designer jonathan adler

There are few other potters in the world who have made such a mark on design (and contemporary culture) as Jonathan Adler. He is one of the major voices in the interior design world, known globally for his strong use of colour, graphics and mid-century styling, especially in his interior design work, pictured above. Jonathan has also managed to cross over and be known to the broader public thanks to his furniture and homewares (available across his 14 stores, and at a multitude of global stockists) and his role as lead judge on TV's Top Design.

But it's worth noting what motivated Jonathan at the very start. It wasn't money or fame. It was the simple desire to be creative. Jonathan was born in New Jersey and studied semiotics and art history at Brown University all the while dedicating much of his free time to pottery. In 1994 he showed some of his first pots to Barneys, which quickly placed an order. Eight years later he launched a furniture collection. He has been unstoppable ever since.

Which five words best describe you? Optimistic, disciplined, restless, hungry, maker.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? My career has been very accidental. After a series of go nowhere jobs in the film industry, I decided that I had no future and I might as well do what I love and just be a potter. I envisioned years of hocking my wares in rain-soaked craft fairs in upstate New York. I got myself a studio and starting throwing all day every day. I got my first order from Barneys and the short story is that the rest is history.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? That if someone tells you that you can't do something, that you do it anyway. Only you know what you are truly capable of achieving.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Every time I open a new store, I feel very proud. We just opened our 14th location, a fab new store in Atlanta.

What’s been your best decision? To follow my dream and do what I love. That and going on a blind date 16 years ago with Simon Doonan.

Who inspires you? My holy trinity of muses are Bjorn Wiinblad, Bonnie Cashin and Alexander Girard, all of whom were mid-century designers who made stuff that was gorgeously chic and inspiringly optimistic.

What are you passionate about? I'm passionate about impeccable craftsmanship and design.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Auntie Mame

What dream do you still want to fulfil? To design an airline! Also, I wouldn't mind a potters wheel over-looking the Faraglioni.

What are you reading? The Kids are Alright by Patti Smith. I have a pretty complicated business and sometimes I forget that the whole reason I got into this was because I had something to say, I had to make pottery, I had to be creative, I had to had to had to! This book reminds me of my early years which were only about creativity and I was totally broke.

images courtesy of jonathan adler

designers karen davis & pepa martin

Shibori has been used by the likes of stylists and interior designers Sibella Court, Kerry Phelan and Woods Bagot. It's an Australian company that was set up about six years ago by Karen Davis and Pepa Martin, who met while studying fashion at East Sydney College. In a relatively short period of time they've gone from working on commissions to producing a book - Shibori in the 21st Century (scheduled for October) - and releasing their own range of fabric dyes. They'll also be hosting a series of workshops at the Powerhouse Museum in November.

Which five words best describe you?

Karen: Indigo, charcoal, copper, tangerine and turquoise.
Pepa: Olive, ochre, burnt orange, caramel and shiraz.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? We meet at The Fashion Design Studio at East Sydney College and had an instant connection. We started the business in 2005 and began working with prints (both digital and screen), however we kept coming back to hand dyeing. In 2007 we did our first “Life in Style Trade Show”. It was nerve racking because hand dyeing wasn’t in at that time. We were really worried people might think we were crazy hippies. However, the positive response was overwhelming and gave us the confidence to expand the business. Since then we have focused on creating commission pieces working with interior designers and architects on amazing large-scale pieces that give a space a personally of its own. We have been lucky enough to work with some of the most talented and well-known people in the country and our work can be seen anywhere from corporate spaces (Macquarie Bank Head Office) to large venues (The Beresford upstairs) to many smaller places in between. We are both really passionate about shibori and feel it is our duty to spread the word about other amazing people using this medium. With this in mind comes the creation of our book “Shibori in the 21 Century” which includes interviews and showcases the work of others. We were lucky enough to interview Australians Akira Isogawa, India Flint, Barbara Rogers and other international artists like Trine Mauritz Eriksen and Shabd Simon Alexander to name a few. The book will be launched at the end of this year with an exhibition and workshop by some of the artists. It is truly a dream come to fruition.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way?
Karen: To close your ears to the negative opinions of others. Someone somewhere will think what you are doing is crazy and it probably is, however, that doesn’t mean you won’t succeed. Have faith in your own dreams.
Pepa: Feel the fear and do it anyway!

