Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicholas Pourfard.
Hi Nicholas, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When I was 18, I started to get into woodworking via an injury that left me unable to skate with my friends for around six months. As this time went by, I definitely wanted more and more to build a guitar all on my own.
When the time came for me to try, I noticed a stack of old skateboards near my tools and I thought if I could somehow build a guitar with those, then I would be creating a guitar very sentimental with a story that I couldn’t buy anywhere.
It worked! I decided later to build a few more until people started buying them. That is when I became more serious under Prisma Guitars.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think the thing that was most difficult was going to school at the same time as trying to figure out how to run a business.
It has been definitely a tough road in that regard.
Now I am older and things have figured themselves out over time.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Within Prisma Guitars, I am known around the world for creating custom one-of-a-kind boutique electric guitars and basses out of old skateboard decks that play and sound amazing with no sacrifices to their tone.
This last couple of years, I began another business building furniture and lighting and that as well has taken off as well. These designs are not built with skateboards, but I try to stand apart in my thinking of form and material usage. I have a few galleries now that carry my stuff and I have recently been honored with design blog “SIGHT UNSEEN”‘s American Design Hotlist of last year.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I am a San Diego native. I love San Diego for its connectedness to bi-nationality with Mexico. I think there is so much potential here. Having lived in both San Francisco and Brooklyn, I can see that we are at the surface of growth in being more connected and focusing on the arts, food, and culture that we have.
Pricing:
- Guitars start at $2500
- Mushroom Lamps start at $850
Contact Info:
- Email: contact@prismaguitars.com info@nbijan.design
- Website: www.prismaguitars.com and www.nbijan.design
- Instagram: @prismaguitars and @nbijanpourfard
Image Credits
PHOTOS COURTESY OF RYAN ALLAN, ADRIAN MARTINEZ, AND NICHOLAS POURFARD
