A portfolio full of big names such as Tom Dixon and Avanti hasn’t led Jamie McLellan to believe he has reached his peak, Lee Suckling discovers.
April 5th, 2011
Despite a successful decade of working for manufacturers in Australasia, Britain, Europe, Asia and the US, product designer Jamie McLellan doesn’t think he’s had his big break.
“I think I’m still working on it,” says the ’99 Victoria University of Wellington graduate, who returned to his homeland of New Zealand five years ago to establish his own practice.
McLellan dug his teeth into product design on staff at Tom Dixon in London.
Tom Dixon Link Tables
“Tom wanted people who could read his mind, and design the way he would,” says McLellan. “By osmosis, I absorbed his belief and have taken that into my own practice,” he adds. “Although, I’d say I’m a little more restrained – even uptight – than Tom is.”
Tom Dixon Link Easy Chair
Tom Dixon Spin Candelabra
Working in New Zealand means McLellan doesn’t feel the need to compare himself to other designers – he’s taken out of the creative rat race.
Spar Light
“I’m removed from everything and am isolated, which lets me immerse myself in the design process, rather than getting caught up in everything around me,” he says. “But it’s not all easy; accessibility to buyers is the biggest impediment down here.”
McLellan’s recent work has brought his personal interests to his professional life. A keen skier, windsurfer, cyclist and sailor, the last 12 months have seen the innovation of the Pista Team Evo II bike for Avanti, the Atlas wave sail for Neil Pryde, and the K-001 Kayak, which he plans to get into production in the coming months.
Pista Team Evo II bike
Atlas wave sail
“I like to work on things I love, things I’m passionate about,” McLellan comments, adding that New Zealand is the perfect place to position his brand as a leader in high-end sporting goods design. “So many of the industrial processes I’ve learned in the past, and the materials I’ve used, can fit in with the design of contemporary sporting equipment.”
K-001 Kayak
Even with over a decade of experience under his belt, McLellan believes he’s still learning.
“I’ve done nice, good work, but nothing groundbreaking… yet,” he says. “There are still some design questions out there that need answering.”
Jamie McLellan
jamiemclellan.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!
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
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.
Suitable for applications ranging from schools and retail outlets to computer rooms and X-ray suites, Palettone comes in two varieties and a choice of more than fifty colours.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
The 2008 RAIA awards for New South Wales were announced on July 19th in Sydney. See the full list of winners here.
Design studio Luchetti Krelle offer up the old-world cosmopolitan glamour of the 1920s at the Sydney Four Season Hotel’s MODE Kitchen and Bar.
Ageing Citizens and rapid population growth is changing the way we navigate our city centres. While it throws up plenty of challenges, Paul Priestman of PriestmanGoode only sees opportunity.
Victoria + Albert showed off new additions to their bath collection – Toulouse, Edge and Barcelona – at a lunchtime presentation at the top of Sydney’s Shangri-La Hotel on Wednesday 29 February. Guests marvelled at the new designs, and some even climbed in to try them out!
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Wood Marsh’s 40-year legacy shines through landmark infrastructure projects. Recently completing stunning stations at Coburg and Moreland, their designs blend modernity with community needs.
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.