A Story Well Told
Design maven Olivia Lee creates poetic spaces and refined objects with compelling narratives
For local industrial designer Olivia Lee, the word “inventor” was part of her vocabulary even from a young age. “My mum had bought me an inventor’s handbook for children; as an inventor, I learnt that I was supposed to look for problems and build solutions. Looking back, I see how the essence of that exists in the practice of industrial design. In many ways, I am living out my childhood dream of becoming an inventor.”
Whether it’s designing products or crafting a multisensory interior, inventing is clearly something Lee excels in. “My design style is more about an approach driven by concepts and stories. I love creating beautiful things, and love hiding layers of meaning, cleverness and symbolism beneath the surface for people to discover.”
Here, she tells us more about her creative process and recent projects, which include designing the first boutique for intimate care brand Two Lips.
What was your inspiration for the Two Lips store?
We proposed the concept of a modern-day curiosity shop, where rare objets d’art and antiquities from around the world are collected, displayed and sold, mingling aspects of discovery, education and retail to create open and honest conversations about vulva care. It was also a play on being curious about your body.
My favourite thing about the store is the bold decision to obscure key retail displays behind peepholes and ceramic cloches. These peephole elements play on the tension between privacy and voyeurism, curiosity and intrigue.
Where do you get your design inspiration?
For me, it comes with feeding my mind and my eyes with beautiful, provocative and unexpected things. When you are experiencing the world vividly, the ordinary turns into poetry—the condensation on a glass of water, or the f leeting iridescence of wet asphalt. An inspired life is one led with curiosity, openness and wonder.
Pick one: bright colours or neutral hues?
Neutral hues all day long. I find them calming and timeless.
Name a design that has recently served as a source of inspiration.
The Classicon Brick screen; it’s a testament to Eileen Gray’s finesse with the craft and deep understanding of industrial design. The lacquered wood screen is movable, using repeating modular components that give it a timeless and dynamic quality.