It’s time for another NEXT BIG THING update! And speaking of time, today’s feature is this trompe l’oeil cuckoo clock designed by Maiko Kuzunishi of Kansas City’s Decoylab! Lodge living meets modern materials in this unique piece that I am SO buying today. Read on to discover more about Maiko!

How old is your company and how did you get your start?
Decoylab came about in 2001 when I was working at an ad agency. My job was mindless and boring. I desperately needed a creative outlet so I made up my own identity and projects. First project was a calendar project, I made 50 fully illustrated calendars and gave them away online. After the ad agency, I went on to work for yet another company that does motion graphics, and I enjoyed working with talented folks but was still unhappy because I was not creatively challenged and fulfilled. So I left and became a full time freelancer in the beginning of 2006. Now, half of the operation is dedicated to graphic design work and the other half in product development.

What is the origin of your company’s name?
Honestly, I wish there was a great story behind the name, but after days of flipping through the dictionary trying to come up with a good name, I decided on “decoylab” purely based on the shape of letters combined. I loved how d and b made the nice bookends and y and l covered ascender and descender. I was really into typography then…

Oh yeah? What are some of your current fave fonts?
My favorite font right now is Gotham by Hoefler & Frere-Jones. I used it in my new animal alphabet poster… It’s beautiful!

Who are some designers you admire?
I love Charles and Ray Eames! They were truly multidisciplinary designers who embraced different cultures and wanted to make ordinary life beautiful. If I could be another designer, I would want to be them. And of course live in their beautiful house at Pacific Palisades.

Do you have any particular goals over the next year for Decoylab?
Since the birth of my daughter in March, my life has been revolving around fulfilling the needs of this tiny life! I’ve stopped making plans and goals right now since doing so seems futile. But before this year ends I’ll complete a 2009 calendar project and I hope to make more products!

What are you all about?
I am all about making my dreams come true! If I want something I work hard to get it. I love to make things happen, bringing ideas into reality. I love the challenges that come with it. Even though I do not get what I want all the time, I certainly enjoy the process and learning a lot from mistakes.

What inspires you?
Other people who are making things, and living their dreams.