What’s your proudest career achievement?
Karen: 5-metre high by 3-metres wide dip-dyed curtains for Upstairs at The Beresford Hotel. The deadline was very tight and we had to find new and inventive ways to get the job done. It was very intense but lots of fun.
Pepa: The production and development of our dye range “Dye Da Vida” with Tintex Australia. Dye Da Vida translates to dye gives life, which is how we truly feel, and we hope the dye range inspires other to do the same. This in conjunction with our workshops (one to be held at the Powerhouse in October) is my main passion.

What’s been your best decision?
Karen and Pepa: Starting the business. It has been such an amazing ride with personal growth and creativity. Our days are always full of laughter and things are always made easier when you have someone else to bounce things off.

Who inspires you?
Karen: People who are fearless and follow their dreams.
Pepa: Mother Nature and the simplest of ideas.

What are you passionate about?
Karen: Nothing makes my heart flutter more than a beautiful vintage textile, I get goose bumps just thinking about it.
Pepa: Shibori in nature, a mossy sandstone wall, the imprint left after the rain. Interpreting these textures on cloth.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet?
Karen: Astro boy - fearless, a bit tragic but with amazing hair.
Pepa: Antoni Gaudi, the grand scale of his art, his organic lines I would just like to pick his brain for a bit.

What dream do you still want to fulfill?
Karen: Finally (finally, finally, finally) seeing the finished product of our book Shibori in the 21st Century. It has been a real labour of love for us (and our very talented and patient designer Steve Clarke).
Pepa: An international exhibition, our second book (a dyeing manual).

What are you reading?
Karen: India Flint’s new book Second Skin.
Pepa: Kafka on the shore.

images courtesy of shibori

architects ville hara & anu puustinen

Finland may only be a country of 5.4 million people, but it produces some amazing architecture and design. Even withstanding its size and population. Take this garden shed by Avanto Architects for Kekkilä Garden. It was co-designed with Linda Bergroth, and the model you see pictured above is one she adapted for her summer house. The duo who founded Avanto are Ville Hara and Anu Puustinen. Among their award-winning projects are some churches and chapels like you've never seen before.

Which five words best describe you? Young, sensitive, responsible, innovative, ambitious.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? Avanto Architects was established in 2004 after Ville Hara and Anu Puustinen won an open competition for the design of the St Lawrence cemetery chapel. Since then the office has successfully participated in a wide range of competitions in Finland and abroad, winning second prize in the Tsunami Memorial International Design Competition in Khao Lak, Thailand in 2006, for instance. The work of Avanto Architects is featured extensively in leading architecture magazines in Finland and overseas and has been displayed in several exhibitions. The most noteworthy accolades of the office include a Bryggman Prize for young architects and interior designers and two separate nominations for the Mies van der Rohe Prize.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? You cannot please everybody if you try to achieve something new in architecture.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Bringing projects successfully to the end. Like chapel where it took eight years.

What’s been your best decision? Start your own office.

Who inspires you? Everything we have around from nature to city life.

What are you passionate about? Sauna and avanto swimming!

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Michel Foucault

What dream do you still want to fulfil? Live a life in peace and harmony with other people and nature.

What are you reading? Mostly professional books.

images courtesy of avanto architects and arsi ikaheimonen via yellowtrace

designer catherine martin

Catherine Martin is a name synonymous with one of Australia's most successful creative husband-and-wife partnerships. Alongside Baz Luhrmann, for the past 20 years she has created the sets on award-winning films, including Strictly Ballroom and William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet. Catherine won two Oscars for art direction and costume design on Moulin Rouge. She has also won a Tony Award for production design on the opera La Boheme which travelled to Broadway in New York.

But Catherine's design imprint isn't limited to film and theatre. She has also produced a range of wallpapers and rugs. The most recent flooring collection, inspired by the upcoming The Great Gatsby film, is her second collaboration with Designer Rugs.

