Motawi Tileworks Launches 'Second Studio' Line of Employee-Designed Tiles

New quarterly series allows Motawi artists to contribute original designs.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:45pm

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A photorealistic studio still-life photograph of a single Motawi 'Jellyfish' tile, a ceramic piece with a spiraling, flowing design, elegantly arranged on a clean, monochromatic background and captured with dramatic lighting to highlight the craftsmanship behind Motawi's employee-designed tile collection.Motawi Tileworks' new 'Second Studio' line allows the company's tile-making artists to contribute original designs, expanding the brand's creative legacy.Ann Arbor Today

Motawi Tileworks, the Ann Arbor-based maker of handcrafted ceramic art tile, is introducing a new line called 'Second Studio' that features employee-designed tiles. The first release, 'Jellyfish,' was created by Motawi artist Ronan Sampson and selected from over 60 entries in an internal competition. This marks the first time in the company's 30-year history that Motawi will release designs not created by founder Nawal Motawi, but by the artists who make the tiles every day.

Why it matters

The Second Studio initiative reflects Motawi's commitment to the 'Small Giants' philosophy of building a great, not huge, company. It allows the tile-making staff, many of whom have artistic backgrounds, to participate more directly in the design process and have a hand in shaping the company's future aesthetic. This creative expansion also represents a long-term investment as Motawi prepares for an eventual leadership transition.

The details

The first Second Studio tile, 'Jellyfish,' features a spiraling, flowing composition that captures the delicate tension of its subject. New designs in the line will be released quarterly, selected from over 60 entries in an internal art competition. A panel of judges reviewed the submissions, which were then opened to company-wide voting across Motawi Tileworks and its sister company, Rovin Ceramics. The program grew out of employee interest in participating more directly in the design process, and Motawi sees it as a way to include more people in the eventual hand-off of the company's aesthetic stewardship.

  • Motawi Tileworks was founded in 1992.
  • The 'Jellyfish' tile, the first release in the Second Studio line, is currently available for sale.

The players

Motawi Tileworks

An Ann Arbor-based maker of handcrafted ceramic art tile, founded in 1992 and inspired by Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts, and Midcentury Modern design.

Nawal Motawi

The founder and artistic director of Motawi Tileworks, who has overseen the company's design tradition for over 30 years.

Ronan Sampson

A Motawi artist whose design for the 'Jellyfish' tile was selected as the first release in the Second Studio line.

Alexis Ellison

A Motawi artist whose design will be the second release in the Second Studio series.

Karen Kromrei

The General Manager of Motawi Tileworks, who led the organization of the internal design competition for the Second Studio line.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not going anywhere, but I'm not going to be around forever. The company needs to be able to move forward with different aesthetic stewardship someday. Second Studio is a way of including more people in that process so that the eventual hand-off becomes a natural progression.”

— Nawal Motawi, Founder and Artistic Director, Motawi Tileworks

“Spending so much time glazing changes the way you draw—you start thinking in the language of the tile.”

— Alexis Ellison, Motawi Artist

“We talk a lot about ownership here—not just of tasks, but of the work itself. This competition let people see their creative fingerprints on the future of the line. When the voting opened up, you could feel the energy. Everyone had a favorite.”

— Karen Kromrei, General Manager, Motawi Tileworks

What’s next

Motawi plans to release new designs in the Second Studio line on a quarterly basis, allowing more of its tile-making staff to contribute original designs to the company's product lineup.

The takeaway

Motawi's Second Studio initiative demonstrates how a mission-driven, employee-centric company can empower its workforce and chart a path for long-term creative sustainability. By tapping into the artistic talents of its tile-makers, Motawi is ensuring its design legacy will continue to evolve even as the company's founding leadership eventually transitions.