OUR TIME LINE SINCE 1985

1985

ACME Studios was founded by Adrian Olabuenaga and his wife Lesley Bailey.





The first project was a Limited Edition jewelry collection named "Melrose Emblematic", consisting of twelve brooches designed by California artist and Memphis Designer, Peter Shire. Each brooch is named after a cross street of Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles; the street where ACME had a design gallery in the 1980s, where Mr. Shire and Adrian first met.





Peter introduces Ettore Sottsass to Adrian, who agree to meet in Milan to organize the "Memphis Designers for ACME" jewelry collection.

1986

With the help of Designer/Architect Ettore Sottsass and writer Barbara Radice, Mr. Sottsass suggests that designs by Adrian must also be included. ACME organized "Memphis Designers for ACME", a collection of over 100 different products which included designs by:
• Martine Bedin
• Andrea Branzi
• Beppe Caturegli
• Aldo Cibic
• Michele De Lucchi
• Nathalie Du Pasquier
• Adrian Olabuenaga
• Maria Sanchez
• Peter Shire
• Ettore Sottsass
• George Sowden
• Gerard Taylor
• Matteo Thun
• Marco Zanini

ACME is the first American company that Ettore Sottsass ever designed for.

The collection debuted at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in 1986, alongside the MEMPHIS MILANO touring show.

ACME was the first and only company to work with all 14 Memphis designers.

Many pieces from this collection can be found in the permanent collections of museums around the world, including The Houston Museum of Fine Art, The Brooklyn Museum, Frankfurt Museum of Decorative Arts and the entire series holds a place in the permanent collection of The Groninger Museum in The Netherlands.

This collection would dramatically change the jewelry industry the same way the Memphis Group's furniture changed the design world.





The "Atomic" necklace from this collection wins the DESIGN-Plus Award in Germany.





"Architects for ACME" jewelry collection is released. The project included designs by:
• Richard Meier
• Alessandro Mendini
• Alberto Olabuenaga
• Cesar Pelli
• Aldo Rossi
• Ettore Sottsass
• Laurinda Spear
• Robert AM Stern
• Stanley Tigerman.





"Alchimia for ACME" was organized with the collaboration of Milanese Architect Alessandro Mendini. The designers involved were:
• Pier Carlo Bontempi
• Carla Ceccariglia
• Bruno Gregori
• Giorgio Gregori
• Adriana Guerriero
• Alessandro Guerriero
• Arturo Reboldi





"Artists for ACME" was formed with the assistance of noted California artist Billy Al Bengston. Represented in this collection are:
• Mr. Bengston
• Chuck Arnoldi
• Kenneth Price
• Laddie John Dill
• Ronnie Cutrone.

1987

"ACME Collection" designed by leading artists, and graphic designers from California, Brazil, and New York including:
• Michael Bedard
• Rod Dyer
• April Greiman
• Steven Guarnaccia
• Mick Haggerty
• Jim Heimann
• Gere Kavanugh
• Lili Lakich
• Jerry Liebowitz
• Andre Miripolski
• Antonio Peticov
• Lanning Stern
• John Van Hammersveld
• Bob Zoell
• Zox





"Hispanic Artists for ACME," was organized, which included the work of:
• Carlos Almaraz
• Robert Gil De Montes
• Miguel Martinez
• Frank Romero.





"New Pop Series", featuring artists:
• Robert Williams
• Georgeanne Deen
• Neon Park.





"DEVO for ACME" by singer Mark Mothersbaugh and bassist Gerry Casale is released.

1988

ACME relocates to Maui, Hawaii





Ettore Sottsass is commissioned to design a 1.5 acre ACME compound in Maui, to include a house, warehouse and offices. He visits Maui for the first time.





"Collezione Bolido" by Italian Designer Massimo Iosa-Ghini is released.





Bob Kane, the creator of BATMAN, develops a collection of jewelry exclusively for ACME named "ACME Superheroes"





"ACME Classics", ACME's first collection of sterling silver jewelry is released.

1992

A large project by MC Escher is released.

1994

"Keith Haring Collection" done with Special Editions Limited is released.





A long relationship with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation begins.

1995

"Andy Warhol Collection" is released.





Adrian introduces the Andy Warhol Foundation to the Campbell's Soup Company, who, although hard to believe, had never communicated before and they begin a partnership that remains active to this day. This introduction also resulted in ACME releasing a collection of Warhol/Campbell's jewelry and accessories.

1996

WRITING TOOLS was a new product category for ACME to explore that began in 1996.





During one of his visits to Maui, Mr. Sottsass reviews the progress of the construction of Casa Maui, and suggesting new ideas, all of which were implemented.





In 1991, Ettore Sottsass formed a company named Giotto, with the purpose of manufacturing Italian design in Asia. The products never made it past the prototype and sampling stage and were never released. When the company folded in 1996, at Mr. Sottsass' request, ACME bought the company's entire stock. Now, many of these objects are in the permanent collections of several museums (Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, Denver Art Museum, and The Indianapolis Museum of Art) and coveted by collectors.

1997

The first collection of WRITING TOOLS is released and included designs by:
• Frank Lloyd Wright
• Piet Mondrian
• Michael Graves
• Keith Haring
• Kenny Scharf and others.



