Ubabub

Brilliant new nursery furniture by Melbourne-based Ubabub

Pod cot (converts to junior bed)

Nifty clear cot (also converts to junior bed)

Melbourne parents Natasha and Daniel Dumais are the clever couple behind Ubabub... and this is their very first range of fabulous nursery furniture and wall art! Is it not seriously gorgeous stuff?!

It's a common story - When expecting the birth of their first daughter, Natasha and Daniel went in search of nursery items which would reflect the contemporary style of their home, whilst of course providing optimum safety, practicality and freedom for their soon-to-be bundle of joy! They struggled to find pieces which were as handsome as they were practical... and so of course were inspired to create their own!

After three years of development and design in collaboration with local industrial designers, Natasha and Daniel have finally realised their ideas, with a striking range of furniture and wall art launching this month! Both cot designs convert into junior beds, there's also a Nifty changetable (coolest. changetable. ever), and a brilliant collection of affordable prints, perfect for any kid's room!

As soon as I saw the Ubabub's gorgeous branding and website design... I knew there must be a graphic designer behind the scenes....! Sure enough, Natasha’s background is in graphic design, whilst Daniel’s experience has been in business logistics. Together, the pair also own and run a brand and design studio in Melbourne, Magnetic Design.

SO, If you're not in the market for designer baby furniture right now... at least you'll be seduced by Magnetic Design's fantastic folio of design work...!? Super lovely.

Ubabub products will be available later this month, from local stockists listed here.

Ubabub's Nifty changetable and gorgeous wall art

Man. This is really cute kids room styling.

Interview - Emma Aiston and Daniel To - aka 'Daniel - Emma'!

Daniel To and Emma Aiston - aka Daniel - Emma at Space Furniture this week in Richmond.

Brand new 'Basics' range by Daniel - Emma.

Emma demonstrates the simple but genius magnet system to cover those unsightly screws in the shelf...

OMG could not be more in love with the lacquered brass paperweights! SO special.

I was very lucky to meet super cute South Australian couple Daniel To and Emma Aiston - aka Daniel - Emma - in Melbourne this week! The young design duo (and married couple!) were in town just briefly, showing their brand new and much-anticipated new 'Basics' product range at Space Furniture in Richmond. I heard about this little launch only the night before - but couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet Daniel and Emma in person! The pieces are not for sale just yet... (hopefully by September!), but if you're in Melbourne you can pop down to Space Furniture in Richmond this weekend and see the products in a special preview showing until Tuesday! They are truly just so perfectly lovely - it is really worth checking the range out in person before the whole world catches on (only a matter of time!).

In typical Daniel - Emma style, Basics is a simple, understated and perfectly succinct little collection of slightly kooky homewares / desk accessories - designed especially with local manufacture mind. After a steep learning curve getting their hugely popular 'Solids' range into production in China, the pair were compelled this time to design something easily produced here at home. When it hits the retail market, the range will still be surprisingly affordable - those stunning lacquered brass paperweights in chunky extruded shapes start at around $100.00 RRP. I am so in love with the genius simplicity of Daniel and Emma's work - the pair design with a surprising restraint which belies their young age - Emma is 25 and Daniel turns 26 today! (Happy Birthday Daniel!!!)

After graduating from Industrial Design at the University of South Australia in 2007, Daniel and Emma spent 2 years gaining invaluable work experience with some super high-profile design studios in London including Thorsten van Elten and Marc Newson! They exhibited their first range, 'Shapes', in 2008 in both London and Tokyo, and were included in the *Wallpaper magazine graduate directory the following year - picking up countless other accolades and awards on the way. But aside from being one of the most promising young design studios in Australia right now, Daniel and Emma are just so genuinely nice, super modest and entertaining too! They are also a very well dressed couple (important), and I am not sure I have ever seen a cuter sweeping-side-fringe / chunky spectacle combo than Emma's current look. Aggh. Girl-crush alert! (Sorry Dan - you are cute too).

Do pop down to Space Furniture in Richmond this weekend and see the 'Basics' range in a special preview showing until Tuesday! You will die of the cuteness. Promise.

Huge thanks to Daniel and Emma for the super speedy interview turnaround-time! ...And to John at Space for keeping the products on display all weekend just for US (true!)

Tell us a little about your backgrounds – what path led you to what you are doing now?

We both studied Industrial Design at the University of South Australia and graduated in 2007. We met at uni……….. during which time we only worked on one project together, this was so disastrous that we vowed never to work together again….my how that’s changed! A number of unrelated events have led us to where we are now. Moving to London was a big one, coming back home to Adelaide was another and also just a general desire to design together and hopefully make a living from doing what we love!

