Meet Robert Fathauer of Tessellations in Ahwatukee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Fathauer.

Robert, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
With an interest in both math and art, I started making prints in the style of M.C. Escher, with animals like birds that fit together to cover the plane. My intention was to sell these at art fairs, and I thought a puzzle based on one of my designs might sell better than art prints. When I showed my puzzle and art at a few fairs I found that math teachers loved the puzzle. Based on that I exhibited at the national math teachers meeting and got a strong response. The focus of the business shifted to geometric puzzles. Over time I added other products related to math-art connections, including books, classroom posters, geometric models, and polyhedral dice. Creating art has always been part of my business, though not the biggest part from an income standpoint. My current artistic work centers on math-inspired ceramic sculpture.

Has it been a smooth road?
There have been lots of little bumps on the road, but the most major decision in the direction of the business related to the toy market. Early on I decided to market my puzzles to the specialty toy market, which means smaller manufacturers and retailers who specialize in toys that are more educational. I exhibited at Toy Fair in New York, put a lot of effort into packaging, and signed on with independent sales reps across the country. The toy business is extremely crowded and competitive, and I was doing a lot of work and not making much money. About ten years ago I decided to downsize and focus on the educational market. That turned out to be a good move, making my business smaller and less complicated, but also more profitable.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Tessellations – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Tessellations is known for making original and intelligent products with substantial math content. We also have a distinct design esthetic, since I do all of the design work myself. I’m proud of the fact that our products make people think and increase their love of math and art. Making compelling products that aren’t digital helps draw people away from smart phones and the like and encourages them to interact in a hands-on way with other people. In recent years our emphasis has been on unique polyhedral dice made possible by our strength in mathematics. Our dice brand, The Dice Lab, has gotten a very positive response from mathematicians and gamers alike.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I like the proximity of the desert and the outdoor attractions in other parts of Arizona. While the summers are hot, having lived in Illinois, Colorado, and New York, I wouldn’t trade it for a snowy climate. It would be nice to be in a city like New York or San Francisco with really dynamic creative communities, but there are downsides to those locations as well, and the internet makes your physical location less important.

Contact Info:

• Website: tessellations.com, mathartfun.com, thedicelab.com
• Email: rob@tessellations.com
• Facebook: @TessellationsCo, @TheDiceLab
• Twitter: @thedicelab

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