KEN FULK
&
THE MAGIC FACTORY
In the spring of 2014, I was working as a product designer for a plush firm nestled beneath the San Francisco Bay Bridge. My career was on track, and life felt good. But little did I know, things were about to take an extraordinary turn. One afternoon, a friend called with a proposition: meet with Ken Fulk to discuss a potential business opportunity. The next day, I walked into The Magic Factory—the design hub of Ken Fulk Inc., in San Francisco’s SoMa district. What started as a casual conversation quickly evolved into something much grander. Ken articulated his vision of transforming his interior design business into an expansive, fully integrated branding and graphic design enterprise.
By the end of our meeting, I was not only inspired, I was invited to lead this bold new venture. Within weeks, I left my office overlooking the restless waters of the bay, rolled up my sleeves, and got to work as the art director for Ken Fulk Inc.
My first two projects ran concurrently—the interior and livery design of a private jet and Sadelle’s, a restaurant launched under the banner of New York’s Major Food Group. For Sadelle’s, I tapped into my drafting skills to create a custom toile wall covering, a first for Ken Fulk Inc. and a lasting symbol of our early collaboration. Sadelle’s would become one of the firm’s most iconic brands.
The Magic Factory San Francisco
behind the scenes at Saint Joseph’s Arts Society
At the same time, I found myself in a peculiar position: essentially, a director without a team. So, I set to work establishing KF’s first visual code of conduct by creating a standardized presentation template. Next, piece by piece, I assembled a team of freelance illustrators and renderers, eventually hiring our first full-time graphic designer. With our small but determined team in place, we began crafting ambitious
sketches for Birdies slippers
Birdies slippers campaign photo
cover for ‘stash box’ for a holiday gift kit
concept presentations that secured the hospitality projects we had been dreaming of. Personally, I had found my playground in the decorative arts. Our debut product line became an instant cult favorite when Ken secured a coveted contract with Pottery Barn. That success led to our second PB collection, which included the now-iconic sofa still sought by art directors and interior designers. Next up? A whimsical line of slippers for Birdies.
holiday gift kit label
cover of first book
above: screenshot of website press page and inside of first book
As our team continued to grow, so did the scope of Ken’s vision. The sky opened up, bringing with it more aircraft liveries, a signature collection of fabrics and rugs, and a fascinating collaboration with de Gournay to design custom wallcoverings for showhouses.
These early years culminated in the release of our first book, Mr. Fulk’s Magical World, a testament to our ensemble of dreamers who delighted in conjuring the extraordinary. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we pushed forward, beginning work on a second book with Assouline and collaborating with The Rug Company on a custom-designed line of rugs.
My decade at Ken Fulk Inc. and the Magic Factory laid the groundwork for me to see myself not just as a designer and art director, but as an artist. It was the transformation of both a career and a creative identity.
second book cover and inside of second book
LOCATION
San Francisco · New York · Los Angeles
COMPLETION DATE
2014 - 2024
INTENTION
Lead multidisciplinary design teams on various interior, product, and identity/brand design projects as founding Decorative Arts Director of Ken Fulk Inc.
needlepoint pillow for holiday gift kit during the covid lockdown
concept wall covering in partnership with deGournay
concept wall covering in partnership with deGournay
concept wall coverings in partnership with deGournay
holiday gift kit for the wayward traveler
liveries design for exterior of jet
Photography: Douglas Friedman & Many Fulkers
