Jon Sherman
Founder/Creative Director, Flavor Paper, Brooklyn, New York
Work and life are inextricably tied in Sherman’s world. His home in Brooklyn is two floors away from his office and three floors away from his production studio. The proximity makes balancing the two aspects extremely difficult, but not impossible. “I actually designed my apartment to be a Flavor Paper showcase with the full intention of bringing designers into my home to experience our work in a real-world atmosphere,” he says. “When I got married, my wife quickly put the kibosh on that!” He believes separation is key to creativity, so travel is essential to maintaining space and sanity. Once they had a kid, he and his wife purchased a home in the Catskills. “I really relax upstate grilling and chilling in nature. My son Cosimo and I have breakfast together and play records of his choice, then play, watch sports, go on a hike, do yardwork, or swim while mom gets a break,” he says. “It’s a great recharge for everyone.” Sherman spends time in galleries and museums to get inspired, but heading back to his hometown of New Orleans is always the most inspirational. “The creativity is just off the charts!”