Modern Furniture Design

www.paranormaldesign.com @modernfurnituredesign @dannycheungdotcom

www.paranormaldesign.com

www.tomfryer.com www.zanotta.com for the Quaderna Table www.flos.com for the Snoopy light

www.tomfryer.com www.workshopped.com.au

For more info and images: www.sebelfurniture.com www.maas.museum www.paranormaldesign.com/blog

www.paranormaldesign.com/blog Instagram @modernfurnituredesign @dannycheungdotcom

UTS Product Design For comments and extra content go to Paranormal Design

Welcome to part 2 of my conversation with veteran industrial designer, Graeme Macdonald www.cubedesign.net.au at his studio in Sydney’s Vaucluse where  the topic shifts from his career highlights to the design heroes that we grew up on. As you will hear, whilst we agree on many things, Graeme takes apart some of the star designers of today who have inspired me in my career. And just a warning this episode contains some fruity language. From Joe Colombo to Syd Mead I hope you enjoy listening to Graeme’s insightful perspective.

I first struck a friendship with Graeme MacDonald more than 20 years ago over our mutual admiration of furniture. At the seminal industrial design consultancy, Design Field in Paddington where I started my career, I would pore over Graeme’s enviable collection of rare furniture design books on B&B Italia, Charles and Ray Eames and Jean Prouve. MacDonald of Cube Design is an award winning industrial designer of consumer products that have sold in the millions most notable of all perhaps is the Ikon kettle for Breville which he codesigned with another design mentor of mine, Paul Cohen. His account of how he won the job gives us a fascinating insight into how unsolicited design pitches succeed or fail. Also In this episode we talk about the design heroes that inspired us and discover that, like most things of this nature - it’s generational.

>> Firstly, my heart goes out to all Italians who are suffering unimaginable trauma at this time due to the Covid19 pandemic. In this episode of Modern Furniture Design we celebrate Italian Design and seek to uncover what makes Italy a powerhouse in the world of design with Berto Pandolfo. A former industrial designer for iconic lighting design manufacturer Flos and now Senior Lecturer in Product Design at UTS, Berto is a veteran of the Milan Furniture Fair AKA il Salone Del Mobile. As well as walking us through the event both in the past and into today, I ask Berto about the origins of Il Salone and we examine the driving forces behind the strength of postwar Italian Design and manufacturing. From Achille Castiglioni to Zanotta, I hope you enjoy this episode recorded in early January 2020.

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to pitch your furniture design to a major iconic design manufacturer and have them say ‘Yes’? Adam Goodrum www.adamgoodrum.com is one of Australia’s top furniture designers and he shares with us his best ever design story in which he successfully pitches the Stitch Chair to legendary design furniture manufacturer Cappellini https://www.cappellini.com . In this podcast we hear of the origins of the Stitch chair design back in the late 90’s and how I came to be involved (in a small way) in the early development of the project. We learn of the journey from the first introduction to Giulio Cappellini to the launch of the chair at the Milan Furniture Fair. We analyse the impact of this career changing commission and how it opened doors to dozens of opportunities. Adam also talks about working with Alessi www.alessi.com , Cult www.cultdesign.com.au and Tait www.madebytait.com.au We also delve into Adam’s design process and he shares his advice to the next generation of designers trying to make their name. Danny’s connection to the development of Stitch Chair (3:04) Adam is introduced to Giulio Cappellini (4:06) Every designer’s dream (4:30) Giulio sits and breaks Adam’s only prototype (6:05) Honoring the designer’s intent - the Italian way (10:23) After the Cappellini commission - opening doors (13:06) Why Adam stayed in Australia (13:27) Like being signed to the best soccer team (13:51) Doors opened in Oz (14:44) Australian Architects specifying Australian Designers (15:17) A little luck goes a long way (16:08) The new way - self manufacturing (17:01) New generation equipped to go solo (18:00) Proud to be furniture designer (18:50) Do you ever get sick of furniture? (20:01) Adam’s design process (21:51) Adam’s one off projects (23:07) Design formulas and styles (23:46) Not smart enough to have a plan! (24:08) Adam and the Alessi commission (25:41) The dilution of iconic design manufacturer’s catalog (27:03) Impact of Chinese manufacturing on Design Manufacturers (28:11) How Australian Design Landscape changed (28:51) Italian spirit and culture (31:32) Furniture as a feasible outlet for creativity (32:41) Australia has more design mags per capita bar NZ (35:04) Still competitive to be a designer (36:00) You make your own luck (37:50) The Commission Adam would covet over all else (38:15)

At last! A podcast dedicated to the world of furniture design has been created. Modern Furniture Design is for lovers of design, interior designers, architects and industrial designers who’ve been looking for a place to indulge in our passion for this highly influential sub genre of design. Join me, Danny Cheung and my expert guests as we discuss the designs that have shaped our lives and captured the imagination of the design world. You’ll gain insights from the interviews that I have with the designers who’ve made it. You’ll discover the designs and designers that matter as I engage the experts in the know. And learn practical knowledge on how to design, make or manufacture that furniture piece you’ve always wanted to create. This is podcast takes furniture design out of the closet and into the mainstream. Enjoy and remember to share this podcast with at least one other person who you know will love it. I would also love to hear from you in the comments section below. www.paranormaldesign.com