'Solids' collection by Emma Aiston and Daniel To

After graduating in 2007, you each spent time working with high profile design studios overseas to gain invaluable experience… how did you end up working with Thorsten van Elten and Marc Newson, and what were the highlights of your time in London?

At uni we had always admired Thorsten’s brand and ethos, so when we arrived in London I (Emma) decided this is who I wanted to work for, so I did. The Marc Newson gig came about after winning SOYA Qantas Spirit of Youth Competition in 2007, part of the prize being an intern with Marc Newson. We has the time of our lives in London, we met amazing people many of whom will be friends for life. Most importantly for us professionally we realised what we wanted to do as designers and learnt skills to put this into motion.

Emma and Daniel sample London grub at Ed's Diner in Covent Garden, and their favourite - Canteen, Baker st London.

Last year you were catapulted into the international spotlight after being included in *Wallpaper’s graduate directory… how did this come about, and what has come from such high profile coverage?

Wallpaper came about from us exhibiting at 100% Design London in 2008, its hard to say what the benefits have been exactly, we’re sure it has helped us in a number of ways both directly and indirectly, we think for the most part, people are impressed to see that we have made it into such a well known magazine.

Recent Daniel - Emma stand at 100% Design London (2009)


Daniel - Emma stand at 100% Design London (2009) and Tokyo (2008)

How would you describe your design aesthetic?

Simple, clean, just nice.

How is it working together as a creative couple? How do you begin a new design together – ie what roles do you each take on, is it a very balanced creative process…? Who wears the pants!?

Emma wears the pants, but Daniel wears the shorts (not a skirt!) We design apart and often come together to discuss an idea, then we might talk about it, draw it, make it and either love it or hate it.

Daniel and Emma's home in Rosewater, Adelaide

Where do you turn for creative inspiration – books, international magazines, the internet, your environment, travel, nature, family or friends… etc?

Media: Monocle Magazine, FFFFOUND.com, miekewillems.blogspot.com, tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/
Places: living in Port Adelaide, bike rides to the beach Travel: Brussels, Tokyo, London, Paris Family: our sausage dog Frankie, grandparents (and their houses), our eclectic array of friends, and our very, very multi-cultural families!!!!!

Frankie the Sausage dog :)

Which other designers, artists or creative people are you most inspired by at the moment?

Vampire Weekend, Chuck Bass (from Gossip Girl), Mr Fox (from Fantastic Mr Fox), Porco Rosso (from Porco Rosso)

What are you most proud of professionally?

The fact we still haven’t given up or killed one another!

What would be your dream project?

Designing a nice accessory for Louis Vuitton, or doing an interior for a quaint restaurant.

Dinnerset from Daniel Emma's 'Shapes' collection, 2008.

What are you looking forward to?

London in September, quitting our day jobs and concentrating completely on design, launching the production versions of ‘SOLIDS’ and ‘BASICS’, also teaching Frankie some tricks, with all of our spare time!

The view from Daniel and Emma's window in their tiny London apartment!

Adelaide Questions –

Your favourite shop/s in Adelaide for unique designed homewares/lighting?

Scammells Auction House, Port Dock Markets, RHD (mainly clothing but has nice things as well).

You fave bookshop in Adelaide for reference and design books?

Matilda Bookshop in Stirling.

Where /what was the last great meal you ate in Adelaide?

Korean bbq on Pitt Street, you can smell the smoky meat from at least 50m away!

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

This varies greatly from week to week, a perfect Saturday would be breakfast and shopping at the Central Market, followed by a leisurely stroll around the port.

Adelaide’s best kept secret?

Sugar Cane Minced Prawn Balls from Vietnam Restaurant OMG DELICIOUS!

Daniel Emma

'Solids' collection by Emma Aiston and Daniel To - aka Daniel Emma

Top - pencilbox, centre - stationery container, bottom - light.

Young South Australian design duo (and married couple, I think?) Emma Aiston and Daniel To - aka Daniel Emma, have just launched their fantastic new ‘Solids’ collection at 100% Design London 2009. I really looooove these unique and slightly kooky desk accessories... How great are the brave chunky shapes and combination of glass, timber and bright primary colours? They would work so well on my imaginary desk with my imaginary StudioIlse lamp. :)


After graduating from Industrial Design at the University of South Australia in 2007, Daniel and Emma spent 2 years gaining invaluable work experience with some super high-profile design studios in London including Thorsten van Elten and Marc Newson, if you don't mind! They exhibited their first range, 'Shapes', last year in both London and Tokyo, they were recently included in the *Wallpaper magazine graduate directory, and have also been shortlisted for this year’s Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award.

