In the past, Australian manufacturing was not often talked about, much less celebrated. However, times are changing. The best designs in the world are often realised by a close-working and respectful relationship between designer and manufacturer; architect and builder, and finally, the design world is acknowledging this.
To bring any beautiful product to life, its design must operate in a symbiotic relationship with its maker. Just like beautiful computer interfaces require hard-working code, beautiful and marketable furniture pieces require ingenious manufacturers that bring together the design itself, buildability, material constraints and cost implications. Enter Evostyle.
“In the past customers tried to hide who was doing their work for a couple of reasons. They either wanted to maintain complete ownership of a manufacturer to stop competitors using what they saw as their own valuable resource or play down where their product was made and by whom, thinking that a customer would see it as of little importance compared to the design itself. However, we now find that designers and our customers are proud to say that we make their products. It adds value to their brand.”
Says Luke Ommundson, director of Evostyle.
Evostyle is a dynamic Sydney based manufacturing company that brings to life many timber products by Australia’s best furniture designers. Their vision is simple. “To partner with leading companies and professionals who value the expertise and ability of their team to co-create products that will continue to exceed customers’ expectations.”
The key word is partnership. The designer and maker both working towards achieving the same end goal. It’s just as important that a beautiful building or piece of furniture embraces good design as well as good craftsmanship.
The Scandinavians understood the designer/maker partnership more than anyone. At the beginning of what became known as Danish Modern (a period from about 1930 – 1970), most designers apprenticed with cabinetmakers before studying design. This was true for both Børge Morgensen and Hans Wegner for example who were influential in the development of the Danish Modern style. “Wegner’s background as a cabinetmaker gave him a deep understanding of how to integrate exacting joinery techniques with exquisite form. His aesthetic was also based on a deep respect for wood and its characteristics, and a vast curiosity about other natural materials that enabled him to bring an organic, natural softness to formalistic minimalism.”1
Evostyle believes in this Danish Modern way of working. They believe in partnering with the designer early on in a project and working collaboratively, to continue developing the initial design from the initial presentation and adding their own knowledge and expertise from a manufacturing standpoint so that each piece of furniture or product they produce is not only functional and beautifully made, but sensible in terms of budget, durability, maintenance, and longevity.
Architects are increasingly coming on board and realising that a simple tweak by a competent manufacturer or builder can save a huge amount of money – not only initially but over the life of a timber product or building element. It can also ensure that the timber product is fit for use over its life and will not deteriorate. Being a natural material, timber is stunningly beautiful, yet requires special love and attention. You must know its limitations, and how it will behave over time and be prepared for this in the coatings that are used or the details that are adopted.
Evostyle offers its consultancy services to all architects and interior designers as well as furniture designers. Contact us for a quote for your next project.
