6 Brisbane-based designers are on a mission to promote Queensland design. Indesignlive talks to leader Jason Bird.
August 23rd, 2010
We talk to team leader Jason Bird about the idea behind the new design collective made up of Alexander Lotersztain (Derlot Studio), Jason Bird (Luxxbox), Marc Harrison (Husque), David Shaw (Street & Garden Furniture Co.) and Surya Graf and Bjorn Rust (Snack On).
How did the idea for Quench come about?
We are all friends – the design world is a small playground. We have fun collaborating on many and varied design projects in an informal way, so we thought we would like to create a collective that took our design sensibilities to the world stage.
Tingle designed by Jason Bird
What motivation has drawn together the designers collaborating on this project?
You could say that each of us in the Quench team is obsessed by design – we eat, drink and breathe it. It occupies our days and nights. We are all driven in a similar way by our work so the Quench project seemed like an obvious vehicle to bring us together as a group with a group focus for our work – with a firm business objective, expanding our global presence.
Hext Table designed by Alexander Lotersztain
In October Quench will be showcasing special designs at The Tokyo Design Tide during Tokyo Design week. What message will Quench take to Japan?
Quench is Queensland, Quench is refreshing, Quench is design. Queensland’s best design talent is here to show our world class design.
Jubes Sofa designed by David Shaw
How did Brisbane come to be a global design hub?
Many factors – good universities, a good climate, which inspires creativity and a good local community of manufacturers. The current State Government has been proactive in nurturing local design for a number of years now – industry is starting to realise the commercial benefit of design and this now is flowing out to the global market.
Husque designed by Marc Harrison
How has design revitalised the sunshine capital?
We are all designer makers and whilst in the past it has been difficult to do what we do full time and earn a living, Queensland, due to increasing public awareness of design, is making it possible to actually create and flourish.
So now we have the network effect of the market demanding product, engaging creatives who produce and in turn grow the market and design awareness.
Crease Chair designed by Surya Graf
Where would you like to see Quench in the future?
Quench will continue to evolve – our drive is to produce exceptional design, challenge the local community with our ideas and events and venture further a field to showcase our work globally.
Quench
quench-design.com
Speaker Glass designed by Bjorn Rust
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Join us behind the scenes with V-ZUG’s in-house design team, and discover how this Swiss boutique kitchen manufacturer balances art, science and history to create its pioneering Excellence line.
Explore the radical new organisation strategy which accommodates for the hybrid future of work.
A spectacular spectacle shop fitout is the work of George Christo Design.
Ken Cato has brought a new level of sophistication to Australian graphic design in a career spanning over forty years, which makes him an Indesign Luminary.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
With the acquisition of Marco Fabrics by James Dunlop Group, we see a swathe of illustrious textile brands fall into our fingertips. From Romo to Black Edition, Villa Nova, Zinc Textiles, Mokum and more.
It all starts with context and materiality for Japanese architect and designer, Keiji Ashizawa, whose work can be defined by harmonised details through an emphasis on simplicity and curated collaboration.