The founder and managing director of iconic Australian furniture brand Cult joins us on the podcast to discuss his journey through the world of commercial design.
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Richard Munao has just returned from the Osaka Design Expo, and joined me at The Commons in Surry Hills, Sydney. During the interview, we discussed Munao’s experience in the furniture design world, from his interest in craft to integration of Australian design into the global market. For the past 25 years, Cult has brought designer furniture of exceptional quality to customers, representing masterful craftsmanship from Denmark to Italy. Their own design brand, nau, sources from closer to home, supporting and advocating for Australian designers locally and abroad.
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“I think that’s one of the things that’s helped us with our credibility – we’re invested,” says Munao in this episode. “We’re not just trying to take take from the industry. We’re also we understand that, if we plant seeds, it will grow for everyone. And what I mean by grow, I don’t mean that in just financial terms; I mean, if you think about the Danish, they’re 5-6 million people… I mean, look at the design brands that come out of that. And I’m not just talking furniture brands, I’m talking about Bang & Olufsen and some other things like that. And I think to myself, we’ve got 28 million! Why do we keep talking about distance being the problem?
“And I think, from a product design point of view, why can’t we do what the architects and interior designers are doing – to look at Australian product and say, that can sell anywhere. I think we’re there, you know, you see what’s going on now; there’s a whole movement of Australian product designers. I think what we do is a little bit different – not product-wise, but the way we do it. We commission Australian designers.
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