“Inspiration can be found everywhere,” says designer Alex Zanda Lee. “All it requires is seeing things a bit differently.”

Working in the banking industry by day and designing furniture as a creative outlet, Lee describes his career path as being “a bit different from other designers.”

“While some of my colleagues like to do dance classes or yachting for fun, for me [it’s] building and making furniture and products,” he explains. “It is more a creative outlet than a career progression.”

Lee entered Launch Pad in 2010 with his Lady Elizabeth Standard Lamp, and in 2011 with his Belt Chair. The pieces garnered much attention, are in limited production and exhibited in various galleries.

Lady Elizabeth Standard Lamp

Belt Chair

2012, he says, should be an exciting year. “There are a few collaborative design projects I’m involved in, which I can’t say too much about now,” he explains.

Lee has experienced first-hand the positive impact of initiatives like Launch Pad which support emerging designers, and he emphasises the importance of “promoting dialogue between the industry and designer” in the Australian industry.

“The design market is still considered a niche market in Australia in comparison to Europe, where good design is a norm and demanded by the consumer, therefore creating more opportunities for the designer,” says Lee.

He remains positive about public perception of design, however – “from my personal observation,” he explains, “Australian public awareness of good design is slowly but surely growing.