Something tells me we'll be seeing a lot more from these two!

Dinnerset from Daniel Emma's 'Shapes' collection, 2008. LOVE it!

Pashley Bikes

Pashley hand-built bikes! Love.

I have a lonely, neglected bicycle in my shed which sadly has 2 flat tyres and is slowly rusting its way to bicycle heaven. So I can't really justify my extreme love for these classic bikes by famed UK bicycle manufacturers Pashley.

Pashley was founded over 80 years ago. I spotted them I think in one of Megan and Sara's fantastic HOME monthly newsletters... and have been coveting one ever since. These days Pashley still hand-build each bike in their Stratford-upon-Avon factory, and maintain their enviable reputation as Britain's most exclusive bicycle manufacturer. Check out the photos on their website of the painstaking production process... amazing.

Today, Pashley still produce many of it's classic styles, as well as creating new designs with the same attention to detail and quality for which the company is so reknowned. I am so in love with the Princess Sovereign (very top image)... and that wicker basket! Love.

London seems so much more appealing on a Pashley cycle, don't you think? These shots are from Pashley's online gallery, where proud bike owners can submit their own cycling photos.

Studio OOOMS

Dandelion Lights made from cables ties... (see the huge pile of cable ties on the ground!). So simple, so effective. OOOMS says "With a lot of patience we’ll be rewarded with beautiful new structures, which can only emerge by fervent monkish work". Love it!

A similar chandelier-style light, created for TU Delft. The University organised an exhibition about modern plastics and its uses. The chandelier consists of 25,000 cable-ties, painstakingly zipped together into one giant lighting object. Currently the French Chandelier is part of the collection of Spazio Rossana Orlandi.

Studio OOOMS is a Dutch design studio run by Guido Ooms and Karin van Lieshout. They are both graduates of the fabulous Design Academy Eindhoven!

OOOMS creative output exemplifies everything I love about Dutch design - originality, personality, quality of craftsmanship and just plain kooky-ness :) Their website is full of many smile-inducing ideas... and some eyebrow-raising ones too! (you'll know what I mean when you see them...!)

OOOMS also runs unique creative workshops and lectures for companies and schools around the world. Some of their clients include Paul Smith, Adidas, MoMA, Design Museum London, The Cooper Hewitt NY, SUN Microsystems, and, again, the Design Academy Eindhoven.

More designs to make you smile! The gorgeous Solar Birdhouse (with solar panels on its roof!) is available for sale here. Also, LOVE the USB twig! How great does it look sticking out of the mac tower?! You can buy them here.

Presentation in collaboration with graduates of the Design Academy Eindhoven during the Salone del mobile. Improvised workshop using found street-material... Visitors were welcomed with food, drink and atmosphere.

Inspired Media - Kate Hannaford of Moth Design

Moth Design's Kate Hannaford chats at Inspired Media in Melbourne last week

Inspired Media is a fantastic Melbourne-based monthly event organised by the Portable Film Festival. It's an event that showcases some of the most innovative designers working in Australia's creative industries, featuring speakers from film, advertising, online and mobile industries. This casual speaker series provides a friendly, low-key environment for design discussion, collaboration and networking.

Inspired Media took place last week at Horse Bazaar, 397 Little Lonsdale st, Melbourne. Love the eclectic interior of this fun and relaxed 'digital arts bar' and exhibition space.

Last week's Inspired Media guest was the incredible Kate Hannaford, co-founder and director of Melbourne multidisciplinary studio Moth Design, and organiser of Penthouse Mouse, a pop-up retail, gallery and event space set up in the lead up to and during Melbourne Fashion Festival. I'm so glad Inspired Media brought this to my attention and invited me along!

Kate is an industrial designer turned project co-ordinator / event designer / retail and commercial interior designer... she's an absolute whizz, and has amassed the most incredible body of work in only a few years since Moth Design first launched in 2001. Moth Design's impressive and varied list of clients includes retailers such as Bonds, Holeproof and Metallicus, as well as high-profile events such as The Big Day Out, V Festival, St. Jeromes Laneway Festival, the Melbourne International Design Festival, and of course Spring Racing Carnival.

