Captivated by the relationship between contemporary design and natural materials, Australian-born designer Tom Fereday has established a thriving career in furniture design. Taking an honest and holistic approach to each creation, his pieces and works have been published on an international scale.
Evostyle recently interviewed Fereday to find out more about his collaborations, one of his latest projects collaborating with the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and why local collaboration has been detrimental to his flourishing design career.
What have been some of your favourite projects/collaborations? "Truly some of my favourite collaborations have been with manufacturers including Evostyle. I am fortunate enough to work with incredible makers who have decades of experience in specific fields. These close collaborations have allowed me to create some of the most refined and innovative outcomes," says Fereday.
Evostyle asked Fereday to speak about about the ottomans created for the Art Gallery of NSW. "I’m incredibly proud to have collaborated with the Art Gallery of New South Wales on a unique ottoman seating collection for the entire gallery. Over the period of two years, a collaboration with the gallery was formed through the shared goal of creating a seating collection designed to complement the incredible space and artworks of the iconic Sydney gallery."
Inspired by the architecture of the Art Gallery, the Fereday ottoman (as named by the gallery) was designed and developed for the entire public gallery space, resulting in over 35 unique ottomans and lounges. One of the key factors in developing the collection was a sympathetic consideration for the space and purpose of the gallery.
What makes Evostyle unique to work with? Fereday answers, "Fundamentally, Luke and Louise (founders of Evostyle) care deeply about timber production and design. It is rare to find manufacturers that want to innovate, to try new techniques and methods of production and create truly world-class products. Automation such as CNC manufacturing that Evostyle specialize in has levelled the field in quality of production internationally, however these seemingly automated processes require an incredible depth of knowledge, an understanding of materials, and processes."
How important is it to you to manufacture in Australia? "It is little discussed internationally however, Australia has some incredible manufacturers within the furniture and product design industry but these industries that support the design industry can only grow and prosper with support. It is the most sustainable and logical practice to produce locally and importantly fosters and supports our entire design industry including our studio," says Fereday.
What does the future of furniture design/craft/manufacturing look like in Australia? Fereday says, "It is an incredibly exciting time for design in Australia. What is most exciting is the huge groundswell of designers and makers wanting to work and create locally. I am very excited to see where the industry evolves and am excited to be a part of this."
