A Seattle based designer is taking inspiration from the classical arts and taking some good old fashioned football up-cycling to the next level. His name is Dwayne Mansfield and he's the talent behind Tuesday Pickup.
It's easy to look at a beloved pair of Copa Mundials split at the toe, or a punctured Nike ball punctured beyond belief and simply say... "Their day has come." Some of us, will however try and find another home for the now deceased item, maybe in form of a plant pot or simply just to decorate the office shelf. But Dwayne prefers a different approach. Oh yes, this brand designer by day is more comfortable in the workshop by night, dreaming up fantastic creations made from the materials of all-sorts... And it's delightful.
CK: How did the creation of Tuesday Pickup start?
DM: I used to play pickup at my local field, every Tuesday evening after work. I always admired how people from all walks of life, backgrounds and experience levels would show up, have some laughs and bond over the shared passion. For a couple of hours everything else just melted away - a feeling I’m sure most individuals reading this will understand. I wanted to dedicate this brand to those Tuesday Pickup sessions, hence the name.
I remember picking up a couple of pretty simple plant pots at a thrift shop one day and thinking, how can I make these a bit cooler and unique. There was a lot of trial and error at this stage - but I ended up landing on this idea of combining two drastically different passions of mine, my love for football and all things design/art related. My very first piece, was the thrifted plant pot combined with an old Champs League ball that one of my dogs had started chewing up. Albeit rough, it was perfect for my office. From here, I set out to the ol’ gram (that’s instagram, not my relative) and started sharing my creations.
CK: Do you have a process you follow, or is it very organic?
DM: Feel like I usually like to have somewhat of a process in a lot of things that I do, but these projects are all pretty organic. When I start a piece, I’ll think about key focal points that are really going to make it work, but from there it’s almost a puzzle that comes together as I go. For example if I’m working on a vase, I’ll start with key pieces that I want to build around, but from there it’s all free flowing. Something pretty satisfying and exciting about not fully knowing how a piece is going to turn out until it’s completely done.
"My very first piece, was the thrifted plant pot combined with an old Champs League ball that one of my dogs had started chewing up."
CK: Do you have a favourite piece that that you've created?
DM: That’s a tough one! I’ve definitely created a couple of pieces that I debated keeping for myself, but ultimately always end up shipping them off. I do really like the Nike Azulejo pitcher that I did early on. At the time this was one of the more “out there” pieces that I created and was pretty pivotal in the direction I started taking the projects that followed. That and any of the Greek statue style pieces, I always love working on those.
"If I’m working on a vase, I’ll start with key pieces that I want to build around, but from there it’s all free flowing. Something pretty satisfying and exciting about not fully knowing how a piece is going to turn out until it’s completely done."
CK: Has there been a standout designer/brand/artist who have inspired you?
DM: Absolutely. I get inspiration from lots of places, typically in different mediums. Generally speaking, I get a lot of inspiration from various classical art styles like that of Michelangelo, but I also like combining elements from different time periods and styles. A few more current designers/artists that come to mind are: Salehe Bembury (@salehebembury) who’s a creative genius with product design and art direction, Mirko Nicholson (@mirkonicholson) who’s an amazing photographer that captures a lot of emotion in his photos and Jon-Paul Wheatley (@jonpaulsballs) who’s always coming up with some wild and fun recreations of footballs from different materials.
CK: Where do you want to take TP?
DM: Wherever it gets me into free matches! Kidding - sort of. I’ve been having a lot of fun creating all of these pieces and being able to share them with people all over the world, and I hope to be fortunate enough to continue doing so. I’d like to do a bit more event decor and with the 2026 World Cup happening right in town, I’d love to work with some brands and vendors to contribute to that atmosphere.
CK: Have you had any enquiries for commissions?
DM: At first I would get a few here and there, but lately they’ve been coming in pretty steadily, especially for things like card wallets and flower vases. I try to keep it to just a couple a month, to give them the time that they deserve. Oftentimes, it’ll be someone sending in a pair of their personal boots that hold a ton of memories but are sitting at the bottom of their closet. They’re typically excited about the idea of having a way to frame them or create something new that they can display in their home.
"I get a lot of inspiration from various classical art styles like that of Michelangelo, but I also like combining elements from different time periods and styles."
CK: If you could work with anyone, who would you want to work with?
DM: There’s definitely a big handful of players out there that I’d dream of creating a piece for, won’t drop any names, but I hope to continue being able to head down that path. (fingers crossed) Know it’s probably a bit cliche but would love to work on something with Nike or Adidas, as well as a few other brands. Probably one of my favourite things about Tuesday Pickup, is having been able to connect with talented individuals across the globe, present company included.
CK: What have you got planned for 2023 and onwards?
DM: I’d love to keep trying more off the wall ideas for pieces, and be able to constantly share new types of art. A big area I plan to focus on is tying things back to the community a bit more. I’ve been able to work with a couple of teams and individuals to partake in charity auctions etc raising funds for youth programs and similar community initiatives, so hoping to continue that and find new ways to get involved.
CK: What can we expect to see from TP over the coming weeks?
DM: I’ve started buying boxes of old damaged, yet classic boots and actually got a decent sized shipment recently. Just as a disclaimer, these boots are all missing soleplates or are unusable in some other aspect. I’ll be working on some more wallets, framed pieces and a few unique items I won’t reveal just yet. I also just shipped a couple of pieces out for a Charity Gala next month, so I’ll be sharing more details about the great foundation.
CK: Can we collaborate on something big?
DM: Only if you promise to trade me for a vintage kit or two.
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You can view more from the Tuesday Pickup here.
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