David Houbaer and Alec Balcombe are dhab Studios, a young Tasmanian duo that offer creative solutions across lighting, interiors and furniture
Your top 3 influences
Story continues below advertisement
A: Reaction from the user, Dave and the issue at hand.
D: Creative thinking, Tasmania and Mentors.
The moment you knew you wanted to be a designer
Story continues below advertisement
A: University motivated me to pursue a career in design, realising I had the ability to enhance people’s lives.
D: Skipping school classes to go and tinker in the design and technology department.
Story continues below advertisement
Favourite local landmark/building
A: Does the beach count?
D: The local drinking hole.
Favourite material
A: I wouldn’t have a favourite as such, every material is suited to a purpose or application. But there is an amazing beauty in wood, especially some of the Tasmanian natives.
D: Play-dough. It’s fun, colourful and perfect to get those initial concepts in to something tangible.
Favourite international landmark/building
A: My mum has a villa on the Isle of Kythira in Greece, located in a little village. It’s very basic and honest and really focused on the simpler side of things.
D: The Sagrada Família by Antoni Gaudi. I haven’t been there YET, but since learning about the history of the project I am constantly amazed!
Biggest career moment
A: If I could call 12 months a career it would come down to Launch Pad. We were lucky enough to be a part of the shortlist – and that really lead our studio into some great opportunities.
D: Launchpad, and the repercussions that lead to our first SID. I had a lot of fun!
Dream Project to work on
A: I’d like to work on an experiential event – something to wow someone’s senses with one overwhelming show or performance or experience.
D: An event/festival like Tommorowland in Belgium where creativity would have no boundaries.
Dream person to collaborate with
A: Richard Branson
D: Banksy
Favourite decade of design
A: 1948 – 1958.
D: 1890 – 1910.
Favourite Chair
A: Eames Lounge and Ottoman. Wooot wooo!
D: Paimio Chair – Alvar Aalto
#1 Concern for the design industry in the coming decade
A: Saturation
D: Consumables that have no regard for their life cycle.
Which items in the workplace can you not live without
A: My headphones. There’s nothing like rocking out to some beats when you’re on a roll in the workshop.
D: The whiteboard. It’s always covered with something that’s probably only legible to me!
The most unusual/interesting thing about the way you work
A: We hold our ‘board meetings’ on surfboards.
D: I enjoy the spontaneous decisions in working for yourself, and not following a routine.
dhab Studios
