Interview - Liane Rossler

Liane Rossler in her Sydney studio.
Image kindly supplied by photographer Daniel Boud of Boudist

Spicy Dinosaur dinner - how about those colours!?

Dinosaur Designs vases - more incredible colour

gorgeous gumball necklaces

A few weeks ago you may remember I wrote a little piece about the latest range from fantastic Australian company Dinosaur Designs. I have been a huge fan of Dinosaur Designs for such a long time now, so I was more than a little bit star-struck when I received an email out of the blue from Dinosaur Designs co-founder Liane Rossler thanking me for the write-up! Wow!

So... I have to admit I shamelessly seized the opportunity and asked Liane if she would be interested in doing a little interview for The Design Files... and to my (further) excitement she accepted!

Dinosaur Designs are one of my absolute favourite Australian design-based businesses for a number of reasons. Liane Rossler, Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy founded the business in 1985 after humble beginnings as art students selling their handmade creations at Sydney's markets. Their incredible path to success is well documented in Australia, and is such an inspiring story for any hopeful young designers/creatives!

One of Dinosaur Designs' many strengths is the fact that all their work is absolutely unique - handmade and hand-tinted, no two products are ever the same. The integrity of this approach is truly admirable in an industry so often consumed with mass-manufacture and cost-cutting. DD's signature style is instantly recognisable - an eclectic blend of chunky, textural shapes inspired by organic forms, combined with the most intuitive, incredible use of colour.

As a business, Dinosaur Designs strikes the perfect balance between art, craft, design, small-scale manufacture and shrewd business strategy. Their popularity never wanes, their collections are always true to the signature DD aesthetic - yet their style evolves with each new range to incorporate new materials and broad influences. Dinosaur Designs is an extraordinary company, who just go from strength to strength with each new project and collaboration they undertake.

I feel very lucky to be able to share this interview with Liane Rossler of Dinosaur Designs - Thankyou so much for your time Liane!

Images from Dinosaur Designs' latest range - 'Delicate'

Tell me a little about your background – what path led you to where you are today?

I studied painting and drawing at city art institute in Sydney (now COFA). I completed a Bachelor of visual arts degree and postgraduate degree in professional art studies. I met my 2 partners Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy while studying. We thought it would take time before we could support ourselves as painters, so started a stall at Paddington markets making and selling hand painted clothes. Then we introduced hand painted jewellery to compliment the range. We enjoyed making the jewellery more, and so developed the range more. We were at the markets for 18 months, and when we left art school, we moved to a little studio and started to wholesale. After a couple of years we opened our first store in the Strand Arcade, followed by one in Paddington the following year. Then one in Melbourne, and 6 years ago, one in New York. We also wholesale nationally and internationally. (more details on the Dinosaur Designs website).

Dinosaur designs has become one of the most successful and respected design-based businesses in australia. What do you think are some of the reasons for your incredible success and achievements? Did you ever expect your designs to be as popular and as well known as they are today?

Oh…thank you! I guess we had an original product to offer, and we are continually excited and inspired to design new pieces. Quality and method of production and the way we run our business are also important to us. We never really thought about how popular it would be, but still get a thrill whenever we see people wearing or using our pieces.

Dinosaur Designs seem so prolific – especially given your work is handmade and each piece is unique. You stock stores in Melbourne, Sydney and New York, and you exhibit and distribute your work all over the world. How is your workshop/studio structured to keep up with demand – do you have a large team creating the products? Do you and your partners still play a hands-on role in the design and creation of the pieces?

We design new ranges and launch them in our stores every couple of months. Because we hand make every piece, we can make new colours and produce different techniques every day. We have a total company staff of about 60, and everything is produced at our Strawberry Hills studio. Each piece is hand made with love and care. We have a great team, and it is a wonderful environment to work in. The three of us still design all the pieces and plan the concepts of the ranges. The dd team then do the production - mould making, casting, sanding and finishing.

Dinosaur Designs accessories. top image - striking glossy polished resin bangles and rings, bottom image - timber veneer bracelets and beads.

You’ve collaborated with some very well known international designers, and worked on varied projects including installations, textile and rug design and even camera and laptop designs! What’s next for Dinosaur? What would be a dream project?

It is really exciting to work on collaborations with other companies – it has been great to design pieces and have other people do the manufacturing. Designer Rugs were fantastic to work with, and we love doing the installations and other projects. My dream would be to do a hotel one day and design and make everything for it.

