Being.

How did Little Big Learning begin? Describe those early years

Like most family-centred businesses, Little Big Learning started with the arrival of our own baby, a product that couldn’t be found and a mum – or two! – with an idea. The early days of business coincided with the early days of parenthood, so it was a blur of sleepless nights, juggling the needs of the two children (the human one and the business one), celebrating their milestones, crying over them (mostly the biz-child), laughing about them, and all the emotions in between.

What is the philosophy behind the brand? It’s pretty simple. We ethically create natural and purposeful products for little big people, with a focus on the impact our choices have on the Earth. How do you choose which products go alongside your LBL line?

Firstly, we look to what the item is – is it purposeful? Timeless? Does it bring value to a home, a child’s life? Can it be used in multiple ways? Is it an environmentally friendly alternative to a common kids’ product? Then, if it ticks those boxes, we ask how it is being made, transported, packaged and who is making it – is it culturally appropriate, are workers treated right, the list goes on. Tell us why you created Plants for Products We believe that we need to take responsibility for the Earth we are leaving to our children. We inevitably produce carbon through the manufacturing and transport of our products. Planting trees is the simplest and most effective way to offset that, and in our two and a half years in business we have planted more than 4000 trees.

What do you love most about your LBL pieces? Their simple nature. We don’t follow trends – we keep everything simple, thoughtful and purposeful. Each piece is designed to be passed down through families and friends or sold on through secondhand websites. Nothing makes us happier than seeing our products loved and treasured by multiple families.

What is your favourite design? We don’t usually do favourites, but if we must it has to be the Learning Tower. The day-to-day difference this simple piece of furniture can make in a parent’s life has to be experienced to be believed. We have so many people write and tell us how much it has changed the connection their toddlers have with mealtimes. We love anything that can make the early days of parenthood easier.

What is the hardest thing about what you do? Knowing that it could always be bigger, better, more, and all of those words that we strive for as business owners if we gave it 150 per cent of our time. But alas, we are subject to the restraints of hours in a day, and we are also human. We have other roles. We are women, we are mothers, we are lovers and daughters and friends and facilitate this natural state and the power of just letting our children ‘be’. Play is the creative conclusion.

Where do you get inspiration for your furniture? Inspiration has always developed first from an unmet need – a design we couldn’t find elsewhere. And then, coffee – those magical little beans.

What does family mean to you? So many things. We believe that sometimes families are created by blood, sometimes not. Sometimes families are chosen, sometimes they’re not. Whatever the formula for family – and it can be so different for everyone – the uniting notion is always love. Family means love.

See more at littlebiglearning.com.au or @littlebiglearning