Few Australian designers receive more respect from their peers than Nick Rennie, and to his friends and colleagues he is a legend.

A self-styled, unpretentious bloke with a load of talent at 32 Rennie has authored an impressive portfolio of original product designs including lighting, seating, table and kitchenware under the studio name of ‘Happy Finish’ since graduating from the industrial design program at RMIT University in 2001.

Not prepared to give over to the geographical challenges faced by all Australian-based product designers, Rennie has pursued his dreams of securing gigs with the big names of the European design and manufacturing sector with relentless enthusiasm, first exhibiting in Milan at Salone del mobile in 2000.

With a total of eight international campaigns to his name exhibiting in Japan, New York, London and Milan, Rennie has assured the presence of Australian design at numerous trade fairs and design festivals when representation was waning.

To many new generation designers Rennie is an inspiration. Taking part in the 2007 AG Ideas student conference in Melbourne, Rennie addressed an audience of 2,500 aspiring designers and conference guests including Mr Masaaki Kanai, the head of Japanese retail giant Muji.

Making the most of the fortuitous circumstances Rennie presented Mr Kanaiiust with a copy of his catalogue, which has since lead to an invitation to collaborate with the company on a range of outdoor furniture, due for release in 2008.

Such interest in Rennie’s design ability from leading international figures is growing, singled out at the Launch Pad awards during Saturday Indesign by renowned British designer Tom Dixon, Rennie received Dixon’s vote in recognition for his career achievements. With so much drive and determination I suggest that we will be hearing a lot more about Nick Rennie well into the future.

Article by Simone LeAmon for Design Quarterly Magazine, issue #28, January 2008.

Happy Finish Design
(61) 411 148 776
nick@happyfinishdesign.com
www.happyfinishdesign.com