STEPH WATT
design
What do you do? With my industrial design background, I design and make wearables, objects and more for my brand Dorkus Design. I’m best known for my acrylic hand-painted pieces, and playfulness and tonguein-cheek themes are a big part of my practice. I do this all at my own pace, of course, being a dynamically disabled designer. Tell us about your project. Colour Island is the signature hand-painted Lucite flower holder from my latest Dorkus Design collection. The painted details reflect through the Lucite slab, playing tricks on the eye. Why did you choose design? I loved making things as a kid. Missing most of high school due to my chronic illness led me to rely on my instinctive talents. I enjoy the problem solving and endless options that come with industrial design, and creating a world with my own aesthetic language for Dorkus Design is really fun. Best piece of advice you’ve received? A general lesson I grew up learning from most ’90s songs, sitcoms and cartoons was to just be yourself. Go at your own pace and don’t worry about being a freak or doing weird stuff. If you feel like a freak, you are probably doing something right! How do you get inspired? Living with ME/CFS, I have lots of time to think. Ideas will often come to me from just staring at the ceiling. I often have ideas for projects a long time before I can actually make them. When I do have the energy to bring them to life, I’m really excited. Which tool could you not do without? My offensively bright lime-green power drill. Studying industrial design, I love both handicrafts and contemporary machinery. My drill comes in handy for the widest variety of projects. Who do you look up to? My disabled/chronically ill community IRL and online. Growing up as a sick teen in the noughties, social media and disability representation wasn’t what it is today. I’m so happy that I now have access to such a diverse, smart, sexy, cool and funny online community, even when I’m stuck in bed. They are also the most brutally funny meme makers around! What does winning a Good Stuff
award mean to you? My main idea for Dorkus Design is to enjoy my craft and participate in the community. Winning will connect me to even more of the lovely folks out there. Where can we see your work? On Instagram at @dorkusdesign or out in the real world at my lovely stockists.
Design judge Beci Orpin says: I loved this vase so much. The colourful hand-painted base contrasts beautifully against the sharp square form. It’s a great use of materials, and the photos also showcase these aspects superbly.