music, trends and culture. So this design focuses on all those things.

3. What are some places to visit/things to do in Brooklyn that we shouldn’t miss out on?

Every time I go to Brooklyn, I want to find a new record store, coffee shop and Mexican food (I’m a huge fan of fish tacos) I love Mesa Coyoacan in Williamsburg. But for a first timer, I’d recommend you get a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge (day or night). and check out the Brooklyn Flea.

4. What is your best travel memory?

I’d have to say my trip to Paris when I was in college. It was my first time out of the country. It’s a beautiful city. I packed so much into one week because I thought I may never come back here. I have to see it all!

5. Which destination(s) is high on your travel list this year and why?

Austin, Texas. I love discovering new music and I’m a sucker for a live show.

6. You describe yourself as a “concert junkie” on your website…what kind of music do you enjoy, and how does music influence your work?

Haha, I am a concert junkie! That’s what I grew up doing. My parents took us to shows, we didn’t go to Disney World. I worked in a record store in high school and college. So music has always been a big part of my life. As far as what I like, I’m all over the map. I love alternative country and folk but I’m also a huge hip hop fan.

Music certainly influences my work. It sets the mood. I always listen to music while I’m working.

In our first artist interview for the City Wallets series, we chat with James Gulliver Hancock, the artist who illustrated the Los Angeles wallet. Originally from Sydney, Australia, James is obsessed with cities and drawing, and is known for his whimsical, colorful and upbeat aesthetic. The avid traveler has been around the world, to places like Japan, China, Russia, Southeast Asia and Europe. He now splits his time between Brooklyn, New York and Sydney, Australia.

1. What was your inspiration for the Los Angeles city wallet?

When I live in different cities I get obsessed with different things, and in Los Angeles it’s the cars. I lived in Los Angeles for 4 years, and just couldn’t stop drawing cars. I love taking on an aspect of a place or an environment and exploring it obsessionally and seeing where it goes. I ended up producing this print as part of that process.

2. What is your most memorable experience in Los Angeles?

I am a massive Eames fan, so when I finally made it up to the Eames house in Santa Monica I was so excited. It’s such a little oasis, and such a beautiful example of ‘lived in’ modernism. The most magical scene unfolded when we were swinging on the swing in the garden and a huge deer walked past with massive antlers, it was like a ghost appearing and disappearing as we played, really magical.

3. Can you describe your artistic style and share how you got started as an illustrator?

My style varies quite a bit, but I guess the thing that binds it all together is the hand generated element and the naivety that that brings to the lines and mood. I love pen and pencil on paper and am constantly drawing everything around me. People are always taking my napkin drawings and framing them. It’s hilarious to go to a friends house and see our throw away drawings framed on their wall. I think this element of obsession is an important part of my work, and my success. The drive to constantly make and create is what gets my work seen.

4. How has traveling influenced your work?

Travelling is a big part of my work. Seeing different objects and how they are used by people. Seeing how different people and cultures see their world is a big part of inspiring me to create. I have travelled extensively since I was little kid, being half from the UK, half from Australia. I actually love working in different spaces, setting up makeshift studios on the road. I’ve done some of my favourite work waiting for trains or planes.

5. What fueled your obsession with cities?

I think I have a healthy love of nature, but cities really grab me. I’m not obsessed with every city, but I think it’s hard not to appreciate massive collections of people, organising themselves like ants and interacting every day. It’s amazing to think of all the different personalities in a city. I tend to do a lot of my making by myself, so it’s great to be able to walk down the street and see and wonder about people.

6. Which destination(s) is high on your travel list this year and why?

I’m coming back to Los Angeles this year and can’t wait. I’ll be spending a decent amount of time there. It’s actually quite similar to my home town sydney in some ways. But I love being around my inspiring confident American friends… and the cars!

7. What are some of your travel essentials?

All I need is pencil and paper.

