• by Melynda Fuller , January 29, 2020

Business media brand Fast Company and design-focused AC Hotels by Marriott have joined forces to create a new co-branded custom content series called “RE/DESIGN.”

The episodes, which live exclusively on FastCompany.com, feature designers Jonathan Adler and Tan France discussing their creative process and collaborate on creating a coaster set and phone charger, both to be featured at AC Hotels.

“I love that Jonathan and I got to design really practical products that one doesn’t necessarily think of as creatively designed,” France said. “They’re usually functional first. Working with someone else who is a designer really worked well, as we both had so many ideas, and wanted to create the best products possible.”

Each video focuses on how a well-designed environment can spark innovation.

Adler is known for his interior design and home goods creations. France is the fashion expert for “Queer Eye” and the co-host of Netflix’s fashion competition series “Next in Fashion.”

“I’m a restless designer — the more I make, the more I want to make,” said Adler. “It was fun to work with super-creative Tan (and his magical hair) at AC Hotels.”

The series was produced and distributed by Fast Company’s content studio FastCo Works, while media buying, planning and strategy was handled by M1M, a unit within Publicis Groupe.

“We came together around purposeful design, a pillar for both Fast Company and AC Hotels. We have a great track record of working on large scale partnerships with Marriott brands. The heart and art of this storytelling project is design,” Amanda Smith, vice president- publisher of Fast Company, told Publisher’s Daily.

Scott Mebus, vice president of entertainment at Mansueto Ventures, home to Fast Company and Inc., added: “AC Hotels was a great partner — working with us to shape the idea, bringing a lot of great narrative instinct to the table, and trusting us to try an unconventional approach.”