Dinosaur Designs rugs for Designer Rugs - left - 'Sunrise', right - 'Banana Split'

Which designers, artists or creative people are inspired by?

I love contemporary art, architecture, design, but also great thinkers in any field. Inspiration is everywhere. I always find something interesting and inspiring to listen to on ted talks (www.ted.com).

Where else do you find inspiration (travel, film, books, architecture, etc)?

I’m constantly inspired by art and nature. Just seeing how the light falls on something, or the way colours are sitting together in everyday life is constantly inspiring. I love films – especially documentaries, and ‘thoughtful’ architecture. Often the most simple things are inspiring.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

It’s pretty mixed. Design. Meetings. It is good to be open to what the day brings, because sometimes you need to be open to the opportunities can occur. You plant a lot of seeds as you go along, and sometimes they pop up.

Bangles and rings from the wood veneer range of accessories

What are you most proud of?

I’m proud to be able to have creative freedom in design and the way that we run the company.

What's the best thing about your job?

As above.

And the worst?

Love it all :)

What are you looking forward to – professionally or personally?

I’m looking forward to seeing the world become more sustainable, and seeing the mind shift move away from the economy being the most important thing.

Bangles from the Bamboo range

Sydney questions –

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

Seans Panaroma at Bondi. Perfection.

Where would we find you on a typical saturday morning?

At home doing painting or craft with the kids, or taking a walk around centennial park.

Dino Breakfast

Sydney’s best kept secret?

Mmmmmm…..that’s a tricky one. I think you can find pretty much everything here if you look for it.

Dinosaur vases. left - 'Bamboo' range, right - classic range

Interview - Volker Haug

Volker Haug

Volker Haug is one Melbourne lighting designer to watch - and if you haven't heard his name yet, get ready to be hearing a lot more of it. After starting his professional life in landscape gardening and then hairdressing, (all the while tinkering with lighting design on the side), Volker's work is finally making waves both here an overseas. Interestingly, it was an article posted by The Coolhunter late last year that was the launching pad for Volker's current success... he literally went from creating his pieces by hand out of his garage here in Richmond, to receiving orders and inquiries from as far as the US and China! Yay for design blogs!

Volker's designs strike the perfect balance between raw minimalism and the unexpected. His work uses simple, clean lines, but combines this slick aesthetic with punchy colours and kooky shapes... classy yet full of personality. I love seeing design that it completely unlike anything else on the market, and Volker's work is truly unique. I'm convinced his pieces will become very well known very soon indeed!

Also, I think it's worth mentioning that Volker Haug is not just a great lighting designer, he's also a great interviewee! He responded to my request for an interview in lightening-fast time, sent me the best photos (and lots of them!), and supplied great shots of himself (very rare for a designer!). He was also super friendly :) Thanks so much Volker!

Rudolf

single antlers

Apparently you are a trained hairdresser, and self-taught designer… which is an interesting basis for what you’re doing now! Tell me a little about your background - what path led you to what you’re doing now?

I was always into lighting from very early age on - from flicking switches on and off to the degree that my parents had to tape them down.

I electrocuted myself at age 7 - maybe a spark for life?!

After school I didn’t really know what to do as ‘lighting design’ is not really a recognised job, so I didn’t know how to approach that subject. Instead I became a landscape gardener, then a hairdresser, which lasted for 15 years.

I kept up lighting design as a hobby through the years, which grew stronger and stronger, and one day I met Geoffrey Mance - the most approachable and amazing lighting designer, who saw lighting very similarly to myself. I got a job with him, and started my own business after 1.5 years.

It’s been said in the press that the turnaround moment for your lighting design business came when The Coolhunter website promoted your work late last year, generating a lot of interest both here and overseas. Is this accurate? How would you say that singular event has propelled your business? What other factors have contributed to your success?

That’s correct, god save the coolhunter!

As the coolhunter is one of the biggest national and international design blogs I’ve been told, word (and picture) spreads far, all over the world really. I had at least 20 media enquiries - the most random ones at times like Greek marieclaire, Argentinean playboy as well as a Chinese airline magazine to name just a few.

I also go a few jobs out of that including lighting for a fine dining restaurant in San Francisco!

