DESIGNERS EDWARD LINACRE + VIKTOR LEGIN

A lot of great design comes out of Melbourne. A recent example is Copper - a collaboration between industrial designers Edward Linacre, pictured above left, and Viktor Legin. Both of them studied in their chosen profession and worked through the ranks of leading Melbourne design firms before teaming up to create Copper in 2013. Now they are focussed on creating and manufacturing a range of products, including an array of lights, in Australia. Recently they were awarded the Temple and Webster Emerging Designer Award.

EDWARD LINACRE

Which five words best describe you? “Caring, excitable, chaotic, charismatic, positive.” - as described by Vik. 

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? Brighton Bay Photography Art and Design put me on the right path, literally. I thought I was a grapho. Internship in Germany kicked me up the bum and into gear. Honours at Swinburne with inspirational tutors. Solid three years with CP Design (now Annex Products) was invaluable. Now co-run my own industrial design consultancy, Copper ID.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Don't do anything half-arsed or else you'll pay. Go hard or go home. Welcome collaboration. 

What’s your proudest career achievement? Runner up in Young Designer Award at Satellite, Salone de Mobile, Milan, 2013. 

What’s been your best decision? To start Copper with Viktor Legin.   

Who inspires you? Viktor Legin. And Yves Béhar in the design industry. Janine Benyus, author of Biomimicry: Innovation inspired by nature, and many others. Get into it.  

What are you passionate about? Biomimicry. Appropriate design. Experimental and traditional artforms. Creativity. Collaboration. Innovation.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Janine Benyus. Buckminster Fuller. Bill Hicks.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? Help to create environmentally appropriate and cooperative systems of living based on the biological, closed loop systems of nature that have existed on Earth for billions of years, and, therefore, aid our ability to live and grow in harmony on this planet. 

What are you reading? Undeniable - Christopher Keating.

VIKTOR LEGIN

Which five words best describe you? “Intense, perfectionist, freak, honest, passionate.” - as described by Ed.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? It started in a Brighton Bay Art Design and Photography program after which I found my passion for industrial design. I then went to Swinburne and studied industrial design and graduated with honours in 2008. Whilst doing my honours I started working at MAP International along side Daniel Barbera [DI interview here] and Chris Connell and continued to work there for four years. In that period I also worked part time at Swinburne as a workshop technician and a lecturer. This allowed me to develop skills as a designer as well as a maker and learn what I needed in order to establish Copper Id.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? There is a solution for every problem if you put enough thought into it. Do it once and do it right and never present anything you are not happy with.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Winning Temple & Webster Emerging Designer Award was a highlight for me because it was the first award Ed and I won as a duo.

What’s been your best decision? To team up with Ed and start Copper. 

Who inspires you? My main source of inspiration would have to be the people I work with: Edward Linacre, Chris Connell, Daniel Barbera, Adam Cornish. Nikola Tesla is also a huge inspiration to me.

What are you passionate about? I have a passion for minimalism in all aspects. I go by the less is more design principle. Minimal techno is what I listen to most. I live a minimal lifestyle where everything I own has a purpose and is used often. I think there is a real beauty in minimalism and simplicity.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Nikola Tesla.

What dream do you still want to fulfill? I guess the dream is to grow Copper to the point where I can design more product and not have as many restraints. Would love to have a world wide distribution and collaborate with other designers and companies more. Would love to have some sort of positive impact on the planet and leave something beautiful behind.

What are you reading? The archaic revival by Terence McKenna.

images courtesy of copper

DESIGNER SARAH FISHER

There’s an increasingly diverse range of homewares coming out of Byron Bay right now. One of the recent success stories has been from Sarah and Kane Fisher and their lighting brand Fromage La Rue. They design fonts and hand make lights taking inspiration from vintage marquee letter lights and symbols. The pair set up the business in 2009 after working in various areas of the design industry. Sarah headed up digital operations for an advertising agency while Kane has worked in architectural illustration, 3D design and animation. Sarah shares their story.

Which five words best describe you? Impulsive, driven, creative, communicator, thrill-seeker.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I got my first job in marketing as an account executive but the studio manager left suddenly and I was promoted within a week. Big scary shoes to fill and I had no idea what I was doing. I learned to think fast and kind of bluff my way. 

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Don't over-commit yourself - still learning this one. I tend to want to do all things immediately, especially if I think I have a great idea. I have learned the hard way that it's not the best way to approach something. 

What’s your proudest career achievement? Creating Fromage la Rue with my husband. Second to that would be my final corporate role in digital before I went on maternity leave, as head of digital operations. I was really proud of that role because I had no formal training in that area, but I loved every second of it. I worked with a team of writers, developers and creatives and I was really in my element. 

What’s been your best decision? To stop working in digital and focus on our own business. 

Who inspires you? Other female entrepreneurs, especially small businesses going out on a limb. I would also have to say Steve Jobs, even though he wasn't known for his kind demeanor, he was such a visionary and I loved his passion for detail, usability and beauty in design.

What are you passionate about? My family, good design, good books, good wine! 

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? I would have loved to meet one of my favourite authors, Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

What dream do you still want to fulfill? My husband and I want to visit the Vegas Boneyard, or Neon Museum as it is sometimes called, in Las Vegas. Short term I'd like to get the wholesale side of our business up and running, and not so short term, I want to spend three months in the Italy over summer in an old farmhouse before my last child starts school. Doing nothing but cooking, eating and swimming. 

What are you reading? I'm just about to finish The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton. Supposed to be Victorian literary realism but to me it was just a fantastic tale set in nineteenth century New Zealand - South Island - during the Gold Rush years. 

images courtesy of fromage la rue; styling vanessa colyer tay