2019 Designer Awards

Page 20 www.lux-review.com LUX 2019 Designer Awards Another facet of Duncan’s ethos is not wanting to move with quick moving trends, but instead create designs which will stand the test of time both metaphorically and physically. He firmly believes that sustainability should be at the core of the design process, it should not be tacked on at the end, furniture and lights should be designed to stand the test of time. As such, his solutions combine his passion for sustainability and innovation to create truly spectacular lighting experiences. Having won a number of major awards for 2018 has helped build upon the success of last year for Duncan Meerding’s design practise. Last year Duncan won the international DARC Award for ‘Best Floor Light of 2018’. The award has a unique judging process with over 6000 strictly vetted peers voting for nominated designs. In 2018 he also exhibited at Venice Design 2018, an official satellite exhibition of the Venice Biennale. This built upon a number of projects and custom commissions, which Duncan undertook in this period, including: MACq01 Hotel in Hobart, The DEN Cocktail Bar in Hobart, Google Singapore, Clarion Hotel in Stockholm, Google offices in Singapore and Oak Restaurant in Bahrain. Looking ahead, Duncan Meerding will continue to innovate and enhance his solutions offering to ensure clients continue to enjoy truly unique lighting design solutions that will meet their needs and exceed their expectations. Company: Duncan Meerding Website: www.duncanmeerding.com.au Inspired by nature and an alternative way of viewing the world, Duncan Meerding’s solutions are created for a range of commercial and domestic clients, shipped worldwide from the firm’s studio in North Hobart, Tasmania. Meerding has a unique vision for design, being legally blind with less than 5% vision concentrated around the peripheral fields, much of his work reflects this alternative sensory world in which he operates, with an interest in how light performs through and around objects. The Stump Light is a specific example of this, with the randomised light patterns thrown through the different cracks in each light, concentrating on what the object is doing to the light as a key part of the design, dispersing and throwing light to the side. He also continues to have a strong connection with sustainability in design – all of his log- based designs are made from salvaged wood which would other-wise have been burnt. Working with a range of materials, his designs draw heavily from the vast natural beauty of the Tasmanian wilderness. With a focus on form and texture, much of Meerding’s work features organic curving lines inspired by the local landscape. Additionally, many of his designs highlight the highly tactile nature of the materials used, embracing their natural characteristics. His Propeller light (pictured right) also hand made through his studio in Tasmania, is designed and made in a way to flat-pack, reducing the economic and environmental cost when shipping. The light combines floral-like shapes into a propeller timber form. International award-winning designer Duncan Meerding produces innovative lighting solutions for a range of clients from his studio in Tasmania. To showcase his success in this year’s Designer Awards we profile Meerding and his design practice and explore the secrets behind their collective success. Duncan Meerding Best Furniture & Lighting Designer - Australia