Design Your Life

Designing Positive Outcomes Through Trusting Your Intuition with Prof. Joel Pearson

Frost — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 22:13:52 +0000

Ep 2 of the exclusive ‘The Brief is You’ series with Vince Frost & Prof. Joel Pearson.

Not sure when to trust your intuition or when to fight it?

In our second episode of the ‘The Brief is You’ series Vince and Professor Joel Pearson discuss how intuition and decision making play a pivotal role in everyday life. The pair delve into its importance in design and why it is so integral to listen and learn from your feelings both pre and post decision making. Joel also discusses techniques such as cognitive reframing as a tool to help you escape moments of emotional confliction.

This time, the brief is you. Learn from Australia’s leading expert on the brain on how you can take off in 2021, learning how to understand and harness your mind and creativity whilst designing your life.

To ensure you are the best version of yourself in 2021, we have partnered with Cognitive Neuroscience Professor Joel Pearson, to dissect how our brains work and what you can do take control of yours this year. Prof. Pearson is an internationally recognised leader in human consciousness research and applied cognitive neuroscience currently developing new methods to measure dimensions of the human experience previously thought to be immeasurable including creativity, imagination, memory, entrepreneurship, intuition and decision–making.

Prof. Pearson is Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of New South Wales, a National Health and Medical Research Council fellow and founder of UNSW Future Minds Lab, MindX and Agile Science.

https://www.profjoelpearson.com/

Designing Resiliency with Prof. Joel Pearson

Frost — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 03:00:31 +0000

This time, the brief is you. Learn from Australia’s leading expert on the brain on how you can take off in 2021. Learning how to understand and harness your mind and creativity whilst designing your life.

In episode 1, Vince and Prof. Pearson talk about resiliency. What it is and what it’s not, psychological hormesis and the impact of healthy social interactions on our ability to be resilient.

To ensure you are the best version of yourself in 2021, we have partnered with Cognitive Neuroscientist Professor Joel Pearson, to dissect how our brains work and what you can do take control yours this year. Prof. Pearson is an internationally recognised leader in human consciousness research and applied cognitive neuroscience currently developing new methods to measure dimensions of the human experience previously thought to be immeasurable including creativity, imagination, memory, entrepreneurship, intuition and decision–making.

Throughout this series we will cover 5 topics:

Resilience
Intuition & Decision Making
Wellbeing
Creativity
Designing Your Life

Designing Timeless Fashion with Lee Mathews

Frost — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 22:18:52 +0000

In the ninth instalment of the exclusive Australian Made series, Vince chats with Lee Mathews the founder and designer of forward-thinking fashion house Lee Mathews. At a time of so much uncertainty in the world, the Australian Made series focuses on brilliant people here in Australia, celebrating designing and making local.

For nearly two decades Lee Mathews has been designing a making unique and desirable womenswear which avoided transient fashion trends. Despite sitting outside general convention Lee’s clothes have become widely popular, namely due to their balanced combination of relaxed look and high-quality feel. Now with 4 retail stores and over 60 national stockists Lee Mathews has moved into homeware ranges featuring beautifully crafted soaps and candles, an array of colourful glassware as well as linen bedding as tasteful as her clothes.

Vince and Lee discuss her passion for creativity, screen printing and making clothes at an early age to pay the rent as well as her early career in fashion, from getting a job at vogue with limited qualifications to designing Mambo’s children ware.

The pair go on to dig a little deeper into why early working relationships play an integral role in shaping what you end up doing later on in your career, the importance of following your instincts even though they may not always be right and how working from home has heavily influenced Lee Mathews latest collection.

Enjoy!

Lee Mathews

Frost*collective

Designing a Sustainable Fashion Brand with Bassike Founders Deborah Sams & Mary Lou Ryan

Frost — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 22:14:04 +0000

In the seventh instalment of the exclusive Australian Made series, Vince chats with Deborah Sams and Mary Lou Ryan the co-founders of Bassike. At a time of so much uncertainty in the world, the Australian Made series focuses on brilliant people here in Australia, celebrating designing and making local.

Starting out in a run-down beach shack in Sydney’s Palm Beach, the duo have grown the mindful fashion house into internationally acclaimed business. From the get-go their vision was to create luxurious and wearable everyday pieces with a commitment to sustainable manufacturing.

