New On The Block: Tomek Archer

Published by
owen Lynch
August 6, 2013

Work by this multi-disciplinary designer from Sydney is held in permanent collections afar afield as the Roethlisberger Kollection in Switzerland. Get to know a little more about Tomek Archer.

A stand out feature of Indesign 53 is our ‘New on the Block’ photo feature. We hand picked inspiring individuals whom we recognised to be on the rise in their particular design discipline.   We are pleased to collaborate here with Indesign Magazine to bring you more from the fresh faces we introduced you to in Indesign 53.

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Your top 3 influences:
 
Facts, fictions and all things vernacular, obvious or normal (objects, customs, ways of life…)
 
The moment you knew you wanted to be a designer.

Since I was very young I wanted to be an inventor… I guess there is some connection there.

Favourite local landmark/building.
 
Depends how local but I like the petrol station a few doors down on Foveaux St in Surry Hills. It functions as a petrol station, taxi headquarters, mechanic and offices all in one remarkably complicated arrangement of concrete ramps and roller doors.
 
Favourite material.
 
Whatever is suitable.. I like the touch and smell of timber, the commitment of concrete and the fineness of steel but design is also about exploiting the potential of new technology and materials so I’d welcome anything like that..
 
Favourite international landmark/building.

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I’m no good on social media at all.. but my first Instagram photo was of the Pantheon interior. It’s incredible to think that Romans witnessed the light move through the building in the same way 2000 years ago. It is still my only Instagram photo…

Biggest career moment.
 
Starting an office.
 
Dream project to work on (real or imaginary).

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Any of the bits that collectively form my home town of Sydney.

Dream person to collaborate with.
 
Mr Squiggle. He’s a strong finisher.
 
Favourite decade of design.
 
The next one.
 
Favourite chair.
 
Hans Wegner Flag Halyard chair.
 
#1 concern for the design industry in the coming decade.

Procurement models.

Which items in the workplace can you not live without?

Anything that helps to get things out of the computer. The printer is a good start. I still like printing. I would like some form of milling machine to go with it though.

The most unusual/interesting thing about the way you work.

I have more bad ideas than good ones so my process appears to be inherently inefficient.

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