my folio

Tracelet 2012. Injection moulded SAN bracelets in custom colours. Photography Christina Waterson.

Tracelet 2012. Injection moulded SAN bracelets in custom colours. Photography Christina Waterson.

Scale Screen 2012. Custom folded aluminium with powdercoat finish. Photography Tobias Titz.

Shadow Set 2012. Recycled rubber with stainless steel pins. Photography Jon Linkins.

Shadow Set 2012. Recycled rubber with stainless steel pins. Photography Jon Linkins.

Thread Screen 2010. Marine plywood and rope. Photography Tobias Titz.

The Bloom Series 2009. Seven piece furniture and home wares range. Photography Jon Linkins.

Lift Stool and Tilt Mag Rack (Bloom Series) 2009. Marine plywood. Photography Jon Linkins.

Jet, Mist and Fruit Pixels (Bloom Series) 2009. Recycled Acrylic. Photography Jon Linkins.

1/2 Tilt Platter and Fruit Pixels (Bloom Series) 2009. Marine plywood, recycled acrylic. Photography Jon Linkins.

Komodo Series Forms 2008. Cardboard, polypropylene, and stainless steel. Photography David Sandison.

Komodo Series Screens 2008. Hand woven plywood with stainless steel fixings. Photography Aidan Murphy.

Plexa Screen (Komodo Series) 2008. Hand woven plywood, stainless steel fixings. Photography Aidan Murphy.

X-Screen (Komodo Series) 2008. Hand woven plywood with stainless steel fixings. Photography Jon Linkins.

Taking Flight (Conceptual View) 2010. Folded aluminium with powdercoat finish. Photography Jon Linkins.

Taking Flight (Installation View) 2010. Folded aluminium with powdercoat finish. Photography Jon Linkins.

Array Ceiling (RAIA Awards Edition) 2007. Cardboard and stainless steel. CFJ Photography.

Array Ceiling (RAIA Awards Edition) 2007. Cardboard and stainless steel. CFJ Photography.

Veil Light (Ocular Series) 2002. Drafting film and cotton thread. Photography Tobias Titz.

Remember Surface Study (Ocular Series) 2002. Drafting film. Photography Tobias Titz.

Judging the 2014 Australian Interior Design Awards

Entries now open!

With the 2014 Australian Interior Design Awards’ entry now open it is a pleasure to announce I have been selected as a return jury member for the awards. It’s an honour to be selected amongst such innovative practitioners that make up the 2014 Jury.

The Jury
Susanna Billardo, Director, Enoki (SA)
Matthew Blain, Principal, Hassell (NSW)
Hamish Guthrie, Director, Hecker Guthrie (Vic)
Victoria Judge, Associate, Smart Design Studio (NSW)
Paul Kelly, Director, Paul Kelly Design (NSW)
Geraldine Maher, Principal, Jackson Architecture (Vic)
Ryan Russell, Director, Russell & George (Vic)
Christina Waterson, Principal, Christina Waterson Studio (Qld)

Sustainability Advisor
John Gertsakis, Infoactiv Group (Vic)

Jury Convenor
Joanne Cys, Associate Professor in Interior Architecture, University of SA

Since 2004 the Australian Interior Design Awards program has celebrated excellence in interior design. Projects submitted for the awards by Australian based design practices may have been realised anywhere in the world across categories that include retail, residential, hospitality, workplace and public spaces.

Entries close 12 February 2014! Go to the Australian Interior Design Awards Website for more information, category details, conditions and to register your entry!

HIGHTIDE the Exhibition: Digging Deeper Reaching Higher

The Hightide exhibition opened at artisan: idea skill product on 31 October 2013. Photography Christina Waterson.

The Hightide: Queensland Design Now exhibition and book serve as a terrific introduction to the featured 22 Queensland designers. A sample of their designs, realised from 2002 to 2012, appear in the exhibition and speak of their passion to make inspirational objects that become a special part of people’s everyday lives. Their designs also show a sensitivity to materials and a celebration of light and shadow informed by a deep connection to this place, Queensland. Lift the corner a little and you find the designers’ true depth and contribution rest further afield beyond their designs.

Catching up: Benjamin Breitenstein (luxxbox and Made Here Now) and Karl Hilton. Photography Christina Waterson.

Many of the designers’ projects have been realised throughout Australia and overseas. They redefine and push materials in ways that only come from working closely with makers and manufacturers in Australia and the Asia-Pacific Region. Many of the featured designers collaborate with practitioners across fashion, food, architecture, and design as well as give ongoing mentorship to design students and design professionals. They have side projects in publishing and writing as well as exhibition and event design.

The inspiring David Shaw and KT Doyle in deep conversation. Photography Christina Waterson.

