Meet the Designers of Crafted ‘15
Saturday, 14 November 2023
The ANU School of Art Furniture Workshop develops technical, critical and creative skills relevant to furniture design and making. As part of the ANU School of Art Furniture Workshop’s end of year exhibition, Crafted ‘15 is a public showcase of furniture and objects that represent the physical outcomes from learning and researching, discovery, experimentation and growth.
DESIGN Canberra caught up with students featured in the exhibition.
Chelsea Lemon, honours student in the furniture workshop
Q: How did you get into design?
A: I don’t remember a time that I wasn’t creating and making. I’ve always had a passion for design.
Q: Where do you go for inspiration?
A: I look to plants for design ideas. They each have unique shapes, forms, patterns and textures.
Q: What first interested you in working in your medium?
A: I found that being able to not only design furniture, but make a functional piece that you can use at the end to be very rewarding.
Q: Why do you love design?
A: Design is a great way to express ideas visually. I enjoy continuously learning new skills and problem solving with every new project.
Q: What do you want festival visitors to take away from DESIGN Canberra?
A: There is a strong design community growing in Canberra –there are lots of talented designers emerging in the region.
Chris Dalzell (Walrus), 3rd year student in the furniture workshop
Q: How did you get into design?
A: I spent years as a furniture removalist, I learned a lot through interacting with great historical and contemporary designs.
Q: Who are some of your biggest influencers?
A: I have always admired the heroes of modernism, such as Wegner and Krenov.
Q: What advice would you give to up-and-coming designers in Canberra?
A: Don’t hold back, Canberra is a great platform to get started. It’s easy to get noticed in this town, so get out there.
Q: What three words describe your style?
A: Dynamic, chaotic, and irrational.
Q: Favourite place in Canberra?
A: Bentspoke Brewery
Q: What future projects are you excited about?
A: My current project; which explores philosophical concepts of Phenomenology and Deconstructivism. I feel this project will take a lifetime to complete.
Q: Why do you love design?
A: It is one of the greatest elements of human culture.
Q: What fellow local designers are you digging at the moment?
A: Tom Skeehan is making some of the most beautiful work in Canberra if not Australia.
Q: What piece are you most excited to show off during the festival?
A: My latest pieces are wall hung cabinets made from Red Ash. Can’t wait to hear what people think.
Q: What can we expect (from you) during DESIGN Canberra?
A: I will be showing my work amongst some of the most talented up and coming designers of the ANU Furniture Workshop. Really excited to be exhibiting with these guys.
Melissa Nickols, 2nd year student in the furniture workshop
Q: How did you get into design?
A: I’m a student in the ANU Furniture workshop, so have not quite made it into professional design just yet. But I think I am drawn to design because it allows you to use your mind to solve problems, while also providing a tactile experience when you work with the materials. It’s a huge challenge to get materials to do what you want them to do, which keeps me hooked.
Q: What advice would you give to up-and-coming designers in Canberra?
A: Keep a sketchbook.
Q: What design trend from the past needs to come back?
A: I don’t know if it was ever a design trend, but I like rivets.
Q: Best design-related advice you’ve ever received?
A: Jon Goulder (Australian Furniture Designer and Creative Director of Furniture at the Jam Factory in Adelaide) came to visit us in the ANU Furniture Workshop recently, his advice was ‘you are only as good as your last piece’.
Q: What can we expect (from you) during DESIGN Canberra?
A: I will have work as part of the exhibition Crafted ’15 by students from the ANU Furniture Workshop. You can also expect my attendance at lots of the exhibitions, it looks like a great line-up.
Make sure you don’t miss out on this exciting exhibition. Find out more details on their DESIGN Canberra event listing, and through the School of Art website.