We decided to record each interview separately so that we could get a clearer understanding of their differing perspectives on running the business, as well as explore their varied roles, responsibilities and ultimately how they make it all work.

In Part one Vince chats with Deborah Sam’s about how the business began, how they have successfully maintained their values and remained on brand over the last 14 years.

In part two Vince speaks to Mary Lou, Bassike’s director of supply chain and sustainability about the business’ eco-friendly practices, some important tips on starting a brand and why it’s so important to take a step back and appreciate what you have achieved.

Enjoy!

Bassike

Designing Rich Landscapes with Will Dangar

Frost — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 22:56:57 +0000

In the sixth instalment of the exclusive Australian Made series, Vince chats to Will Dangar one of Australia’s foremost landscape designers. At a time of so much uncertainty in the world, the Australian Made series focuses on brilliant people here in Australia, celebrating designing and making local.

Despite losing his job in the early 90’s due to the recession Will bounced back by starting his own lawn mowing business. From there his love for plants and landscape design grew rapidly, most notably due to the push and influence from his wife Julia.

Will Dangar’s 25-year career has seen him build some of the country’s most iconic residential landscapes. Will began his working life at a cattle station in Queensland before moving down to Sydney to become a labourer. Despite losing his job in the early 90’s due to the recession Will bounced back by starting his own lawn mowing and landscape business.

Will quickly developed a reputation for his refined design aesthetic, no-nonsense manner, and highly creative approach to problem solving. Now not only managing his landscape design business Dangar-Barin-Smith, Will is also the creative director of Robert Plumb, a distinctive Australian design and construction brand synonymous with quality craftsmanship and a practical, refined aesthetic.

Listen in as Vince and Will discuss the importance of empowering your employees and why embracing failure is paramount and how a business deals with its mistakes is what defines it.

The pair also delve into how a corporate Christmas tree side business almost sunk Robert Plumb, the business’ relationship with internationally acclaimed architect Luigi Roselli and why Will owes so much of where he is today to his wife Julia.

Enjoy!

Dangar-Barren-Smith

Robert Plumb

Design Your Life

Designing Quiet Furniture with Khai Liew

Frost — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 23:21:05 +0000

In the fifth instalment of the Oz Makers series, Vince chats to Khai Liew a multi-disciplinary designer based in Adelaide. At a time of so much uncertainty in the world, the Australian Made series focus’ on brilliant people here in Australia, celebrating designing and making local.

The next guest is one of the shinning lights in Australian furniture design. Immigrating from Malaysia to South Australia in the 70’s Khai Lew’s early career was heavily shaped by his fathers love for danish furniture. Developing the skills learnt from Germanic cabinet makers Khai quickly became a master of woodwork and design. Fast forward to today and Khai has been commissioned to create every piece of furniture in Judith Neilson’s Sydney home, Indigo Slam and has also been asked to create one off pieces for Louis Vuitton stores across the world.

Liew is widely recognised for his dedicated contribution to the development of a modernist Australian design aesthetic. In 2010 he was awarded the South Australian of the Year Arts Award by the Government of South Australia and in 2016 he was inducted into the Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame. In 2017, he received the Design Institute of Australia’s “Design Icon” Award, and in 2018, Liew was recognised as a Design Luminary at the INDE awards in Singapore.

Listen in as Vince and Khai discuss the influence of Germanic migrant culture in South Australia in the 70’s, why his father has always been his biggest critic and which material is his preference.

The pair also dive into Khai’s design and build process and what the future holds for him and his practice.

Enjoy!

Designing KeepCup with Abigail Forsyth

Frost — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 03:25:03 +0000

In the fourth instalment of the exclusive Australian Made series, Vince chats to Abigail Forsyth, the co-founder, CEO and spokeswoman of KeepCup. At a time of so much uncertainty in the world, the Australian Made series will focus on brilliant people here in Australia, celebrating designing and making local.

Once a lawyer in a boutique firm in Melbourne Abigail Forsyth decided to change career paths in the search for something different, something with more purpose. Alarmed by the amount of disposable packaging being wasted Abigail began her search for a more sustainable and environmentally conscious way to serve food. In 2007 she took the bold step of designing and manufacturing her own reusable cup, two intensive years later the KeepCup brand was born.