ACME was the first company to specialize in producing pens printed with designs by world-class designers, architects, artists and works from museums, starting a revolution in the pen industry, resulting in endless new possibilities for designs in this area.

This focus into writing and related accessories fundamentally changed the company and made it into an international brand and quickly acquires distribution in 46 countries.





A long relationship with Michael Graves begins, and continues with Graves Design, since his passing.





ACME completes its largest single undertaking to date, CASA MAUI, a house designed for Adrian and Lesley by Ettore Sottsass, this house which is just one part of the ACME compound, in Maui, Hawaii.

1999

A long relationship with The Eames Office begins.





A long relationship with Karim Rashid begins.

2000

ACME develops several new pen making techniques, which allows the designer to create new shapes using these new pen making technologies, resulting in "Collezione Materiali" (which means "Materials Collection"). This collection would grow to include designs from:
• Shigeru Ban
• Robert & Trix Haussmann
• Larry Laske
• Jan Matthias
• Adrian Olabuenaga
• Andrée Putman
• Karim Rashid
• Ettore Sottsass
• Michele De Lucchi
• Pentagram
• Michael Graves





ACME releases "The Americana Collection" which includes: • Monopoly
• Roy Rogers
• Pez
• Elvis Presley and others.





Architect Shigeru Ban designs the "Scale" pen, when released it wins two awards.





ACME releases the Pantone Pen, the very first license Pantone ever granted.

2006

ACME's warehouse is completed, the design by Mr. Sottsass, interior layout and design by Adrian.

2007

The first ACME Flagship Store opens in Tokyo, Japan.

2009

ACME's first airport store opens at the Fukuoka Airport in Japan.







ACME is nominated for a National Design Award in Corporate Achievement by the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum.





"Phase 3" pen collection is released which uses a
new shape designed by Massimo Vignelli.





ACME rolled out its first "green offering": The 100% biodegradable EcoPen.

2010

A new pen making technique is developed: Etched Pens, which is a completely new direction for ACME with designs from:
• Charles & Ray Eames
• Verner Panton
• Karim Rashid
• Ettore Sottsass
• Frank Lloyd Wright
• Karl Zahn





A Limited Edition pen done with "Buzz" Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing!







ACME is again nominated by the Cooper Hewitt, but this time in 2 categories (Product Design and Corporate Achievement).





With the help of legendary Jazz drummer Lenny White, "Musicians for ACME" is released, which not only includes designs by Mr. White, but also John McLaughlin, Chick Correa and Stanley Clarke.













"1000 Product Designs - Form, Function, and Technology from Around The World" by Eric Chan; Features 80 ACME products.

2011

ACME open shops in both Vietnam and in Singapore.





In 2010 Apple Corps, Ltd. approaches ACME and proposes a project with The Beatles and a large collection is developed and released in 2011. The entire collection is accepted into the permanent collection of The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.














ACME is again nominated by the Cooper Hewitt for Lifetime Achievement.

2012

Working with the Bram Stoker Estate, ACME launches a limited-edition "DRACULA" pen set commemorating the 100th anniversary of Bram Stoker's death.







Mexico City Flagship Store opens.







Once again ACME is nominated by the Cooper Hewitt for Product Design.





ACME wins the Japanese Good Design Award.

2013

ACME develops the "4FP", the world's thinnest 4 Function Pen in 2011, only to improve on it in 2013, by making it the "7FP", the world's thinnest 7 Function Pen.





"Hatch" is released, the world's first antimicrobial pen, and wins two design awards.





ACME introduces the "Le Corbusier Collection".





ACME's Fukuoka Canal City Store opens.

2014

Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" limited edition pen set is released, which is quickly accepted into the permanent collection of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

2015

ACME celebrates 30 years in business!!!





ACME Releases the "Frida Kahlo Collection."







After almost 20 years of living in it, "Casa Maui" had a "refresh".

2016

ACME Releases the "Jimi Hendrix Collection."







"Casa Maui" is the featured cover story in Dwell magazine's May issue.

2017

ACME releases "150 FLW" in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright.





Ten pieces from ACME's Memphis Designers jewelry collection have been added to the permanent collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.





ACME has their second exhibition of its vintage jewelry at Fragile Gallery in Milan, during Salone del Mobile.

2018

ACME is prominently featured in the book "Post Modern Design Complete" by Judith Gura.





A new Charles & Ray Eames product collection is released. We are back to working with enamel!!

2020

ACME celebrates 35 years!

2021

ACME was approached by The Metropolitan Museum Art, NY, to develop a collection of limited edition writing tools using the work of “giants” that included:
• Frank Lloyd Wright
• Alexander Calder
• Wassily Kandinsky.

ACME's products are part of the following museums' permanent collections:
• Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn, NY
• The Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO
• Groninger Museum of Art, Groningen, The Netherlands
• Houston Museum of Art, Houston, TX
• Frankfurt Museum of Decorative Arts, Frankfurt, Germany
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, NY
• Pompidou Centre, Paris, France
• Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, OH
• California Surf Museum, Oceanside, CA