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There's a new k.i.d on the block - announcing our newest local supplier

19/7/2021

Custom furniture is more popular than ever as a cost-effective solution to fit out a commercial space. This is also combined with the fact more and more businesses are opting to buy local. There are clear benefits to this, supporting local means supporting Australian jobs and the economy, and buying Australian made furniture means you can have greater trust in the product.

But what goes into making a custom piece and what makes custom pieces so special?

We sat down with our newest supplier Klaro Industrial Design (KID for short) to discuss some of these burning questions.
After a brief great tasting coffee (locally bought of course) and a tour of the showroom we got down to business.

What drives you to make custom furniture – What makes you want to do it?
I have a natural need to create and a desire to express my creativity, I find that I best do this through my furniture. During university I studied sculpture and interior architecture, but it wasn’t till 10 years ago where I explored furniture is a medium to express this creativity.

Furniture building is essentially my happy place and I fell into the craft naturally, and I can honestly say I love it. I see furniture as functional sculptures for a workplace and living space, combining form and function.

What are your top 3 challenges/considerations in making a custom piece?
Predominantly this is in material constraints. Specifically, regarding how readily available material is, so we need to consider a balance of cost in relation to the client’s ideal vision. Essentially the goal here is in producing a quality piece the client is happy with at a reasonable price.

There are also a multitude of technical considerations, a common one that comes to mind is the addition of elements to account for expansion and contraction with temperature changes, this isn’t always at the forefront of a client’s mind and often don’t get factored in when they initially compile a brief. Now the art is leveraging those additions components to be multifunctional, they should play both an important functional role and add to the overall aesthetic – Once again form and function!

A second common challenge which is often missed is access to the site – After building the units they then must be delivered and installed in the space. Entering and installing in the space needs to be accounted for, for example you will not be fitting a 6m specified table in a lift anytime soon. Therefore, from the beginning, said table must be designed so it can be broken down initially to be loaded into the lift, then it needs to be assembled on site – This needs to be straightforward as time constraints must be factored in. As all KID products are designed for longevity, we need to consider a client’s current space may be temporary, so at some point down the line, these pieces need to be easily dismantled without breaking – and yes, reassembled elsewhere.

A third consideration, which at the end of the day is common across all creative briefs is client translation – You sometimes need to translate a drawing to what I call supply and fit language. There once again needs to be a happy medium between cost, lead time and design intent. Sometimes a realignment is needed before we begin the project. An extension of this is relationship building (this is common again in any discipline I feel. A relationship needs to be established, properly nurtured, and maintained between clients, suppliers, and the general team. As you develop relationships you better understand abilities, limitations and improves your ability to predict and therefore adapt.

Where do you find inspiration and how do you use its power to create your furniture?
My inspiration stems from nature and natural items all around us, I focus on organic fluid shapes that flow and weaves, this goes against the normality of boxy, that we are exposed to everywhere and almost feels like a cookie cutter solution.
Alexander Gerrard and Louise Olsen are 2 of my favourite artists who I resonate with, and they fuel my inspiration, I love their work and I feel my furniture radiates with their influence. Fluidity is key to my work, which I meld with what is current and relevant with my audience.

I challenge myself in all my furniture to translate the visual language of organic art and nature into my work. This is reflected through the colour of my pieces, the shapes, textures and materials I use. It is through these materials where I implement softness (visually and tactilely), for example power trays which use PET felt that additionally are made from 70% recycled bottles.

What environment would you see your pieces fitting in? And what do you see as its greater purpose within the space?
All KID products are designed to seamlessly integrate into any dynamic modern office space. However, that’s not to say KID products won’t resonate in a traditional office, as each KID product is modified to work in its respective space.
Essentially, I want to help create a space which encourages people achieve a greater amount of creativity and facilitate a collaborative positive environment. there’s no such thing as a one size fits all! Specifically, in any place which hopes to see a positive interaction with the office staff. Ideally, I want KID furniture to help channel the staff in their work and help facilitate their full potential.

Put simply I believe beautiful things inspire you and will therefore help you achieve a positive, better mood, which numerous studies have supporting that a positive, better mood makes you more productive.

I want KID to be synonymous in helping to create a place which in turn helps people achieve a greater amount of creativity while facilitating a collaborative positive environment. I want to help create an office space where people will want to go to the office, rather than “have to” go into the office (especially with the current climate and challenges we are all facing as a larger society.)

Where do you source your materials from?
Ideally all materials are sourced locally, (Timber – Victorian ash) steel, various fabrics (eg wool) because in the end it all feeds back to the local community, which benefits us all.

I have a focus on recyclability and ensuring the material is biodegradable, my materials will hopefully see a second life after my product has ended. My focus is ethical and environmental sustainability.

Even international timber needs to be ethically sourced. Fabric, foam, MDF, steel and timber are generally local. Fabric can come from international sources but can be recycled if the user decides to do it. For example, the felt I use is 70% recyclable PET.

What do you want your pieces to say?
There’s a lot of thought and consideration that goes into all KID designs with a focus on minimal wastage, I want all KID furniture to voice timelessness, therefore it’s crucial to ensure longevity, and that the client can carry over the furniture to a new space if they move.

KID products need to look modern and timeless, whilst striving forward - Brighter and braver in its design whilst enhancing its environment. A KID furniture piece should start a conversation, they are conversation pieces.

However, the furniture needs to play well with others they should be an equal player in a well curated selection of pieces put together by the designer.

Finally, what’s the turnaround time for a custom piece?
All KID products have 4-5 weeks from confirmation to delivery and install. However, there are many factors that play into this, for example does the client want to source local or overseas components. But generally, we aim for 4-5 weeks.

As we closed off our conversation, I noticed how warm, welcoming, and comfortable the pieces were – A clear intention and by product of well-considered design and functionality. Also noting the trend in workspaces adopting an inviting aura to better facilitate a productive environment.

And without a doubt keen to see what’s next on the menu of KID products.

Montage offers a wide range of KID furniture, from workstations and tables to seating and storage – plus much more. Check it out here!