Since its inception in 2009 KeepCup has gone from strength to strength becoming the leading figure in sustainable reusable coffee cups.

Listen in as Vince and Abigail KeepCup’s inception and who came up with its perfect name as well as why parameters drive the creative process.

The pair also delve into B-Corp certification, what Abigail and her family’s sustainable practices are as well as the importance of dematerialisation and designing for long life and reuse.

Enjoy!

KeepCup

Frost*collective x KeepCup

Designing for Good with Dr. Brandon Gien

Frost — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 23:35:10 +0000

In the third instalment of the exclusive Australian Made series, Vince chats to Dr. Brandon Gien who is the Founder and CEO of Good Design Australia and Chair of Australia’s annual Good Design Awards. At a time of so much uncertainty in the world, the Australian Made series will focus on brilliant people here in Australia, celebrating designing and making local.

Good Design Awards, is the longest-running design award program in Australia with its origins dating back to the Industrial Design Council of Australia (IDCA) established in 1958.

Brandon has spent the past 25 years advocating for the value of design to improve our social, economic, cultural and environmental quality of life at a national and international level.

Listen in as Vince and Brandon discuss how he got so heavily involved in design and his role in Good Design Australia as well as why Taiwan and Singapore are two surprising leaders in the design world.

The pair also touch on the growing issue of AI, how developing countries have the highest potential for design and reiterated the importance of designers taking charge in the fight against climate change.

Enjoy!

Good Design Australia

Design Your Life

Designing with Flowers with Saskia Havekes

Frost — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 00:16:19 +0000

In the second instalment of the exclusive Australian Made series, Vince chats to Saskia Havekes the founder of florist Grandiflora. At a time of so much uncertainty in the world, the Australian Made series will focus on brilliant people here in Australia, celebrating designing and making local.

Established in 1995 in a small shop in the Eastern Sydney suburb of Potts Point, Grandiflora was the birthplace of a dream career of Saskia. Since its inception over two decades ago Grandiflora has grown immensely. It now influences aesthetic for interior styling, hospitality, fashion, editorial and even the modern rituals of giving and displaying flowers.

Saskia is not just a florist but also an author and a fragrance creator. She has published four fantastic books, a number of them based around the Grandiflora brand and aesthetic. 2013 saw the Paris launch of her first two fragrances and now soon to release her 8th and final one.

Listen in as Vince and Saskia discuss her childhood growing up in the Australian bush and how her parents were big influences on her creatively. Saskia also reminisces on how from an early age nature was the driving force of her inspiration.

The pair also discuss owning a business, some of the key findings she has learnt along the way as well as what it is really like to be a florist on Valentines day!

Enjoy!

Grandiflora

Design Your Life

Designing From the Ground Up with Shelley Simpson

Frost — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 00:43:28 +0000

In the first instalment of the exclusive Australian Made series, Vince chats to Shelley Simpson the founder of Mud Australia. At a time of so much uncertainty in the world, the Australian Made series will focus on brilliant people here in Australia, celebrating designing and making local.

Mud Australia was founded in 1994. The porcelain range, designed by Shelley, combines handmade processes with clean lines, an array of mesmerising colour palettes & all without compromising functionality. The end result is a product that neatly intersects a minimalist aesthetic with an artisan finish. Their porcelain happily fits in any interior, providing a timeless alternative to mass produced ceramic design. Listen in as Vince and Shelley discuss the first bowl she ever made, how she launched her business through a government incentive scheme and her rise from selling her creations on the weekend at local markets to establishing Mud as an Australian ceramic icon.

Every piece of Mud is handmade in their Marrickville Sydney studio using a highly nuanced and hands-on process. Through Shelley’s creative vision and sage business mind, Mud Australia has become an Australian design icon. Mud has stores across the world including Sydney, Melbourne, Los Angeles, New York and London. The brand has organically attracted a high profile fanbase of chefs and celebrity names including Gwyneth Paltrow, Nigella Lawson and Bill Granger.

Enjoy!

MUD Australia

Design Your Life