From Strength to Strength

‘This year has by far been our largest from both a product output perspective and external exhibition, with the studio fit out and such’, says Ross. A brief overview of the year to date shows how necessary it was to expanding into the new studio. So far in 2018 Ross Gardam have previewed the ‘Noon’ collection during Milan Design Week with Local Design, launched the brand in New York at ICFF (the International Contemporary Furniture Fair) and released the new collection ‘Adapt’, as well as lighting products ‘Ora’ and ‘Hemera’.

Based on five base elements, ‘Adapt’ is a modular series of lounges and accessories and is the largest collection Ross Gardam have released. ‘Adapt’ is a growing collection too, and will continue to evolve as new elements are designed. ‘I am really proud of the studio to be able to work on a project of this scale’, Ross says , ‘and I believe ‘Adapt’ stands out not only in locally produced product of its type but offers something new on an international level to this category.’ Meanwhile, with the preview in Milan in April as part of the Local Design exhibition, ‘Noon’, Ross explains, ‘has also been a long project and brings together a number of different types of objects including rugs, tables, mirrors and modular upholstered pieces.’

‘Hemera’, a desk-lamp, was created as part of the ‘New Volumes’ collection with Artedomus. Crafted from the Italian marble elba, the lamp was inspired by Brutalism. The light shining from between the two pieces of solid stone has the effect almost of a Biblical revelation, while the smooth Brutalist forms are keenly contemporary. ‘The development of the product has thrown up it’s challenges’, Ross admits, ‘however, it’s been one of the more enjoyable products I have worked on.’ The new studio space will facilitate the growing team of eight’s design process, which involves each designer working on one or two products at any given time, in close collaboration with Ross. ‘This is a nice way to work’, he says, and the approach ‘exposes everyone to the full gamut of stages in the design process, as well as keeping me busy overseeing multiple projects’.

All lighting is assembled and packaged in the studio almost everything is sourced in Melbourne including timber, ceramics and metal work ‘however, we get our mouth blown glass completed in Adelaide by the talented team at the Jam Factory’, says Ross. Pairing with a select group of local manufacturers, they clearly work hard to ensure each piece is pared back to the essentials, allowing the materials to shine. The challenge may also be part of the appeal – as Ross says, ‘l must also admit it’s fun to play with functionality and I am partial to a magnetic articulating function on a desk lamp!’

Ensconced in their new studio home, which they designed in collaboration with MRTN Architects and fitted out in a whirlwind three-week period, the team continue to hone their designs with unabated creative output. If 2018 is anything to go by, the next year in the larger Brunswick studio will be one to watch.