Other factors I think are the fact that what I do is often seen as a bit crazy and ‘different’ (as much as I hate the word) and that’s seems to be what people go for, lucky me!

table jewellery

What were your initial goals when you started making lights? Were you ever intending for your designs to become commercially distributed and for it to become your full-time job?

In my dream world I always wanted it to be a real full time job and career, and finally its heading that way, which I still can’t really believe at times.

I still get nervous when people want to distribute my designs especially commercially because its exposed to anyone and everyone then - I guess designs always reflect your personality but I guess in time I’ll get used to it.

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

My ultra guru is Ingo Maurer - the most amazing German lighting designer. I’d love to meet him some time.

Besides him I adored Geoffrey Mance as I mentioned earlier. Basically I admire anyone who is unique & creative and can make a living out of that!

4 arm antler

Where else do you find inspiration – travel, books, film, the internet etc?

Yes travel is number one, have done quite a bit already but, as you do, you only ever realise that the world is sooo much bigger than we initially think.

I love films, especially art house, don’t get the chance to see enough films but can be very inspired through the right ones.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

At the moment I’m spending too much time in front of the computer answering e mails, book keeping, and following up on things, which I generally don’t mind - but all in reason.

Once I’m down in the studio I love it and don’t ever want to see daylight again.

What are you most proud of professionally?

Hmm, I guess me being me and seeming to have a good connection and networking ability with all sorts of different people, which enriches my life in both business and private relationships.

What's the best thing about your job?

Being my own boss

And the worst?

Being my own boss ;-)

What would be your dream project?

A project that involves working with other designers that are on the same wave length as me.

I think you can only go so far being on your own and it’s a healthy thing being involved with other creative people who will mutually bring out the best in oneself.

2 arm antler

What are you looking forward to – professionally or personally?

Personally: I’m looking forward to be able to draw a wage from my business which might happen sometime in the near future if things keep going as well as they are at present.

I think that will be a big reward for the hard yards one puts in and is something that continues you to keep going.

Professionally: I’d like to (and have to) move into a bigger workshop as my current one is far too small for me as it is.

That would help as well feeling more professional and being able to employ people in the future.

nuts for you - clear

Melbourne Questions –

Where do you shop for the tools of your trade?

Many of the hot things are imported from Germany.

I also LOVE Bunnings (I’ve got a trade card)!!!

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

Oh I LOVE eating out, so its hard, one of my most favorite meals in Melbourne is the Tom Cooper pizza at ‘pizza meine liebe’ in Northcote, the best pizza in town for sure!

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Some people who will read this answer will know where, for other it’s a mystery! ;-)

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

… should stay secret!

Wow pendants - side view and inside views

For many more images of Volker's incredible work please do visit his website. His work is stocked at The National Design Centre at Fed Square, Tongue and Groove (84 Smith st, Collingwood), Village Idiom (34 Anderson St Yarraville) and at OBJX in Brisbane.

Milan 2008 favourites

Lampara by Rodolfa Gracia Yus for Cafe Bistro - seen at the Remade in Italy exhibit - via DesignBoom

As I mentioned the other day, Milan Design Week came and went this year with lightening speed... I'm still catching up on all the photo galleries, and can't understand how the lucky Salone-goers get to everything in 5 days... and still party all night! It seems to me like you'd need at least 2 weeks to see it all!

Core 77 has the best coverage of Milan Design Week 08, in my opinion. Features include a comprehensive photo gallery (306 images) and a great little collection of 'drive by' videos of individual exhibits (the closest you can get to being there without being there!). Core 77 coverage always maintains a great balance between all the big-name important stuff, and the fun stuff - parties, kooky satellite events and, of course, a fair chunk of all-important people watching! This year they've also got a round up of ALL their Milan posts in one place, listed by category and content. No more wading through advertisements to get to the good stuff. Love it.

Other great round-ups at Inhabitat, DesignBoom (massive photo collection here grouped into categories by designer) and MocoLoco.... some more of my fave pics from all over below.

Urchin hand knitted woolen poufs by Christien Meindertsma - shown at TuttoBeNe - top image via inhabitat, bottom image from Core 77

Bouquet Chair by Tokujin Yoshioka for Moroso - via Inhabitat

Guerrilla Containers by Stone Designs - from the Spanish design exhibit - via Core 77

Layers by Richard Hutten - via DesignBoom (look familiar??)

