B.Interior Design – Honours. Swinburne
As a young, recently graduated interior designer what do you see to be the elements that will shape the way you approach your job?
I see the need to create interiors with a calming atmosphere, as an escape from the hectic world outside. Interiors that are a notable combination of form and function. I want my designs to be liveable, user friendly and suit the needs of the client. If you can get the design element and functionality right, then that’s what it’s about it. More and more, the element of slow movement in the design world is now more prominent and gaining momentum.
Who or what are your design heroes?
I am very influenced by the Japanese husband and wife architectural firm ‘Nishizawa.’ They are very good with small spaces and light, and in Australia we see the value of being more efficient with our use of space in our homes. Creating rooms that have a flexibility of use, such as with natural light, good insulation and being well ventilated. They design their houses to be transformable, to change with the seasons and to grow with nature. According to the slow movement, Buddhism is the fastest growing religion in the world today. People are now turning to organic foods and are downsizing their homes. All this is happening because people are looking for a connection, whether it be to other people, family or community. We will have to adapt to smaller spaces and in order to do so we will have to design them cleverly. I find that we will inevitably stop and go back to our roots; some people are saying we will go back to a town type culture where everyone works for each other. Sustainability is now not a fad but a way of life for the future.
What got you into interior design?
I think being able to work for myself in the long term and also being able to construct my ideas to a specific form or outcome attracted me to this. Also later on in life being able to combine my work with a family will also be a plus for me. I am interested in learning more about furniture design and artwork, which are all integral to the design process, and it’s a really big skill to get it all together in a space. The outcome would be rewarding.
What inspires you and how do you keep up?
Magazines and ideas from others, there is a lot of inspiration in European magazines, such as a great German magazine called Detail, also web sites like Cool Hunter. It’s very difficult to find magazines that aren’t the same old, same old. These are always fresh and inspiring.
What do you see as future trends?
People wanting to do their own things that are different, rather than just the one look. I dislike the trend of the Scandinavian mid century furniture look and when someone takes the look and does their entire house. I think in my eyes I would instead take one or two pieces and feature them, like they are pieces of art. We’ve gone through so many phases now that people are going back to the ones that have stood out to them, I feel future trends will be more of a personal creation.