I've been chasing an interview with Kate for a little while now, but Moth Design has been immersed in Spring Racing madness.... they're a very prolific team, and Ms Hannaford is a hard woman to pin down! Having said that, Kate's also incredibly approachable, friendly and modest about her work... she's also truly passionate about supporting and promoting local design, as is evident by her incredible efforts staging the hugely popular Penthouse Mouse event annually.

So until I have an interview secured with Kate, I thought I'd share some images of Moth Design's work below... (clearly this will mean if I ever do publish an interview with Kate I will have no photos left to accompany it, but, you know... no time like the present.)

Moth Design's work for the Herald Sun Marquee during Spring Racing Carnival 2008

More Spring Racing event design and installation from Moth Design

Moth Design details at Spring Racing '08

Images from Penthouse Mouse '08

Penthouse Mouse '08

Penthouse Mouse '08

Moth Design's light-filled studio in Melbourne's Hardware Lane

Ps) Don't forget to bookmark the Portable Film Festival site for info on upcoming Inspired Media events. Also check back often for more info on other media and arts events at Horse Bazaar.

RMIT Industrial Design Graduate Exhibition

Bald Bowls by graduate Ben Landau is an interactive design project in which bald men cast each other’s heads in plaster, and then slip cast them to create bowls. The event grew from therapeutic sessions of bald support groups and includes art therapy theories. By creating something together, bald men can connect with each other through a unique process, and have an artefact to show for it in the end, which represents their acceptance of balding.

NOOK by Industrial Design graduate Henry Sgourakis is an exploration of knits and weaves from the ‘arts and crafts’ movements of the past 150 years, and is inspired by detailed lace work in original handcrafted doilies - henry@sgourakisarchitect.com.au

I have not yet been to see the RMIT Industrial Design grad show, but it's only on for three more days (ie this Friday - Sunday)... so I thought best to pop something up before the weekend so you have time to check it out!

The show is called Parting Line, and includes the work of 20 gradating students. The photos above were kindly provided by one of the exhibiting students, Liam Prescott.

The exhibition is at the gorgeous Guildford Lane Gallery which I wrote about recently... it's a beautiful space, so if you get the chance do take a moment to support these emerging designers and discover a lovely new gallery in the CBD this weekend!

The Guildford Lane Gallery
20-24 Guildford Lane
Melbourne 3000

Open Wed-Fri 12-9 / Sat-Sun 12-5

Graduate design shows 2008

Images from the RMIT Ceramics Graduate 3rd year and Honours exhibition 'Batch 1.04'. Top - work by Jyun Hung Moon, Bottom - Tim Clarkson's origami-inspired work.

Craft Victoria made me very happy yesterday when I discovered on their 'clog' (blog) an extremely extensive list of all the graduate exhibitions happening across town this month, as the school year draws to a close for Melbourne's design students!

Grad shows are often not very widely advertised, and I always have trouble keeping abreast of what's going on, so I was very excited when I came across this round-up!

The list below has been taken directly from the Craft Vic blog (hope they don't mind!), and focuses mainly on craft-based courses... a great place to start to see the best from Melbourne's up and coming designers!

Opening on 12 November:

NMIT, Advanced Diploma Jewellery

Northcote Town Hall

Until 20 November

Monash University, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Metals and Jewellery)

Faculty of Art & Design, Caulfield Campus

Until 28 November

Box Hill TAFE, Diploma of Ceramics

Yarra Sculpture Gallery, 117 Vere Street, Abbotsford

Until 30 November

Box Hill TAFE, Diploma of Ceramics

Arts House, Meat Market

Until 30 November

Box Hill TAFE, Diploma of Arts (Furniture Design)

Arts House, Meat Market

Until 22 November

Box Hill TAFE, Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology (Jewellery)

Arts House, Meat Market

Until 22 November

Box Hill TAFE, Diploma of Arts (Textiles)

Arts House, Meat Market
Until 22 November

Opening on 14 November:

Monash University, Bachelor of Industrial Design

Faculty of Art & Design, Caulfield Campus

Until 28 November

Monash University, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Ceramics)

Faculty of Art & Design, Caulfield Campus

Until 28 November

Monash University, Bachelor of Fine Art and Visual Art (Glass and Ceramics)

Faculty of Art & Design, Caulfield Campus
Until 28 November

Monash University, Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Visual Arts

Faculty of Art & Design, Caulfield Campus

Until 28 November

RMIT, Bachelor of Design (Interior Design)

Shed 4 (Open Channel), North Wharf Road, Victoria Harbour, Docklands

Until 19 November

University of Melbourne, Faculty of Architecture Building & Planning (Timber furniture)