Merijn Van Essen’s Grow Sphere encourages human interactions with plants by lighting up when you approach the sphere - via inhabitat

corian loves missoni - via designboom

Veneer Bag by Cecilie Manz for Japanese company E & Y - via Core 77

Plaited Fence (those are plastic bags...!) by Martin Azua for Droog - via Inhabitat

Saving Grace glass light shades (designed around energy saving light globes) by Adrian Rovero for Droog - via Inhabitat

George - oak three tiered chest of drawers by Gareth Neal

Milan 2008 - Anouk Omlo

Helica Carnea by Anouk Omlo (profile view)

Helica Carnea by Anouk Omlo (top view)

All images via Inhabitat

ooooh another year of Milan Design Week has already been and gone, and once again I haven't made it there! Maybe next year. Luckily there's so much coverage on the net, you can get your annual fix of international design without the jet lag (or price tag).

Inhabitat's 2008 Milan coverage started with the gorgeous ceramic work of Dutch designer, Anouk Omlo. Her ‘Helica Series’ reflects the shift in high end design towards handcrafted, decorative flourishes, and a gradual move away from the minimalism that has saturated the market in recent years.

The Helica Series is inspired by the mathematical repeating patterns found in nature. I love the soft pink/brown hues, and the delicate shapes of each pointed petal... gorgeous stuff. What do you do with it? I don't know. Does it matter?

Omlo's work is exhibited as part of the Dutch collective Design Factory Brainport Eindhoven, and can be found in the Zona Tortona area. (actually the Design Factory website is worth a browse for more kooky dutch designs...)

Miriam Bereson

A-Z art frieze - Miriam Bereson

I got a lovely email last week from Adam Nissen, who is one half of Melbourne based design and manufacturing team Miriam Bereson. (Miriam herself being the other half!) Their quirky timber address books/diaries/photo frames were well known throughout the 1990’s, but towards the end of the 90’s they stopped production for a while to start a family. Since 2005 Miriam and Adam have been back in action, and they continue to distribute their products throughout Australia and around the world.

All Miriam Bereson products are manufactured in Australia, and its a high priority of Miriam and Adam's to maintain this. They are currently working on an online shop - at the moment their yearly wall planner is the only product available for sale online. I love their kooky wooden cut-outs, available as gift cards or magnets... cute for a kids room or bedroom door... check out their website for more.

assorted magnets

Interview - Joel Adams

Custom lining design - Crumpler limited edition Soup & Salad Messenger Bag - The Reliable Gordo

Custom lining design - Crumpler limited edition 5 million Dollar Home Bag - The Rufous Whistler

Crumpler US trade show stands - photos Ben Richards

The Croft Institute

Crumpler shop Hawthorn, Melbourne

Remember my post recently about the Crumpler US trade show stand? The stand was designed by Crumpler's in-house designer Joel Adams, and won them many accolades, including an award for best stand at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2008 in Salt Lake City.

Joel's role at Crumpler seems like a dream job for a designer - his work is so varied - from illustrative and graphic designs (like that great custom lining design in the top 2 product shots), to shop fit-outs, catalogues, product design, and packaging. Joel manages to divide his time between sketching up concepts from home, to hours spent in front of a computer screen, to (more exciting) time spent in his workshop knocking up prototypes etc. Never a dull moment!

Joel has had an interesting and varied background - before jumping on the Crumpler bandwagon he had a hand to play in the fantastic interior fit-out of Melbourne bar 'The Croft Institute', which (for non-Melburnians) is kitted out like a kind of hospital/scientific laboratory. Joel has had many jobs in the manufacturing and building areas, from welding and carpentry to landscaping and shop-fitting. Seems like the perfect varied experience to bring to the table at an exciting company like Crumpler.

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

In 1992 I started a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in sculpture, which is where I met Stuart Crumpler (current employer) who was also studying sculpture. After uni I spent several years focused on making art. During this time I worked several different jobs in different manufacturing and building areas, from welding and carpentry to landscaping. For several years I was self employed doing general building and shop-fitting work, which led to opening a bar in Melbourne, for a couple of years. After leaving that I lived in the country for a couple of years, just making art and odd jobs for people. I moved back to Melbourne to go back to study a masters degree in sculpture, during which I bumped into Dave (one of the owners of Crumpler) who offered me a job. A couple weeks later I dropped out of study and started work as a designer.