8. What are some current themes that you are working with?

My obsession with obsession is never ending, it’s my main overarching theme, and by its nature it is infinite, so I guess I’m stuck drawing everything that ever existed for the rest of my life – fine by me

Anna Corpron is a savvy businesswoman who wears many hats: a jewelry designer, mother of two, and owner and curator of The Working Proof, an organization that seeks to promote art and social responsibility. The Working Proof is also Poketo’s latest collaborator in the new City Wallets series, and Poketo was thrilled to work with Anna on picking the theme and artists for this newly launched collection.

For the City Wallets series, Poketo will be donating 10 percent of proceeds from wallet sales to 826LA, while The Working Proof, which will also carry the wallets on their site, will do the same for 826National from March 11th to June 1st.

In our latest interview, we speak to Anna to find out more about the City Wallet series, her aesthetic and work.

1. Please tell us more about yourself, and share with us your background, how you got started in art and design.

I currently split my time between two businesses: The Working Proof, which pairs art with social responsibility, and my jewelry line, Brevity. My background is actually in architecture. I got my b.arch at Cornell University and practiced architecture for five years before going part time to work on my jewelry line, Brevity. I loved architecture and seeing my designs on paper become a reality, but found that my interests really lay in smaller-scale design. What began as a way for me to channel that interest, eventually became my full time job.

2. Can you share with us a bit about The Working Proof? How did it get started and what is its philosophy/mission?

The Working Proof is a collaboration with my husband, Sean. We wanted to find a way to integrate our interest in social responsibility with our love of art and design. Our church, Redeemer Presbyterian, holds an annual business plan competition, and we decided to enter, thinking that it would be good practice to put together a business plan. We never imagined that we would get past the first round, but as we fleshed out our idea and our business plan, we not only got through the first round, but we ended up winning the arts category of the competition. Through that, we received a grant that allowed us to launch our website.

The mission of The Working Proof is to support charity through art. We work with a great community of artists to release a limited-edition print each week. 15% of each print sold is donated to the charity of the artist’s choice. We offer our customers access to a wide array of amazing artwork on an immediate, affordable scale, with a positive social impact built right in. To date, we’ve donated almost $20,000 to our charities.

3. How did the collaboration with Poketo come about?

I’m a longtime Poketo fan. We love how Poketo integrates art into everyday objects, and we have actually released editions with many of the same artists at The Working Proof. A collaboration with Poketo just seemed like a natural fit.

4. How did you pick the artists and theme for the collaboration?

Angie and I selected the artists together – Dan Funderburgh, Emily Dumas, Linda Kim, and James Gulliver Hancock – all artists who have released editions with The Working Proof before. Being that Poketo is in LA, The Working Proof is in New York, and our artists come from everywhere in between, we asked them to illustrate their favorite cities.

Dan Funderburgh

Emily Dumas

Linda Kim

James Gulliver Hancock

5. How did you select the charity to support for this project?

The Working Proof has been a long time supporter of 826 National. We love what they do as an organization to encourage creativity and to make writing and learning fun for kids. On top of that, they have several amazing, playful stores that support their local chapters – I mean, come on, what kid wouldn’t love shopping at the Bigfoot Research Institute, The Museum of Unnatural History, or the Superhero Supply Co? Poketo will be donating 10% of the first month’s sales of the City Wallets to their local chapter, 826LA, and The Working Proof will continue to support 826 National.

6. What kind of art are you drawn towards featuring on The Working Proof?
I’m drawn to a wide range of artwork. Really, when I look for artists to feature, I’m just looking for individual pieces that speak to me, and hopefully to other people, as well.

7. Besides The Working Proof, what other projects or initiatives are you pursuing?
I mentioned my jewelry line, Brevity, before – between that and The Working Proof and my two kids, I’ve got a pretty full plate!

8. What is the inspiration behind Brevity?
The word brevity means “the quality of expressing much in few words”. That definition is what drives the design philosophy behind Brevity – I aim to create designs that are concise and simple, yet meaningful. My Geometric collection was inspired by my architecture background, and by geometric forms found in nature. The Lines collection was inspired by Native American symbols and the simple elegance of a line. The Horo Collection was inspired by vintage clock hands, fused in time. With my custom name necklaces, I was inspired to offer something beyond the standard nameplate necklace, and have loved partnering with calligrapher Crystal Kluge to provide one-of-a-kind custom necklaces.