Design With Meaning – Dessein Furniture

Feature Article

North Fitzroy, VIC, Australia

Born from a desire to support local Australian design, Dessein Furniture is passionate about facilitating new opportunities for established and emerging Australian designers through the sustainable production of stylish furniture pieces and lighting. We learn how founder Michele Chow’s vision has evolved over the past six years and why Dessein’s five pillar approach to furniture production is benefitting the Australian design industry as a whole.

Australia is a nation like no other. The influence of our uniquely multicultural society can be observed throughout business and culture, in particular within Australia’s architecture and design industries. Dessein Furniture produces modern pieces that are a true reflection of Australia’s unique culture, lifestyle and landscape. “What I see in Australian design is a fresh perspective on the world, a vibrancy and youthfulness that provides insight into our nation’s multicultural diversity”. states Michele Chow, founder of Dessein Furniture. This is a perspective that has informed Dessein’s design process since inception, a process that not only celebrates the distinctiveness of Australian design, but supports the industry as well.

“What I see in Australian design is a fresh perspective on the world, a vibrancy and youthfulness that provides insight into our nation’s multicultural diversity”.

Since 2012, Dessein Furniture has been supporting local Australian design through collaborations with some of Australia’s most talented emerging and established designers. Designers Tom Fereday, Jon Goulder, Chris Nicholson and numerous others have worked with Dessein to produce original furniture products with universal appeal to architects, interior designers, stylists and design-conscious customers. “Authenticity and accessibility are at the heart of what we do”, explains Michele. “So, our enduring and accessible products are designed to remain relevant for a wide range of uses and applications”. Dessein believes that quality Australian design should be accessible to everyone, so considered choices are made throughout the design process to ensure the Australian public is offered accessible products that are stylish and sustainable.

Since 2012, Dessein Furniture has been supporting local Australian design through collaborations with some of Australia’s most talented emerging and established designers.

Founder Michele Chow is the epitome of the rich multicultural heritage that Dessein Furniture pieces use as design inspiration. A childhood spent exploring her father’s architectural studio and globetrotting from Malaysia to London and finally Melbourne informed her vision for Australian design. Michele launched Dessein Furniture with the unwavering motivation to facilitate greater opportunities for Australian designers to apply their trade. Over the past six years Michele has retained her commitment to creating a better way of living through design as Dessein has consistently introduced sustainably-manufactured products including the Torii Chair, Pieman and Tap Collections. With Michele at the helm, all Dessein furniture products are designed through the central five pillar approach.

“Authenticity and accessibility are at the heart of what we do”.

This approach hinges on what Michele perceives as the most crucial areas of quality design and exceptional business practice. When all five pillars are put in place Dessein is able to produce the unique products for which they are known. Dessein is committed to producing authentic locally-designed furniture, pieces that are manufactured with quality and sustainability in mind. “Our mission is to deliver a range of furniture and objects which are distinctive in their authenticity, versatile in application, accessible in affordability and enduring in style”, explains Michele. The remaining two pillars are focused on the creation of flexible design solutions and personable customer service which matches Dessein’s ethos of “flexible furniture for life:. Dessein’s five pillar approach is testament to their overarching passion for the support and advancement of local Australian design.

Naturally, Dessein Furniture has grown in size and stature since being founded by Michele Chow in 2012. Throughout this time Dessein has always maintained its commitment to supporting the local Australian design industry through the sustainable creation of affordable furniture items that express modern functionality and style. The approach taken by Michele Chow and Dessein Furniture towards quality design ensures that our national identity will continue to be articulated through emotive and finely honed creativity for the foreseeable future.

“Our mission is to deliver a range of furniture and objects which are distinctive in their authenticity, versatile in application, accessible in affordability and enduring in style”.