What are some of your projects/clients that we might be familiar with?

Apart from the work done with Crumpler, the most familiar would be my involvement in the design of The Croft Institute, a bar in the back alleys of Chinatown in Melbourne.

Where do you find inspiration when beginning a new project?

I find that the project will sometimes define the direction of where the inspiration will come from, but usually I am just looking at a lot of books, at previous work, websites, toy shops. Thinking about function and material influence the way in which I will be thinking about the project.

Are there any particular designers, artists or creative people you look up to or are inspired by?

I am inspired by many different creative people across a lot of fields. Early on the Dadaists were a big influence, especially Marcel Duchamp. Artists such as Wim Delvoye, Joseph Cornell, Bonk Industries, probably too many to mention. Designers such as Piet Hein Eek, and many of the designers who are part of the Droog Collective.

Are you influenced by trends in the broader design world – like fashion, architecture etc?

I am lucky in that most of my friends either are in fashion, architecture and design or are artists, so I’m immersed in this world which influences and informs the way I work.

What does a typical day at work involve for you? How is your time divided between drawing with pencil and paper, sitting in front of a computer, and knocking up prototypes in a workshop/studio?

These days I find myself spending more time in front of a computer, but I still manage to get into my workshop once a week. Depending on my projects at the time I will be meeting up with manufacturers and testing prototypes. A lot of my early prep work will take place at home just sketching ideas. My job involves so many different areas - I could be working on a shop design, a new catalogue, product design, or packaging. It changes a lot and has a lot of variety.

Do you ever feel disadvantaged or limited by being based in Australia? Do you have experience with international manufacturing or distribution?

I don’t see any disadvantage currently by being based in Australia. Since working with Crumpler I have travelled throughout the US setting up tradeshows, spent time in Toronto working on shop designs, and spent some time in China working with our manufacturers based there.

What are you most proud of professionally?

The last two tradeshow stands both received a good response at all the shows we attended. One was constructed out of cardboard boxes, to resemble animal cages. The latest is a highly detailed etching-style print of a city scape, printed onto building-shaped shelving units. Both stands included elements such as customised flooring and hanging mobiles.

What's the best thing about your job?

The variety of projects I get to work on and the freedom I have been given to explore ideas.

And the worst?

The hours when deadlines need to be met.

What would be your dream project?

Probably designing and building my own home.

What are you looking forward to – professionally or personally?

Setting up my workshop and creating and exploring my own ideas further.

Melbourne Questions –

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

Pizza Mein Leibe in Northcote.

Where do you shop in Melbourne for workshop supplies, art materials or other tools of your trade?

Brims and Gunnersons for timber etc, Deans art for art supplies, Carba-tec for woodworking supplies and Hafele for all sorts of cabinet making supplies.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Hopefully in the Grampians, having a coffee and staring at the mountains with my lady friend and our little girl.

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

Order and Progress, in Curtin House

Interview - Carl Jones

Rackless Pannier bags for Knog - images from Knog catalogue

Rackless Pannier initial prototype - all remaining images courtesy Carl Jones

Pannier design drawings

Signage for NAB (client - Harkess-Ord)

Speaker Concept for Quest Audio

Pogo-Loco concept(!)

(TWO interviews in one week? You betcha!)

I must admit I didn't know much about Carl Jones until he responded to my interview. It was a case of someone at work saying 'you've gotta interview this guy'.... and I really didn't know much about him except that he had designed some stuff for Melbourne bag company Knog. ANYWAY after reading his interview I took an instant liking to this mysterious Carl Jones character. He seems like a truly great guy. He's a thoughtful designer, with a real interest in sustainable design and using his craft to make a difference in the world. What could be more inspiring than that?

(I'm also a sucker for a good technical drawing, and his website's got plenty!)

I loved his story about the communities in Africa with access to underground water, but with no source of power to pump it up. Carl recounts how the designers on this project solved the problem by building human powered merry-go-rounds. By playing on this play equipment, the kids in these communities were able to simultaneously provide a constant source of power to draw water! Wow. What a great project!

The PlayPump System - image PlayPumps International

Read on to find out more about Carl's job, his inspirations his favorite spot in the public toilet on level 35 of the Sofitel on Collins Street!

