The current economic climate in Ireland is daunting for even the most established legacy brands and ubiquitous retail chains in that region, writes Elish Bul Godley, who is pleased to bring Furniture News’ readers a positive story from Dublin’s upcoming Irish Furniture & Interiors Fair in the form of young designer Gráinne Lyons …
The Irish Furniture & Interiors Fair, Ireland’s only key trade event for the sector, is more than 30 years old now, having see the several economic cycles through. This year it continues to provide a dedicated space for new Irish designer-makers in the sector – the New Design Ireland feature area.
One of these is Gráinne Lyons, a young Irish designer based in Dublin. After graduating from Dublin Institute of Technology with a First Class (Hons) Degree in Furniture Design, Gráinne set up her own studio where she is currently working on her own collection of lighting and Interior products.
I asked her to share her thoughts on her designs’ aesthetic and creative processes …
How would you describe what you do?
I create unique, contemporary and affordable products with a distinct interest in form, construction and texture.
“Form should go far beyond function.” How does this principle inform your work?
The function of my furniture is to create visual expression and curiosity in design and construction through form. To me, design has to master a visual language. The visual language is the basis of design creation. Setting aside the functional aspects, there are principles and concepts in visual organisation to be concerned about.
Sensitivity to visual relationships is much more important to me as a designer than functionality.
Following trends and applying ideas based on specific needs and goals is the easy part – being allowed, as a designer, to express a message and emotion free of any specification, is where true beauty is born in design.
Tell me more about how you formulate new products and designs
My interests lie in how construction techniques and form can combine to create structures which in essence are quite simple but make the most of visual form. With every new design I begin by looking at how a form can function as an object, while exhibiting expression and curiosity through its construction and visual aesthetic.
Three dimensional design aims to establish harmony and order in design which generates visual excitement as its purpose. Taking this approach to my designs, I am able to visualise the piece as a whole – including its visual form – from all angles and directions.
Take us through your design process in practical terms
Working on the basis of 3-dimensional design and the geometric properties of form, I begin by using paper or card to create 3-dimensional forms, taking the 2-dimensional materials and working them into a 3-dimensional form through certain structural techniques and principles. The planar modules used produce forms that appear complex, yet have a basic underlying principle.
“As with every new design, I began by experimenting with 3-dimensional design to develop exciting new forms which could function as particular objects”
The fabrication of my design is just as important in my projects as the end result. I aim to evoke a certain unity within my pieces to show that each individual module is important to the structure of each piece as a whole.
I take a very hands-on approach to my designs through 3-dimensional model-making and material exploration and experimentation. My pieces are created through an exploration of a particular process rather than a pre-determined outcome. Using this approach, I gain a better insight into the unique properties of materials and utilise the knowledge to develop form-making techniques for both hand-crafted and CNC production.
So what new products will you bring to the Irish Furniture & Interiors Fair at the RDS Dublin this October?
I am currently working on a number of new products which I hope to launch at this year’s fair, as well as products which I currently have on the market. As with every new design, I began by experimenting with 3-dimensional design to develop exciting new forms which could function as particular objects. I applied this idea to a new range of lighting which I am developing, as well as a modular room divider system.
These pieces has been designed and formed around the concepts of Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic domes and the mathematical properties of form. I have used polypropylene as a material in the past for my lighting products, but I am experimenting with new materials like wood veneer and different wood laminates for the new lighting range.
Like my current lighting products The Cloud and Crochet Cloud, which have been designed for the retail market, this range is also self-assembly. The form itself is made up of 32 modules which slot together in a repeat motion to form a 3-dimensional sphere. It will be available in two different sizes – 400 and 600mm wide in diameter – and will be constructed using laser-cut wood veneer.
Elish Bul Godley is the event sales and operations manager for the Irish Furniture & Interiors Fair, which takes place between 6-8th October at the RDS, Dublin. Read her bio here.
