"This week's guest is a true original: James Thompson, the mind and hands behind Black Badger. His one-man EDC studio is renowned for its unorthodox materials, luminous rings, and groundbreaking collaborations with luxury watchmakers. Thompson's journey is anything but conventional. From getting expelled from a Swedish university to building a cult brand admired by collectors and celebrities like Robert Downey Jr., his story is a masterclass in resilience, experimentation, and the understated power of letting the work speak for itself."
"Around 2004, James Thompson was unceremoniously kicked out of his master's program in Sweden, a moment that could have derailed his career before it even began. Instead, it lit a fire. This feeling of being an underdog became the foundational motivator for Black Badger, which he started in 2005. It was a defiant act, a way to prove to the establishment, and perhaps to himself, that he could succeed entirely on his own terms."
James Thompson turned a 2004 expulsion into the driving ethos behind Black Badger, founding the brand in 2005 with an underdog mentality. The one-man EDC studio experiments with unorthodox materials and produces signature luminous rings that blur the line between jewelry, tools, and horology components. Thompson pursues resilience and relentless experimentation while letting finished work communicate its value. High-profile collaborations with luxury watchmakers and collectors, plus celebrity attention, reflect technical skill and cultural impact. Black Badger’s identity centers on outsider pride, defiance of norms, and meticulous craftsmanship that pairs aesthetic daring with functional precision.
Read at Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
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