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

When I finished school, I felt that I wanted to do some sort of design. I applied for architecture, interior design, landscape architecture. I had never heard of industrial design. I eventually got into construction management, which sounded similar on paper to architecture... after all it was about building buildings right?

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I found out that was about the only similarity... there was no creativity anywhere in this field. All it required was interpreting someone else’s creative endeavours & then getting it built.

As a hobby, I always kept a sketch book & would be coming up with little inventions... solutions to problems or things that could be done better. I eventually decided to take a leap of faith & turn my hobby into a career, so I researched what would best help me achieve this. ‘Industrial Design’ came the answer back. So I put a folio together & applied for the course & was accepted into RMIT.

During the course I became friends with Mike Chijoff, another mature age student & together we started up a partnership, JONESCHIJOFF. We aim to specialise in green product design & are currently formulating our design process to ensure that the most sustainable product / system is achieved. We are working as consultative product designers with a handful of good clients & have started up our own product development. We are also both teaching Industrial Design at RMIT (to stay creatively fertile).

What are some of your projects/clients that we might be familiar with?

The more familiar named ones are; Knog (bike accessories), Quest audio, Anamalz (environmentally-friendly toys), The Condom Kingdom, Harkess-Ord (who do signage for NAB, MLC, Nielsen, Kodak, VW)

When you approach a brief initially, where do you turn for inspiration – do you scour books, magazines or the web? Do you pay attention to trends in the broader design world like fashion, architecture etc?

I suppose it depends on the project. They vary wildly. We usually begin most projects with a brainstorming session, because you can come up with so many solutions in such a short space of time. For inspiration, we usually get hints from the client or the decision-makers, as to what they like & where they’d like to see things going & then head off from there. No point designing something that you think looks ultra-sleek & minimalistic when the client was expecting something Baroque.

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

I’m not much into the big household design names (who are more names more for their unique styling finesse), although I think Raymond Loewy was an incredible designer. I’m more into amusing designs, like most of the stuff Droog do. My favourite product at the moment is the ‘Terra-Grass’ armchair.

Terra Grass Armchair via inhabitat

It is die-cut cardboard that all slots together like ribs. All you do is plonk this down on your lawn in a nice shady place, add soil between the ribs & sprinkle grass seeds on top. I think the packaging even becomes the ribs, so no waste. It’s got everything I like in good design; sustainability, humour, simplicity & a great idea turned into a reality.

What does a typical day at work involve for you? How is your time divided between drawing with pencil and paper, sitting in front of a computer, and knocking up prototypes in a workshop?

Administration & emailing counts for a fair whack. Design time involves brainstorming, hand-drawn 3D sketching, 2D sketching on Illustrator, photo-visuals / overlays for signage projects, sanding blue foam for form concepts, 3D CAD modelling, producing technical drawings, filling out specifications & BOM’s, putting packages together for the client or the manufacturer.

Do you ever feel disadvantaged or limited by being based in Australia? Do you have experience with international manufacturing or distribution? Do you have aspirations to reach more of the world with your designs, or are you happy to design mainly for the Australian market?

No, on the contrary... I feel at an advantage. One of the main things is that you need to offer a broad range of services & be a ‘jack-of-all-trades’, which means that no two projects are exactly the same & that you don’t get pigeon-holed, becoming just a ‘sports-shoe designer’. Variety is the spice of life. With communications & transport as it is, it is possible to do business anywhere. We talk to manufacturers in China on a daily basis over Skype, email & ftp.

For our own product development, we intend on selling this to already established brands, who already have a trusted brand name & a worldwide distribution network. We would like to gain some international clients though, as I think one selling point is the ability to do work while they are asleep & then have it ready for them at their start of business.

What are you most proud of professionally?

My first product on the market... a rackless pannier bag that I designed & sold to Knog. A standard pannier bag requires a metal rack permanently installed to your bicycle. You then buy usually a pair of bags that you hang off either side of this rack. What I designed was a bag with an integral aluminium frame in it, initially dubbed the Calzone as it folds in half like the pizza of the same name. The frame connects to the bike at 3 points via nylon jubilee clips or hose clamps; 2 fitted down near the wheel axle & 1 above the brake callipers. The bag’s frame has legs at the bottom that slot into the bottom 2 jubilee clips & a slide out hook at the top that slots into the top clip. When you have finished riding around, you simply unclip the top hook & lift the bag out, zip the 2 compartments together, pull out the backpack straps & attach them & wear the bag like a normal backpack. The clips stay on the bike. You can even buy separate clips to fit to a second bike & you can swap the bag between them.

