“I’ve always known that I wanted to do something creative,” says Coco Reynolds, industrial designer and founder of design company Marz Designs.

“A career in industrial design is very varied and there is little time to be bored because one is constantly learning and experimenting. For a person like me who can’t sit still, it has been the perfect choice.”

Studio

Taking inspiration from the people she meets, from travelling and seeing things from new perspectives, Reynolds has developed into a versatile designer who isn’t afraid to try her hand at new things. She was a Launch Pad finalist in 2011 with her Thread floor lamp, a simple concept with a raw, edgy aesthetic.

Thread light

“The Thread light uses a conventional thread mechanism but applied on a larger scale, which re-works an ordinary device into a new context,” Reynolds says.

“The concrete base caters for 2 lengths of threaded rod that can be screwed in to suit; the thread of the post also enables easy adjustment of both the height and direction of light. It’s very simple in construction and it can be quickly and easily assembled on site by the end user.”

The prototype is now on display at He Made She Made concept gallery on Sydney’s Oxford Street, which allows Reynolds to display her product as a made-to-order item, gage feedback from the public and produce her design in small quantities.

For an emerging designer, the leap from prototype to product can be a tricky one, which is why initiatives supporting young designers are vital to bringing them extra publicity and helping them forge relationships within the industry. To further develop and strengthen the design industry in Australia, however, what we need is a shift in thinking within our governments, says Reynolds.

“We need to work towards being a clever country… look to Sweden and other countries that support their creative industries. The spin-off is that by recognising the value of and supporting design industries, [governments] embrace new technology, which helps to underpin the economies. They are forward thinking, rather than clinging to old technologies and ways of doing things.”

SLOT chair

Next for Reynolds is a collaboration with design studio &Company, which sees her developing a range of glass-blown kitchen products.

“It’ s been a challenging design process because I’m not familiar with working with glass and the production processes, so I am learning as I go,” Reynolds says.

“But this is the nature of industrial design; there is always something to learn, whether it be old technology or cutting-edge new.”

Twirl table lamps

Marz Designs
marzdesigns.com

Read more about our Launch Pad finalists and talented Australian designers.