Talkin’ the future of furniture with EQ3’s Thom Fougere
THOM FOUGERE OF CANADA’S EQ3 TALKS DESIGN WITH ALEESHA HARRIS
Thom Fougere isn’t the guy you’d want to ask if you’re looking for advice about home-decor trends.
Despite being the creative director of one of Canada’s most influential brands, EQ3, Fougere says he doesn’t like to consider, let alone discuss, what’s hot in the furniture world.
“Trends don’t excite me,” he says. “I sometimes find the discussion of trends to be damaging on the average consumer.
“It can seem like there are a hidden set of rules only designers are aware of, which is not true, but that message really removes the approachable aspect of design.”
So, instead of offering insight into the industry’s latest fadswwwwww, Fougere discussed his design esthetic, the challenges he faces in his role and why 2017 is going to be a big year for the brand.
Q How would you describe your design esthetic?
AThat’s a difficult question for me to answer. I don’t design with a specific esthetic in mind. If anything, the overarching approach that can be seen across my work is that of an honest and pragmatic approach. I try to make sure my work is approachable and welcoming, something I find a lot of modern furniture is guilty of not fulfilling. Q How is that mentality reflected your work at EQ3?
A I think the reason I’ve been such a good fit with EQ3 is the company has always had a similar ideological stance. Peter Tielmann, the founder of EQ3, wanted to bring a modern, Canadianmade product to the public at an accessible price. Peter and I see eye-to-eye on how modern furniture can be perceived, so it has always been my mission at EQ3 to make sure the products and presentation are warm and welcoming — taking design off the plinth. Q How, if at all, has your youth influenced the way you design?
A I don’t think I’m introspective enough to answer that honestly. I suppose my age is close in proximity to that of the younger clients walking into EQ3 showrooms. I’m sure that being under 30 grants a certain perspective, but I’m always curious and looking for what’s new. Q EQ3 manufactures in Canada. What are some of the challenges this presents?
A There are challenges no matter where you manufacture your product. Constraints always breed innovation, and the product development team in Winnipeg has been doing wonders, consistently improving quality every year. Q And the benefits? A Besides the obvious environmental and sociological benefits to domestic manufacturing, our corporate office, which includes a product development team (research and development) and manufacturing, are all under one roof. This not only benefits and breeds innovation, but inherently creates a closer connection between the design, development and manufacturing teams. Q There’s been a push toward more conscious design elements, items that last versus disposable pieces. Can you comment on this approach?
A Timelessness, quality and beauty have always been the parameters for the products. I struggle with the fashion industry side of the business, but everything goes in and out of fashion with time. It’s cyclical. Certain colours, patterns, wood finishes go in and out of style. I try to make sure we aren’t developing product that goes all in on a trend that’s here one day and gone the next. As long as EQ3 uses high-quality materials for the products, there’s a natural timelessness inherent in them. I think a lot of our customers purchase our products knowing this, which makes me happy. Q What’s new for spring/ summer? A We debuted two new upholstery pieces at the Interior Design Show (IDS) in Toronto this January that will be released in stores this spring. The first is the Cello sofa collection, undoubtedly EQ3’s most comfortable sofa, making use of both memory foam and down feathers. It’s available in a variety of configurations, it was shown in a sofa and chaise configuration at IDS. The second piece is the Cello bed. Much like the sofa, the bed is a comfortable upholstered piece. It was shown in our Lana dark green-felt fabric and received a very positive response. Q How many new designs, approximately, does EQ3 release each year?
A It really depends on the year. For major product launches, we typically launch two sofas per year. I believe we will be debuting three or four in 2017. It’ll be a big year. Q What do you think has the biggest influence on decor trends at the moment?
A Social media has had more and more influence on people in general. In some ways it’s really great — I feel it empowers people to make their own choices in how they put together their space, and it gives them a chance to share it however they like. Q What inspires you?
A It really depends on what I’m reading at the time. I just finished reading through a pile of books on Shaker furniture, and am now making my way through Donald Judd Writings and Charlotte Perriand et le Japon. I think art and writing inspire me more than anything.
I STRUGGLE WITH THE FASHION INDUSTRY SIDE OF THE BUSINESS, BUT EVERYTHING GOES IN AND OUT OF FASHION WITH TIME. IT’S CYCLICAL. CERTAIN COLOURS, PATTERNS, WOOD FINISHES GO IN AND OUT OF STYLE. — THOM FOUGERE, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, EQ3