These are now commercially available through Knog & can be found in most bike shops. They are part of ‘the Dogs’ range of bags & are now 2 products: the Boxer & Neat Dog. The Boxer is the backpack version & the Neat Dog turns into a suitbag, so targeted towards the white-collar bicycle commuter. Both bags cater for up to a 15.4” laptop. Development sketches & prototypes can be found on my personal website.

What's the best thing about your job?

Being my own boss & doing something that I love.

And the worst?

Accounting & doing BAS statements.

What would be your dream project?

I like a challenge & coming up with a unique solution to a tough problem. One of my favourite design projects that I have read about was a problem in remote parts of Africa that had no power. Communities in these areas had access to underground water via wells, but had no source of power to pump it up. The designers on this project solved the problem by building human powered merry-go-rounds. The kids of these communities, having no other source of childhood entertainment played on them all day long, providing a constant source of power to draw water. I would love to work on something like this.

image PlayPumps International

What are you looking forward to – professionally or personally?

Personally, I’m looking forward to one day starting a family with my wife & being a father. Professionally, our goal is to become leaders in sustainable industrial design.

Melbourne Questions –

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

Ginger Boy in the city. Had a banquet there... tried a bit of everything. It was sensational.

Where do you shop in Melbourne for workshop supplies, art materials or other tools of your trade?

Melbourne Artist Supplies or Eckersley’s for paper, pens, Copics, etc. Dinkum’s to get stuff printed out, Solid Solutions for blue foam. For rapid prototypers we use Rapid Concepts, Concentric, RapidPro, Arptech.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Down at the Richmond market on Gleadell street or riding down Beach Road on my racer (training for Round the Bay this year).

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

The public toilet on level 35 of the Sofitel on Collins Street. It has to be one of the best urinating views of Melbourne.

Interview - Kristina Karlsson of kikki.K.

Kristina Karlsson

Over 10 years ago, Kristina Karlsson came home one day and announced to her partner Paul: “I’m going to design and manufacture designer stationery, and sell it via retail boutiques located in my favourite cities all over the world!”. He thought she was a little crazy. But she was determined.

Kristina Karlsson is Managing Director and Owner of kikki.K, a business that has gone from strength to strength since opening its first store in Melbourne Central in 2001. Kristina’s original concept has grown into a multi-million dollar business with 25 gorgeous boutiques in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland. Kristina still has a very hands-on role in her booming business - she's Creative Director, heading up the design, production and visual merchandising team, and she still oversees the business strategy and manages her team of senior staff. She's always looking to the next challenge - currently she's plotting world domination(!) with a plan to open her first store in New York... and is also due to have her first baby any day now! Wow. Now that's multi-tasking.

Kristina has received overwhelming accolades for her success with kikki.K. Some of these include - receiving the Lord Mayor’s Award for Retail Innovation (Melbourne Central store) in 2002 only 6 months after opening her first store, receiving the Young Entrepreneur Award at the 2003 Women Chiefs of Enterprise International, receiving the 2007 Yellow™ Business Owner Award (For owners with a 50% share or more in a business with responsibility for key management decision-making), and more recently she was named Victorian Young Business Woman of the Year at the 2007 Telstra Business Women's Awards.

How does one store in Melbourne Central turn into 25 stores across Australia and New Zealand? A lot of ambition and a lot of hard work! But aside from her many achievements, I was most inspired by a simple statement Kristina makes in this interview - 'I had no idea where to start, but that was almost ten years ago… and I just LOVE what I’m doing'. Her excitement and energy just seems to bounce of the page! Its that genuine excitement for the next challenge that seems to propel Kristina's business forward. Now that's what I find inspiring.

Read on to learn a little more about Kristina's background, her inspirations and passions in life, and her newest challenges! Also, be sure to check out the kikki.K. website for more than just gorgeous product to drool over - in the 'Magazine' section you'll find tips for de-cluttering and organisation, inspiring articles featuring (amongst other things) Scandinavian design features, 5 minute snippets with Australian stylists Megan Morton and Glen Proebstel, and a round up of one of Kristina's many inspiration trips to Sweden. It's really worth a browse.