Concourse – Faculty of Architecture Building & Planning, University of Melbourne, Parkville

Until 21 November

Opening 18 November:

RMIT, Ceramics

Skepsi on Swanston, 670 Swanston Street

Until 27 November

RMIT, Gold and Silversmithing

Trades Hall

Until 28 November

NMIT, Diploma of Arts -Furniture Design

Wills Auditorium, Building B, NMIT Heidelberg Campus

Until 21 November

Opening 19 November:

RMIT, Bachelor of Arts (Textile Design)

Telstra Building Foyer, corner Lonsdale/Exhibition Streets

Until 28 November

RMIT, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Sculpture Honours)

Off The Kerb, 66B Johnston Street

Until 4 December

And currently open is RMIT's Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drawing) at Guildford Lane Gallery. It is on till 16 November so get in quick!

For even more, RMIT has a comprehensive list of all their 2008 graduate shows here.

Agghh! Too much to see! Better get list-making. :)

Interview - Trent Jansen

Trent Jansen's highly acclaimed Pregnant Chair for Moooi

extremely cute concept sketches for the famed Kissing Pendants!

...those beautiful Kissing Pendants (again!), which recently won the Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award 2008.

I was so excited to meet Australia's designer-of-the-moment Trent Jansen recently at the Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Awards in Melbourne. As one of the recipients of the Design Discovery Award, I was expecting Trent to be inundated with media and networking professionals all evening... but the event was thankfully very low-key, and I was pleasantly surprised to see him lurking in the shadows, and generally keeping a very low profile!

There is so much to like about Trent. He's thoughtful and so modest in conversation about his work. Despite the accolades following his success with the Pregnant Chair in Milan earlier this year (which is being produced by Moooi), and the recent Design Discovery award for his stunning Kissing Pendants, he seems utterly unaffected by all the media attention and new-found notoriety. At just 26 (I think?), he's polite and quiet, and during our conversation, asked as much about me as I did about him!

Trent's clever, playful designs are such a breath of fresh air for the Australian design industry. His pieces perfectly reflect the designer himself - relaxed, slightly quirky, instantly warm and friendly, and entirely unpretentious! I know I've said it before, but I really am convinced we're looking at the next superstar of Australian design here - watch this space!

Just found this great little promotional video about COFA graduate Trent on Utube... it gives a fantastic insight into Trent's work and design ethos. My interview below!

Tell me a little about your background - what did you study and what path led you to what you’re doing now?

I studied the Design Degree at the College of Fine Arts at the University of NSW in Paddington, Sydney. I am not sure how I ended up doing what I am doing. I have wanted to be an architect since I was very young, but went to university to study graphic design. Luckily I enrolled in a multidisciplinary design degree and at some point I become interested in object design.

You’ve become very well known in the design world in the last year or so, and are getting a lot of media attention currently in the wake of your success with the Pregnant Chair in Milan. However, you’ve been plugging away for a lot longer than most people probably realise! How do you feel about this sudden peak in media interest, and is there a sense of pressure to keep the ball rolling?

I guess that the attention is nice I guess, but I do not feel any pressure. So long as I am happy with the work that I am doing, that is the most important thing.

The world of the solo industrial designer is a bit of a mystery to me and many people… What motivates you at the start of a new project? At this stage in your career, how much of your work is self-initiated, as opposed to being specifically commissioned or funded externally? How do you know what to be spending your time on!?

I am not sure what motivates me, I think it is my short attention span. I get bored really easily and I am always looking for the next project or the next place to move on to. I like to always feel like I am moving forward. The motivation for my projects comes from a desire to design worthwhile, sustainable objects to provide thoughtful and long-lasting alternatives to the junk that exists in the world.

A selection of Trent's Sign Stools, created from recycled street signs. Top left - the Sign Stool Limited Edition, designed in 2004. The other styles shown here are Sign Stool 450, a more recent take on the original version, designed for manufacture on a larger scale.

My time is pretty evenly divided up between self motivated projects, commissions and teaching design at the College of Fine Arts, University of NSW. It is often hard to decide which of these takes priority, as they are all important to me. I can not take time away from my self motivated projects, as these are the projects that most strongly represent my values and philosophies as a designer. I can not take time away from my commissions as people are counting on me to deliver a project on time, meeting their expectations. And I can not take time away from my teaching preparation because my students expect a lot of me and they are ruthless if I am not prepared. So I guess I just work longer...