Which five words best describe you? Passionate, positive, eccentric, determined, shoe-a-holic.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I had just dropped out of art school and was working in the rag trade as a sample hand when I heard a radio ad for a play in Western Sydney celebrating International Youth Year in 1985. I got the job as designer and from there I felt I had found my vocation and became inspired to apply for the design course at NIDA. I met Baz Luhrmann when he came to see an exhibition of our second year work. He had already graduated and had won the directorship of numerous companies in the bicentennial year of Australia and asked Angus Strathie and myself to start designing for him and these companies. Since then, I've been designing for Baz and we now have a company together and two beautiful children.
What's the best lesson you've learnt along the way? Never give up.
What’s your proudest career achievement? My proudest life achievement is having my two beautiful children, Lillian and William. On the career front, it's continuing to enjoy the creative journey with my partner-in-crime, Baz Luhrmann.
What’s been your best decision? To have children and to commit to a creative and life partnership with my husband.
Who inspires you? Everything from walking the streets of New York and seeing the extraordinary panoply of life unfolding around me to reading books and magazines, surfing the web, visiting exhibitions and everyday conversations.
What are you passionate about? My children, my family life, my first morning coffee, inspiring design, shoes, good food, travelling, Paris, photography, art, New York and Ruinart champagne.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Elsa Schiaparelli, William Shakespeare and Albert Einstein
What dream do you still want to fulfil? To own an apartment in Paris.What are you reading? The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt on my iPad kindle.

images courtesy of catherine martin and designer rugs

designer megan park

Sometimes it's not easy to appreciate what you've achieved until you take a moment and look back. After studying fashion design and working as a textile designer in Melbourne, Megan Park moved to London. She designed textiles for an agency that created products for Givenchy, Dries van Noten and Kenzo. If that wasn't an achievement in itself, when Megan launched her eponymous collection of bags and scarves in 1997 it was quickly picked up by the world's leading department stores. She has since returned to Melbourne and launched a homewares as well as a girl clothing line.

Which five words best describe you? Passionate, determined, loyal, forgetful, compassionate.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? This could be a long, long story... but I will try and make it quick. I graduated from RMIT fashion before getting my one and only fulltime job as a designer for the bridal house of Mariana Hardwick. Working with her was a fabulous experience as I was given the complete freedom to create without any real limitations and also it allowed me to travel the world for inspiration. Having worked with her for 2 years I set off on my travels which took me to London (a childhood dream) – I stayed for 13 years. In London I started working with an Indian company as a textiles design consultant - a life of 6 months in India developing the collections which I would then spend 6 months in Europe showing to the design houses. I look back on this now and am amazed at who I met and worked with during this time. Gaining 7 years of experience in India and working with the most talented embroiderers I decided to venture out on my own and the rest is history. What began as a small accessories collection developed season upon season into something much bigger, but always evolving at its own natural pace. I have been encouraged by some amazing people who have believed in my collection and that has given me the conviction needed in this sometimes tough industry. I was fortunate enough to sell my first collection to Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, Joyce, Harvey Nichols and Liberty. I think I was in the right place at the right time, but their stamp of approval set me off on the right path from the beginning.
What's the best lesson you've learnt along the way? To listen to your heart, as then you can never go wrong.
What's your proudest career achievement? Dressing the editor of British Vogue Alexandra Shulman to meet The Queen of England on International Women’s Day. I am not a royalist but this was a pretty cool thing to read: she wrote an article for The Independent newspaper in England about getting dressed to meet the Queen as being watched and commented upon by her young son, and summed it up by writing that she eventually chose to wear Megan Park teamed up with Prada.
What's been your best decision? To have children with my beautiful partner Anthony.
Who inspires you? So many people inspire me. I support an NGO in India called Tomorrow’s Foundation run by very good friends of mine that work to educate the street children of Calcutta. They are truly inspirational and I always feel so humbled and energized to give more when I see what they do. I am also an Ambassador for The Australian Childhood Foundation – again the work that they do makes the fashion industry seem quite facile sometimes! My mother inspires me to better mother – she is totally selfless when it comes to her children and is also open and accepting of everyone. In my years of work and travel I have met some amazingly inspiring people, including even the Dalai Lama. I love meeting new people that I can learn from in some way, whether they be creatives or people that are doing something that is beyond the norm.
What are you passionate about? Sunday morning’s in bed with my family, India, Melbourne cafes, antique textiles, vintage markets, a good cup of tea.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Oh, this is a hard one. I could be lofty and spiritual, but then again I could just be honest: David Bowie!
What dream do you still want to fulfill? I am actually quite content with where I am. I have lived a very lucky life. I do work quite hard and whilst I love my work and the places that my travels take me I do look forward to a little less of this so as to be spending more with my children and partner. They are the most important things in the world yet the world of fashion can be a hungry beast that requires a lot of feeding at times.
What are you reading? Snugglepot and Cuddlepie and many other bedtime stories. Alas, grown up novels have been a thing of the past for the past 3 ½ years. Even the Sunday papers are an achievement.

