For small, up-and-coming firms, adaptability and diversity is the key to survival, as Michelle Jansen van Rensburg of @qubed design tells Indesignlive.
September 14th, 2011
Established by Michelle Jansen van Rensburg and Carl Coyle in 2006, @qubed design is a small Sydney firm that exemplifies the sort of multi-skilled approach and diverse portfolio that many young businesses must embrace in order to survive in a risky and uncertain post-GFC climate.
The practice was established while Michelle and Carl held positions in large design firms.
“When the GFC hit we were both affected by it,” says Michelle.
“Both companies were hit quite hard and lost projects and large numbers of staff. This was devastating at the time and a difficult period financially, but it was also the opportunity we had been waiting for to dedicate ourselves to the business we had initially set up.”
With a portfolio encompassing exterior, interior and landscape design on commercial, hospitality and residential projects, the 2 directors take care of all the administration, business management, design, documentation, project management, marketing and new business development.
They also head a collective named Sydney House Mafia, a DJ co-operative and event management company that capitalises on Carl’s DJ skills and industry contacts.
“We always knew that we needed a Plan B,” Michelle explains of the joint venture.
“Plan B was born on a recent holiday; as we all know a holiday affords you the time to think about things in a fresh perspective. Design is a passion and our career choice, music and travel our other passion.”
Both were put to perfect use in @qubed design’s latest project, the POP Culture installation for Café Culture which transformed the furniture company’s showroom into a pop-up bar and DJ lounge during Saturday in Design.
“We realised that to survive in today’s climate we need to be flexible in all that we do and that diversification is key,” Michelle explains.
“By having more than one company and more than one passion, we can rely on one when the other is a little slow, and vice versa.”
@qubed design
atqubeddesign.com
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
The Sub-Zero Wolf showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne provide a creative experience unlike any other. Now showcasing all-new product ranges, the showrooms present a unique perspective on the future of kitchens, homes and lifestyles.
Create a configuration to suit your needs with this curved collection.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
Secret rooms, killer art and a formidable piece of architecture – Raft Studio’s dramatically dynamic workspace by Edition Office makes a fitting headquarters for the avant-garde graphic design squad.
VIP guests representing industries from design, government, CRE, aviation, financial services to communications gathered for the long awaited launch of the Porter, Haworth’s unique collaboration with xFriends partners to experiment with a new type of space.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Gray Puksand’s construction-focused facility at TAFE NSW responds to the critical need for a resilient Australian construction industry.
Welcome to the year of the Design Effect. This year’s theme aims to showcase the profound ripple effects that exceptional design can have on people, place and planet. Join in shaping this narrative by contributing your perspective before May 3, 2024, and become a part of the Design Effect movement.