Do you feel at a disadvantage as a designer by being based in Australia? What challenges have you faced by being based so far from the established design hubs in the UK, Italy, The Netherlands etc? Do you feel drawn to base yourself ‘closer to the action’?

I think that Australia's distance has its advantages and disadvantages as a designer. In the past four years this distance has been a huge advantage for me. There are not so many people practicing design in Australia, but there are still some great organisations advocating for Australian design, making it easier to be noticed, published and recognised. The problem with the Australian design industry is what comes after this. Australia lacks the history of quality makers and manufacturers and the general culture of design that exists in many European countries. This makes it hard to have work made and even harder to have work sold.

I have spent the last three months in Holland, France and Switzerland and intend to spend the best part of the next eight months in the same area. It is my aim to see how the industry works over here and find out whether there is any advantage to be gained by living and designing in Europe. At this stage I am still unsure of what the future holds, but being a Dutch citizen and working for Moooi, I have a bit of freedom to check it all out before I make a decision.

The desk is one of the workspaces Trent has occupied since travelling around Europe. He spent a week and a half in a wine region called Minervois in the South of France. This was the little room that he had to work in while I was there.

Which designers, artists or creative people are you inspired by?

Marcel Wanders has always been a great inspiration for me. Recently I have been very interested in the work of Theo Jansen (no relation), a Dutch sculptor and genius...

Where else do you turn for specific inspiration when working on a new project – do you scour books, magazines or the web? Do you pay attention to trends in the broader design world such as film, fashion or architecture?

Most of my inspiration at the moment comes from relationships that I observe and experience everyday. The work that I have been working on lately attempts to form long-term relationships between my work and the people that own it. It is an important factor in designing sustainable work to consider the longevity of these objects, trying to create as much time between purchase and disposal as possible. I have a theory that if I can design 'objects that remind us of ourselves', these objects will become important to their owner and become a lasting part of their life instead of a disposable thing.

At this point in time I am using personal relationships as the conceptual grounding behind these objects, developing pieces that borrow familiar characteristics from the relationships that are so important to all of us. The Pregnant Chair and Kissing Pendants are perfect examples of this theory in practice. If motherhood is important to you then the relationship that exists between the baby and mother chair will speak to you and remind you of your mother or child. This nostalgic response will hopefully create a special place for this object within your home.

Japanese-inspired textile design (2007 and 2008). Top image - Jansen's Ichimatsu textile was selected for the Japanese Environment Minister's traditional Furoshiki (gift-wrapping cloth), designed for use during the 2008 Environment Minister's Summit in Kobe, Japan. This piece was produced in a limited edition by Japanese company Felissimo. Bottom left - closer view of the Ichimatsu design, bottom right - Shrine. Textiles available through Sekimoto.

What does a typical day at work involve for you? How do you divide your time between designing, building prototypes, marketing yourself and seeking collaboration / manufacturers etc…?

There is no such thing as a typical day at the moment. I have spent the last four or five months living out of a suitcase, so stability is a distant memory for me. When I am in the studio I spread my time between working on my own projects, working on commissions and teaching. This can involve anything from sketching, developing presentations, making models, technical drawing and lots and lots of emailing...

Topple Light (2006) available through ISM objects

What are you most proud of professionally?

Working with Moooi. They are a great company and I feel very lucky to be part of their family.

What's the best thing about your job?

The best thing about my job is being able to do what I love every day.

And the worst?

I can't think of a worst thing...

What would be your dream project?

My dream project was any project for Moooi. Now I am trying to get involved in humanitarian design projects. I am not sure what or where, but I am beginning to make some in-roads now.

What are you looking forward to?

I am looking forward to spending a couple of months in Kiama with my girlfriend and our families over summer.

Where do you shop in Sydney for the tool of your trade? (ie building materials and tools, sketching materials, hardware?)

Most of my supplies come from Reverse Garbage or the Bower on Addison Road in Marrickville. They are always my first port of call because I don't really like to buy new things where I can help it. Old materials and tools are so beautiful.

What/where was the last great meal you ate in Sydney?

Cafe Giulia most Saturday mornings and Friday lunch-times, on Abercrombie Street in Chippendale, across the road from my studio. By far the best Cafe in Sydney.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

and

Sydney’s best kept secret?

Giulia or the Mitchell Road Auction House, which is also Sydney's best kept secret. On Mitchell Road in Alexandria, this place is a treasure hunter's dream I love it and the owner Jeffry is an amazing character...

Trent's studio in Chippendale, Sydney

A big thankyou to Trent for his time with this interview and all the fantastic images! :) Can't wait to see what comes next from him!