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

I arrived in Australia from Sweden at the age of 22, and once I had decided that I wanted to stay it quickly led to the question, ‘What am I going to do here?’ I became quite restless trying to work out what ‘my thing’ was. To cut a long story short, I decided it had to be something that: made me excited driving to work on a Monday morning; had something to do with design; that I would be totally passionate about; kept me in touch with family & friends in Sweden; and that I could make $500/week doing. After searching for a while I hit on the idea when I was setting-up my own home office and couldn’t find products that reflected my taste & style. I knew I’d found ‘my thing’ and decided I would design, manufacture and sell gorgeous stationery and open stores all over the world! I had no idea where to start, but that was almost ten years ago… and I just LOVE what I’m doing!

Where can customers buy Kikki K products?

We currently have 25 gorgeous kikki.K retail boutiques in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland – after starting with one gorgeous little boutique in Melbourne Central. We also have an online store at www.kikki-k.com.au and we ship worldwide. It’s my dream to open kikki.K boutiques in all my favourite cities of the world… New York, Tokyo, Paris, Copenhagen, Stockholm, hmmmm!

Some of the kikki.K. range - all images courtesy of kikki.K.

Kikki K is now a household name in Australia - how has the word spread over the last few years?

People either stumble across our stores, or one of our many passionate customers tell them about us. We’ve also had lots of interest from magazines who often feature our products. I’ve always felt that the best fashion and design brands are built by what other people say about you rather than what you say about yourself through advertising.

Are there any particular designers, artists or creative people you look up to or are inspired by?

Being from Sweden I just love the Scandinavian design aesthetic – I can’t help it! I’m a huge fan of Arne Jacobsen, Efva Attling (jewellery), Fillipa K (fashion)…and I’m also a lover of Australian artist David Bromley. But it’s my own kikki.K design team who constantly inspire me.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

There’s no such thing as a typical day! Quiet moments are few and far between. However in the beginning we had a very small team – just my partner Paul & me - and we did everything. From working in the store, to packing boxes and managing accounts and payroll. Not forgetting actually designing the products too! A typical day for the first 5 years was at least 15 hours long – usually 7 days a week – but it was a labour of love so that came easily. These days things are a little more controlled. As we’ve grown, so has our team, so now there’s more time for me to focus on product design which is what I love the most. …and I just jump up and down with excitement when new samples arrive!!

What are you most proud of professionally?

Being named Melbourne’s Most Innovative Store just six months after opening was personally very satisfying. We knew we had something unique, and something that people responded to – and I’d convinced Paul to sell his house to finance it(!) so we had lots on the line. But to receive the award from the Lord Mayor really cemented the fact that we had something special and it really was just the beginning.

Where do you find inspiration?

Everywhere. Like any creative I never switch off and am nearly always open to be inspired. Travel back to Sweden is is something particularly inspiring for me. Just hanging out with family & friends, going to cafes, restaurants, forests, lakes, beach, galleries… has me bubbling with ideas. I’m also constantly reading magazines from around the world, blogs and beautiful books. I’m an absolute ‘cook book junkie’! One thing I’m never short of is inspiration and ideas! I also travel regularly to places like London, Copenhagen, & Tokyo – all places that I just love and which fuel my creativity.

What's the best thing about your job?

Designing & developing new product for sure. I get so excited and inspired doing that. It’s such a rewarding process to start with a blank page and create beautiful objects that people use every day and come to love. Then to work in one of my stores and see people’s reactions to them is just so much fun. On a personal level that gives me masses of enjoyment.



And the worst?

Not having enough time to fit in everything I want to in one day!!!!

What would be your dream project?

Opening our first store in New York! I’m working on that one now…

What are you looking forward to – professionally or personally?

Right now I’m two days over-due with my first child – so I have to say I’m looking forward to meeting my beautiful little baby!

Melbourne Questions –

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

Breakfast at Eurodore this morning (Bay St, Port Melbourne). Fantastic coffee (being pregnant I only could have a little sip), delicious menu …and I love how passionate they are about food, great ingredients, great service, nice deli-style atmosphere. Couldn’t resist buying some Simon Johnson pasta sauce on the way out.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Hmmmmm. Often a little sleep in and some relaxing pyjama time at home. If I’m lucky I’ll get a little fruit salad in