images courtesy of megan park; portrait vogue australia

designer leah bartholomew

Beneath The Sun is the tale of a designer who has come full circle, and then some. Leah Bartholomew grew up in Northern NSW but moved to Melbourne to study. While there she also worked for Melbourne designer Beci Orpin, who became somewhat of a mentor. Now Leah has returned to her homeland and has set up a design business that uses her illustrations in a range of homewares and stationery which are produced locally and in an environmentally sensitive way.

Which five words best describe you? Cheerful, spontaneous, illogical, fun, determined.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I moved from Northern NSW to Melbourne after studying fine arts and after exploring the city for a year, did some screen printing and decided to do a Diploma in Graphic Arts at RMIT. I had been a fan of Beci Orpin's work for sometime and in my last year heard she was looking for an assistant. I was happy to just show her my folio, never believing I would actually get the job. She called me immediately and wanted to meet me. I worked with Beci for five years, she was the best mentor I could have asked for. Now I have done the full loop and returned to NSW where it all began to start my own business.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Not to put too much pressure on myself to have a "style" in my art-making. If you put yourself into your art/designs, the style will inevitably show itself. I feel like I've got about three different approaches to my art-making; in the end they seem to combine into the one.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Making my first solo show happen. "Where The Dry Leaves Fall" was a long time coming; it was a body of work I really needed to get out. It played on a lot of nostalgic feelings I was having about the place I grew up and how it was affecting the place I was in at the time. It was like every piece in the show was clearly set out in my mind; I just had to make them. I was so happy the night it opened: Melbourne delivered a perfectly warm night to suit the show. It was incredibly assuring to see all the red sold dots appearing on the walls, lots of people of all ages were feeling similar connections to their own childhood.

What’s been your best decision? To move back to the hills of the Tweed Valley and start Beneath The Sun. As much as I adore Melbourne, the time had come to return to the place my heart was with. Here I'm surrounded by the perfect elements to suit the label. After some tough times in Melbourne, it's been an incredibly rewarding and happy experience to set up my studio from home and make the things I love in a gorgeous surrounding. It feels like I'm in the right place.

Who inspires you? Such a long list of people and things! Artists like Geoff McFetridge, Marcus Oakley, Kirra Jamison, Marcus Walters, Sonic Youth, Kandinsky, Steven Harrington. My mum and her huge capacity of kindness. Humorous people.

What are you passionate about? The place I live. Shark documentaries. Well-designed houses. Colours. People and their idiosyncrasies.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? My Pop. He died when I was young and I would do anything to know him now. Since being back home I have spent a lot of time reconnecting with my dad, it would be great to hear about him through his dad. He was a really funny man with a lot of character, I think we would make great friends. Besides him, I would love to have met Margaret Olley for her free-spirited nature and her obsession for her art-making.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? Living in California and working with some of my favourite designers, taking regular trips down to South America.

What are you reading? Lots and lots of blogs, magazines and Graphis books. I'm not a big reader unless it's design books.

images courtesy of beneath the sun

textile designer julie deault

While I simply ran out of time to be a regular contributing writer to online site Babyccino Kids, I still subscribe to their daily newsletter as they have such a great cross-section of kids wares, craft projects and family friendly recipes. Recently Courtney, who I had the pleasure to meet about a year when she visited Sydney, wrote about Hazel & Hunter here. It's the work of Julie Deault, a textile designer based in Montreal, who uses organic materials and upholsters furniture in her fabric designs. You can buy Julie's wares on Etsy and Big Cartel, and she has a blog where she documents her inspirations.

