5 MINUTES WITH: Ross Didier
AUSTRALIAN DESIGNER ROSS DIDIER PRODUCES DIVINE FURNITURE INSPIRED BY FOLKLORE AND WHIMSY, STRIKING THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN GOOD LOOKS AND LOGIC
How did you find your way to furniture design?
Ross: “I studied both industrial design and fine art sculpture at RMIT, then I travelled to London to work in backstage theatre. I made all sorts of stage props like luggage, chandeliers, and furniture for plays and operas. When I returned to Melbourne with my wife Libby, we decided to set up a workshop to create original furniture designs.”
Who are you influenced by?
“My creative ideas are influenced by so many sensory experiences… the real challenge, I find, is capturing these experiences through form, colour and design to genuinely articulate the story.”
Where do you find inspiration?
“I always write ideas down in a small notepad I carry. The challenge is retaining the potency of the idea after the experience. We live near a river in a forest, so I walk my dog there every day and love being attuned to nature. I mostly walk without a phone, which I find is the most effective technique to focus, and escape the distractions of being continually wired-in.”
How important is the balance of form and function in furniture design?
“Furniture is the closest expression of sculpture within industrial design because it’s so related to the human body. Without functionality in furniture design, there’s only decoration. The balance of practicality and aesthetic quality is critical to enrich our lives and well-being.”
What trends do you predict will emerge in 2021?
“Good design is long lasting, so I’m always wary of short-lived trends, and recent world events have changed our daily lives indefinitely, so I see purchasing quality furniture as more important than ever. I also see a new appreciation of home life, where living and working spaces will become more integrated, so furniture will need to be adaptable and multifunctional.”
What’s next for the Didier brand?
“Puffalo modular lounging launched last year to great success, so I’m expanding this collection to incorporate compact seating, desks, side tables and privacy screens.”
Of all your designs, do you have a favourite?
“Puffalo modular lounging is currently my favourite because the quality, form and comfort is so perfectly resolved, and it looks so bohemian chic!”