Aleesha Callahan talks with Rhys Cooper, an emerging Australian furniture designer, about all things design, materials and manufacturing.
April 20th, 2021
With the launch of Jam – JamFactory’s new all-Australian line up of locally designed and manufactured products, furniture and lighting – Aleesha Callahan chats with Rhys Cooper, whose Cusp Collection features in the Jam range, about his approach to design, materials and manufacturing.
Rhys Cooper: The Cusp collection is made using contemporary joinery techniques such as solid mortise and tenon joinery along with bent plywood for the backrest and seat.
I designed the Cusp range early in my career, the initial concept was simply to design a contemporary tub chair. The early stages of development involved a lot of model making and prototyping, with feedback provided by my peers. I then made the initial prototype and after some minor changes JamFactory agreed to produce the collection.
“Without Australian manufacturing, we will continue to lose valuable trades and craftspeople, and before we know it the industry will be lost.”
Material selection comes pretty early on in the design process and helps inform the direction, I find that if I don’t decide on the material and production process I tend to jump between ideas too much. I work with a variety of materials, predominantly timber, but really enjoy working with ceramics, glass and textiles.
Without Australian manufacturing, we will continue to lose valuable trades and craftspeople, and before we know it the industry will be lost. People should support local manufacturing where they can.
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!
Suitable for applications ranging from schools and retail outlets to computer rooms and X-ray suites, Palettone comes in two varieties and a choice of more than fifty colours.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
The future of Australia’s last surviving woollen furnishing textile mill and dye house has been secured thanks to its joint acquisition by Instyle Contract Textiles and Colan Australia.
Vipoo has taken home the winning title in the biennale MAKE Award for Australian creatives. Learn who took home second prize and highly commended in what is Australia’s richest, non-acquisitive prize for craft and design in Australia.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
From the trailblazer of Spanish industrial design comes a new collection of recycled rugs – a powerful exploration of the concept of waste, a keen celebration of imperfection, and a new underfoot symbol of responsible design.
Artificial intelligence is one of the defining issues of our time. Here are five ideas articles addressing the anxieties and possibilities of the technology in design.
Third in the series of boutique hotels under the Lloyd’s Inn brand, Lloyd’s Inn Kuala Lumpur bring the immediacy of nature to the new high-rise hospitality experience in the heart of a bustling city.
Overcoming pandemic hurdles to redefine guest experiences amidst Sydney’s bustling entertainment precinct, The Darling has undergone a two-year restoration that melds Art Deco interiors with the necessities of hotel living.