At Outdoor Designer Store we love working with creative designers who care about quality craftsmanship as much as we do. So we are beyond thrilled to be partnering with Australian furniture designer Rory Unite. You may have seen some of his deliciously unique designs around the likes of the Camperdown Commons and the Boathouse. Now you can source his beautiful handcrafted furnishings through our own Outdoor Designer Store Platform.
This is exciting news for designers looking to offer their clients a wider range of luxury outdoor products. It’s even better that they can get access to a local Australian creator with a flair for superior craftsmanship.
By combining old world craftsmanship with modern manufacturing techniques, Rory Unite has created a design practice with a commitment to quality craftsmanship.
His love of furniture design is functional: “what I love the most about furniture design is that you interact with furniture every day. We have an intimate relationship with these objects that we sit on, eat off and lean on. I believe they have the power to change the way we go about our day. They have the power to make us feel amazing and make our day to day better. ”
We’re more than excited to be offering our Outdoor Designer Store Platform users access to top-notch designers like Rory Unite, and we’ve got plenty of other talented designers up our sleeve. We caught up with him recently to get the low-down on how his furniture comes to life and how you can start offering your clients luxury products through the Outdoor Designer Store Platform.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
For me life is a great adventure. I am inspired by travel, different cultures, and different ways of seeing the world. I am very inspired by the talented craftspeople I am surrounded by.
Materials and process are also a great source of inspiration.
Your designs are produced in Indonesia. How did you decide on Java for your production shop?
It was a pretty organic experience actually. There were several reasons that I ended up in Indonesia. The first was that we had discovered an amazing school in Bali called the Green School. We really wanted to send our kids there. After enrolling them, my wife Nicola applied for a teaching position and got the job! So that meant we were moving to Bali.
At the same time, I was creating work for a local client and developing relationships with craftsmen in Java. It seemed like a pretty natural progression.
The people I have met and work with have played a huge role in my commitment to being here. I love working with talented people, and the cultural divide keeps me motivated to think differently – which I enjoy.
At the end of the day the experience is working for my whole family, which is the most important thing.
Can you tell us more about the design and production process?
Java is a manufacturing hub. There are many industries here producing loads of things we see in our every day. There is an abundance of resources and processes on offer. The Dutch created teak plantations here over 200 years ago which is now a very valuable resource for Indonesia. All our timbers come from plantations and are readily available. We buy trees and process them from log to plank.
Over the years I have been here we have discovered many different workshops that help us produce and develop hardware and steel elements, weavers, fabric producers, leather workers etc. It has been a process of finding the people we can work with who produce the best work.
How do you ensure a beautiful/quality product every time?
Yes that is the trick! Firstly, we own our own manufacturing facility that is operated by Australians and local talent. I have worked very closely with my team to ensure quality control measures. Again the key is the people you work with. I have a very talented and passionate team who are committed to producing beautiful work.
Can you tell us more about your Omni bracket?
The Omni bracket was developed after being inspired by seeing a local hardware workshop producing angle brackets. It started as a solution to a flatpack furniture idea. The bracket allowed us to separate legs from tops for packing and sending. We use it for a range of products, and it makes a beautiful detail in the construction of the furniture.
Can you tell us how designers can work with you through the Outdoor Designer Store Platform?
Of course! If you’re a designer all you have to do is sign up online to start building your own virtual store. You’ll get access to other handy things like moodboards, worksheets, and an online payment system – it’s really great for designers who are looking to offer a wider range of luxury products similar to ourselves.
We hope you enjoyed getting to know a little more about Rory and we can’t wait to bring you more inspiring creators. At Outdoor Designer Store we only source designers and products that are truly at the top of their game, if you’re interested in learning about how you can connect with them please visit Designers.