Which five words best describe you? Creative, curious, spontaneous, daydreamer, kind of shy.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I don't really think in terms of a career - I've just always loved creating and making things and I just do what feels right.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Always trust your gut.
What’s your proudest career achievement? It's hard to pinpoint one specific thing - I'm happy each time I can put together designs for a collection and feel good about them.
What’s been your best decision? Following my gut.
Who inspires you? My husband and my daughter - and a bunch of other artists/designers that I admire.
What are you passionate about? Travelling, creating things, the handmade process and the imperfections and individuality that come from that.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? I can never answer this question... probably Iris Apfel, what an interesting lady.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? Too many to list, but mainly just to be happy.
What are you reading? Just started Textiles of the Wiener Werkstatte, mostly for the images though.

images courtesy of hazel & hunter and andre guerette

designer caroline quaine

Caroline Quaine + Katherine Norman

It took a visit to New York to discover the work of Australian furniture designers Norman + Quaine. One of their sofas was in the home of expat stylist Marcus Hay. He had actually owned the piece since living in Sydney, and it was one of the few objects he'd taken with him to New York when he relocated for work.

The sofa had strong Modernist lines and as Marcus is such a collector of vintage pieces, I thought it was one of his many great finds. (You can see it in his post here - and read an interview with Marcus here.) But that's the clever thing about the designs of Norman + Quaine: they nod to the past while being grounded in the world today. The products are also made in Australia, and the founders, Katherine Norman and Caroline Quaine have been in partnership for the past 20 years. The Sydney-based duo have not only created furniture with longevity, but interiors too. Katherine is an interior designer while Caroline is an industrial designer. They have for many years worked with respected retailer Living Edge. Here, Caroline shares some of their story.

Which five words best describe you? Contemporary, simple, bright, layered, quality Australian-made.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? We met working for architects Mitchell Giurgola Thorp on the furniture team for New Parliament House Canberra. We recognised a niche market and started Norman and Quaine in 1990, designing and developing products, working closely with our manufacturers Woodmark International. We opened the showroom in Surry Hills in 1993 and supplied furniture to both the design and residential sectors.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? To always provide the best possible experience to any client.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Seeing our furniture in many public spaces.

What’s been your best decision? Probably forming a long-lasting and supportive business partnership.

Who inspires you? Craftspeople in developing countries who produce designs of stunning simplicity and beauty for everyday practical use. People who utilise and adapt skills passed through generations.

What are you passionate about? Travel; beautiful layered interiors combining old and new, contemporary with traditional.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Frida Kahlo

What dream do you still want to fulfil? A year living in India.

What are you reading? Have been enjoying reading about the work of Studio Mumbai

images courtesy of norman & quaine

artist arite kannavos

The world of art and design continue to blend, and there's another great example in the work of Arite Kannavos. She is a Melbourne-based artist who has also worked as a textile designer. For the past seven years she has focussed on product development for a bedlinen brand. It's not surprising that while she continues to paint (and is exhibiting at the upcoming Melbourne Art Fair, starting Thursday 19 May), she has also launched Canter & Cave which showcases her art on homewares.

Which five words best describe you? Energetic, imaginative, focused, aware, interested.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I started exhibiting after I graduated from university, albeit the shows were few and far in between, as at the same time I started working as textile designer and product developer in the homewares industry. Seven years later, I decided I needed to make more space for painting in my everyday life. So I picked up the brush and worked on my second solo show. As result of the new direction my work was taking, I felt inspired enough to launch my homewares label Canter & Cave earlier this year. The creative spirit is not something which you can easily disentangle yourself from, believe me I've tried!

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Keep creating, in any way shape or form. Seize the day.

What’s your proudest career achievement? I'm proud that I can be engaged in my work enough to keep on making works and share them with an audience.

What’s been your best decision? To follow my dream of leading a lifestyle centred around creativity.

Who inspires you? My 1.5 year old nephew is the most fascinating human being I have ever met. Upon visiting my studio, he started inspecting and lifting my works (the smaller ones, of course). I think he has assumed the role of artist's manager.
What are you passionate about? Art, travel, design, nature and knowledge.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? My great grandfather. He travelled to New York in the 1920s and came home with this amazing textile piece made up of small flags which is a now a family heirloom. I would love to ask him about the exact origin of the piece.

What dream do you still want to fulfill? There are so many. Exhibiting internationally would be a good start.
What are you reading? I tend to read a few books at the same time but Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch, is sustaining my interest in an amusing way.

images courtesy of arite kannavos and canter & cave