Molly Mandell and James Burke specialize in creative production and independent publishing consultancy. They are the authors of two books, Made in Cuba (Luster, 2018) and Desert by Design (Abrams, 2025). They are also arts and culture writers and photographers, and their work has appeared in Kinfolk, where Molly was formerly an editor, the Los Angeles Times, Monocle, Texas Monthly, Travel and Leisure, Vogue Mexico, Wallpaper* and books from the design publisher Gestalten. In 2018, Molly and James served as Editor/Art Director and Copy Editor, respectively, for Nathan Williams’ The Eye, an international Amazon bestseller. The duo has since established editorial strategy for the platform Creative Voyage and overseen publications like Creative Voyage Paper, In the Mirror, a monograph focused on the Barcelona-based artist Chidy Wayne and the 2023 tome Designing Brands.

Outside of editorial work, Molly and James are the brains behind numerous events and itinerant hospitality projects across the globe. They have collaborated with the Uruguyan creative institute CAMPO, the Big Bend desert retreat Willow House, the BV Doshi-founded Vastushilpa Foundation in Ahmedabad, India and chefs including Rene Andrade, Michael Diaz de Leon, Brandon Jew, Alonso Madrigal and Lucho Martinez. The pair is based between the San Francisco Bay Area and Marfa, Texas, where they are developing a multi-disciplinary, cross-cultural residency program in the region that provides a dedicated space to slow down, connect with likeminded individuals and explore U.S.-Mexico border culture and the Chihuahuan desert through the lens of art, architecture, food, science and design.

CONTACT

For collaborations, commissions and other inquiries:
studio@mandellburke.com / @ mandellburke