Studio South Drawn
Collaboration, artisanal craftsmanship and rigorous experimentation are at the heart of this Melbourne-based lighting studio.
This Melbourne studio creates finely detailed lighting designs that exude bespoke,
tactile beauty.
The South Drawn story began in 2016 under a different name, when designer Luke Mills established Lumil. Fast-forward five years and the Melbourne-based lighting studio underwent a complete rebrand after
Luke’s brother Christian came on board. The studio’s values have remained the same, though, with collaboration, artisanal craftsmanship and rigorous experimentation at its heart. Add to that a generous dose of curiosity and the refinement of a luxe yet functional aesthetic and it’s no surprise that South Drawn’s portfolio of pendant and wall lights is so appealing.
As the studio’s design director, Luke is inspired by nature, in particular its organic forms. He also has a strong interest in materials and this drives his approach, while steering the course of manufacture and eventual tangible outcome. “A lot of our explorations may well result in failed prototypes and messes that have to be cleaned up, but every now and then you get an unexpected surprise and that’s what’s worth the pursuit,” he says. “The goal is to create pieces that have a defined personality.”
Each South Drawn design is distinct in concept and shape, and so exquisite in finish that it resembles a work of art. Crescendo, for example, showcases the hand of the maker with its woven fitting, originally conceived using leather until Luke started experimenting with strips of acoustic panelling. And the Hat pendant, in joining together a ceramic or spun metal top with a spun aluminium base, highlights the studio’s fine detailing. This product also exemplifies the close relationship the brothers have with their manufacturers and just how important these partnerships are to the overall process.
Christian oversees production and logistics and works closely with both local manufacturers and artisans to realize South Drawn’s designs. Tile Linear is perhaps the studio’s most successful partnership to date. As Luke explains, “This product is the perfect example of assuming a simple form will translate to a simple manufacturing technique. Thankfully, our incredible manufacturers in Melbourne allowed us to explore alternative processes that completely transformed the design.” Indeed, Tile Linear’s neat series of three handcrafted “folded clay” tiles that are slid over an LED strip belies its complexity, lending it a bespoke, tactile beauty that calls for closer inspection.
Luke and Christian are currently experimenting with glass manufacturing and are due to release a range of glass designs this year. Their passion for what they do and the people they work with resonates throughout their portfolio and this new collection promises to be just as compelling as all the others. Ultimately, South Drawn designs are statement pieces made memorable by the elegance they bring to an interior. southdrawn.com.au