It started as a flag-flying passion project of sorts.
“We need to nurture and support the design talent from our own nations and work with talented makers to create new age visions,” declares Emma Elizabeth, the Sydney-based designer and stylist who founded Local Design back in 2015 as a bid to shine a spotlight on Australian and New Zealand designers, having felt that the nations’ design aesthetics had yet to be understood on a global stage.
Well, if they weren’t before, they certainly are well on their way. The online and offline gallery platform has been gaining much traction for its dynamic catalogue of one-of-a-kind, artisanal works spanning homeware, furniture, accessories and decorative pieces, each meticulously sourced by Emma herself and created by handpicked Australian and New Zealand designers. The platform thus creates a global market much like an ambassador for the nations’ aesthetics and talents.
The designs have now landed in Hong Kong, with Emma bringing an exclusively-designed collection to Lane Crawford earlier this month. We sat down with the multi-hyphenate creative to talk about how these designs stand out from the rest.
What spurred the creation of Local Design?
Over the years I have travelled to many design weeks and shows, as an Australian, and yet I still felt that the wider global audience had no connection or understanding of our market. The whole world has become focused on slow food, slow fashion and I think slow design should be a focus as well. Thus, Local Design was created in order to create and curate a platform that raised the level of awareness of Australasian designers to a global audience—to create a connection between, face, product and name.
What’s your curating process like? What do you look for in creations or designers you collaborate with?
A point of difference, a positive attitude, the ability to work collaboratively, passion for the industry, work ethic and most of all courage. It’s not an easy path being a creative or a designer. I enjoy working with the designers I choose and give them a direction, point of view and collaborative understanding, so it’s important that I work with designers who are willing to go on the journey together and not just skip to the beat of their own drum so to speak.
What stands out about Australian designs?
We aren’t afraid of taking risks, exploring materiality, pushing forms and function, plus utilising the inspiration and knowledge of the rest of the world. Australasian design in a colimitation of cultures.
Any plans to expand outside of Australian and New Zealand to feature foreign designers?
I feel the term ‘local’ is something that resonates with all cultures; the term Local Design could be used as a platform within all nations to support and connect the design culture to a global and national audience. Even the exhibition I host every year in Milan is called Local Milan—I would love in the future to host exhibits like Local London, Local Hong Kong, Local Shanghai and such that bring Australasian design to the rest of the world.
How did the collaboration with Lane Crawford come about?
Lane Crawford was one of the first brands to make an appointment with me about 4 years ago when I first launched in Milan, as they were keen to make a direct connection with Australasian design. They have come to the show each year and I was asked to be a guest judge on their Creative Call out in Australia. From there we combined creative visions and decided to create an exclusive collection for Lane Crawford of collectable pieces from inspiring Australasian designers.
What does good design mean to you?
Good design is something that makes you stop, think and ponder. It inspires you, the way you live and sparks change. It’s about evoking new age nostalgia.
Name a designer or artist who’s been particularly inspiring to you recently.
I am inspired by Australian artist Esther Stewart—her use of colour and form are incredibly inspiring for the design world. Her works have even been used in the fashion world by the likes of Valentino.
Favourite travel destination?
For design, it would have to be Milan, Valencia, Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne and Eindhoven.
See also: Elad Yifrach Talks L’Objet’s Latest Collaboration With the Haas Brothers
