Talent show
René Linssen
WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR EARLY INFLUENCES? My mother was a big creative influence early on. She is an amazing creative, a very talented painter and sketcher. Growing up surrounded by her work has definitely played a big part in my creative development. HOW DID YOU COME TO PURSUE A CAREER IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN? I took an architecture course in college which introduced me to the world of design; it became my favourite class. The plan then was to go to university and study architecture, until I heard about the industrial design course. I decided to give it a go, thinking I could always change to something else if I didn’t like it, but I became very passionate about it and haven’t looked back. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY? I’ve always loved Dieter Rams’s 10 principles of good design, to me it sums it up. As a designer I’m drawn to pure and simple forms, things that aren’t trying to be more than they should be. I think design is successful when it connects with people by being functional but also having an aesthetic appeal. WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE CAREER EXPERIENCES? My favourite would have to be winning the Belle Alessi Design Awards last year. That was very surreal. Alessi is a company I’ve always dreamed of working with, and to visit and meet the people behind the company face to face was incredible. My favourite project is the ‘Parliament’ bike rack, inspired by Parliament House, that I designed for an ACT Government design competition. Since the competition the ACT Government has ordered 70 bike rack units to distribute around Canberra. To have one of my designs featured in my home town is very special and humbling. WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION AND CONCEPT FOR THE ' PEARLA' OYSTER SHUCKER? ‘Pearla’ was inspired by Australia’s love of the ocean and my desire to create a beautiful version of a product that I felt hadn’t been done justice. I see oysters as a sophisticated and elegant food and the knives on the market didn’t reflect that. I wanted to make the oyster knife more beautiful and to design something that reflected where I am from. Oysters are very popular in Australia
and the coast is a big part of Australian life. The item’s aesthetics take cues from sea shells and sea creatures to amplify the connection between the oyster and the ocean. TELL US ABOUT YOUR TRIP TO THE ALESSI HEADQUARTERS? I had an amazing experience. I was taken to the factory and saw firsthand how many of their products are made. I saw the Alessi Museum which includes thousands of Alessi prototypes and design objects. I met so many people in the company and spent time with Alberto Alessi in his office. The trip to Alessi has really helped me get a better grasp of the realities of manufacturing and understanding the importance of the commercial aspects of product development and design. WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT? I’m working on several projects at the industrial design studio, Formswell, where I work – sports drink bottles, ACT Government public furnitur e , ba throom accessories, trophy award designs among others. At the beginning of the year I started a new furniture brand, Furnished Forever, with my business and design partner Elliot Bastianon. We currently have a low stool and high stool in production that we revealed at Denfair 2017, and plan to expand the collection to lighting, tables and chairs. All our products are manufactured in Australia which we place great value on. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO RE-THINK AS A DESIGNER? I would love to design for the elderly – I think there is a massive opportunity to make a real difference and impact people’s lives for the better. renelinssen.com
“As a designer I’m drawn to pure and simple forms, things that aren’t trying to be more than they should be.”