Designers including Daniel Tobin (UAP), Jason Bird (Luxxbox), Alex Lotersztein (Derlot) and Luis Nheu (Interior Designer, Brand + Slater) have contributed to public art, interior and architectural projects across the globe. Others write and publish books, journals and guides. Jason Bird initiated, wrote and published Hightide: Queensland Design Now. KT Doyle, Surya Graf and Christina Waterson (yes me!) share their inspiration, process and perspective through their blogs What I Learned Last Week, A Sugar Fry and Tracepattern, respectively.

Bjorn Rust is a Co-founder and the editor-in-chief of Scrag End Journal (about food and also a cut of lamb). Darcy Clarke has written a guide entitled Creating a Difference: Business Tips for Creative People to Become Business People. David Shaw (Street & Garden) and Marc Harrison (husque) maintain thriving design businesses and have actively mentored some of the featured designers for many years; importantly guiding, informing and inspiring them and the next generation of practitioners.

Dig deeper and see what you discover…

I wholeheartedly encourage you to visit the Hightide exhibition at artisan, enjoy the Hightide book with a coffee and a sweety, and then take the time to look a little closer into the 22 Queensland Designers.

You will be truly inspired by not only the breadth of their world class designs and depth of practice, but also the true heights of their creative reach!

The Swap Table Revived

In the foyer of Torbreck, the apartment building where I reside, there is a table. Over the past few weeks the table has once again been revived as the residents’ beloved Swap Table. To celebrate I thought I would reblog extracts from a previous post all about the joy of swapping!

All sorts of things have started arriving on the table again; books; magazines; outgrown children’s clothes; interesting utensils; and toys. This is where you can also pick up a newspaper or the Brisbane News as you arrive home.

The best thing is that you can pick up a book for the afternoon, have a little read, and if it’s not your thing simply put it back on the table for someone else to enjoy.

There is one rule I do abide by – in order to pick an item up one must put something back on the table. Hence the name Swap Table. I have placed architecture magazines, books and dress up clothes on the table in the past, so feel A-OK about the odds and ends I pick up.

It’s such a joy again to walk through the foyer and discover what has arrived on the table overnight. A Harrod’s cheese platter was there yesterday!

I do love the community at Torbreck and Torbreck’s Swap Table!

Merging September into October

The Brisbane Launch of The Monocle’s Guide for Better Living was attended by a who’s who from Brisbane’s Creative Community.

September/October proved to be my busiest months so far this year. I had to literally run from meetings to appointments and from deadline to deadline. Needless to say I am happy it is November! So to bring you all up to speed here I share some of my September/October highlights!

Guests were treated to personally signed copies of The Monocle Guide for Better Living by editor-in-chief Tyler Brûlé, good conversation and unique culinary treats by Gerard’s Bistro, Fortitude Valley.

September ended with a kind invitation from Elie Moubarak (Owner and Creative Force behind Lychee Lounge, Laruche Bar & Supperclub, and Gerard’s Bistro) to attend Monocle’s launch of their Guide for Better Living. It was a great event! Thank you Elie and all who attended for making it a delectable afternoon delight!

Lucky Duck cafe and bar launched in Highgate Hill.

Some dear friends launched their cafe and bar Lucky Duck which is a stone’s throw from where I reside. I took a few photos to support their budding business and enjoyed some great coffee, chilled live music and the relaxed interior at the same time. Congratulations Justine and James!

Compiling my portfolio for a myriad of applications.

As part of my future dreaming for 2014 I have been applying for residencies, exhibition opportunities and project funding. I can’t say any more than that as I never count my chickens before they’re hatched! Fingers Crossed!

Broad Beach master planning model by Bond Unit 2A Architecture Students.

I’ve been transiting back and forth to Bond University twice weekly to guide Studio Unit 2A Architecture Students through a project which transforms Broad Beach with a series of community projects.

13000km to date!

There has been a lot of driving this month with my speedometer clocking 13000 kilometres…

…and a lot of weaving. Here I am pictured putting the finishing touches on X-Screen Solid for the Hightide Exhibition at artisan.

Weaving Weaving Weaving. I spent much of October with Tasmanian Oak. Sanding it, sealing it and weaving it into X-Screen Solid for the Hightide exhibition at artisan. For more on the process stay tuned!

A six-hour world wind visit to Sydney. Sunset over Sydney Harbour.

A quick trip to Sydney for an application that’s part of my future dreaming for 2014! I had just enough time to enjoy the sunset over Sydney Harbour.

A happy dance with my designs, celebrating the Hightide Exhibition opening at artisan, Fortitude Valley Brisbane. Photo by Darcy Clarke.

The month rounded out with the Hightide Exhibition opening at artisan Fortitude Valley. During October I was interviewed for the exhibition content and worked on story boxes that described the conceptual ideas behind my designs. It was a rewarding process. X-screen solid was featured in my suite of works alongside Lift Stool, Tilt Mag Rack and Tracelet. In total 22 designers exhibited work in the exhibition that complemented the Hightide: Queensland Design Now publication launched earlier in 2013 in LA, Melbourne and Brisbane.

All photography by Christina Waterson unless otherwise credited.