5 Mins With… Mark Elliott

Your top 3 influences.

My Daughter, she’s not hindered by expectation
Lighting in animation, it’s not hindered by practicality
Sculpture, is not hindered by conformity
 
The moment you knew you wanted to be a designer.
When I saw a documentary about an underground house with skylights and a grass roof

Favourite local landmark/building.
Obvious, but the Opera House, in another city it would be harder to choose but in Sydney the Opera House stands on its own with that star quality
 
Favourite material.
Plexi Glass Satin Ice, carries light amazingly.
 
Favourite international landmark/building.
Sagrada Famiglia in Barcelona its just unbelievable, there is no way that would be designed in this day and age, the build ability is not practical now, what’s even more amazing is that they are actually still building it to the original plans.

Biggest career moment.
Moving to Australia from London in 2004, stepping away from the global design market and the comfort of home to a country I had never visited.
 
Dream project to work on (real or imaginary).
Jean Nouvel’s The Louvre in Abu Dhabi, the concept of the perforated domed canopy with the dappled natural light would lead such amazing inspiration for artificial lighting

Dream person to collaborate with.
I’ve worked with many, but not Frank Ghery, integrating light within his design would be a great challenge
 
Favourite decade of design.
The 1950’s: simply but curvy
 
Favourite chair.
Hans Wagner Kennedy Chair, or any chair by Hans Wagner.
 
#1 concern for the design industry in the coming decade.
Devaluation of creativity, serious but worrying

Which items in the workplace can you not live without?
iPhone and water cooler

The most unusual/interesting thing about the way you work.
I still use a pencil and paper!

Point of View

pov.com.au