We could make a long list of impressive inventions born from Australian brains, like the Black Box Flight Recorder, the Electronic Pacemaker, the Cochlear Implant and the Electric Drill just to mention a few. Being down-to-earth and hands-on are some of Australians' best known qualities, and it is thanks to these, together with stubbornness and endless curiosity, that Australians are able to reach amazing solutions in technology and engineering.
Furniture is also a field where Australians excel, giving birth to beautiful designs paired with clever building and long lasting quality. Surely everybody knows by now the 1988 Lockheed Lounge, by Marc Newson, which immediately became an object of collectible art, but many more are the relevant Australians that have placed unforgettable furniture pieces along the history of Design.
Traveling to International Fairs allows me to sense emerging trends and see if and how these may become relevant to the Australian market. As trends in general take time to travel the world and influence our distant market, traveling helps keep the finger on the pulse. But I can proudly say that exciting design is not only coming from overseas.
I was visiting the 2017 Milano Design Week recently and there I visited an exhibit of Australian emerging designers. After having explored kilometres of furniture displays both in the International Fair as well as in the city showrooms, I was amazed, as well as made proud, by the quality and beauty also shown at the Australian exhibition, sponsored by Vogue Living. See below a small example of the Australian creations as shown in the medieval Oratorio di S. Ambrogio.
Back in Australia, at the recent Melbourne Denfair I have met again with Ferrier & Co. Their furniture main strength is its simplicity of design, but built one by one these items are made to last and fit in our day to day living. Their make is in fact strong and durable, and their look designed to easily fit with most homes' styles.
The family team of FIRE-AWAY has created a steel Fire-Pit which comes as flatpack and is easy to assemble. Its design is successful with both masculine weight and elegant design. Coming in different sizes and suited to both indoor and outdoor settings, these pieces have required a trued hands-on approach as well as many trial and error attempts, but this finished product is indeed a winner.
So many are the successful Australian designers I encounter that I could continue here for pages and pages. But I'm going to leave you waiting for more, with reports soon to come on our own Australian Design as it reveals to me. Stay posted.
James Treble is an ambassador for Planet Ark and firmly believes in sensible purchasing, recycling and creative re-purposing. James Treble has more than 25 years of experience in the Building Industry, Real Estate and Interior Design. His knowledge and experience in adding value to homes, through clever design & styling, is now published for all to learn and benefit from. Interior Design For Profit is now available online.
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