Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 71
products
profile
design by them
By Alissa Ponchione
Photography by Pete Daly and Rachel Kara
1. Australian designers
Gibson and Karlovasitis
launched DesignByThem
in 2006.
2. Designed by Stefan
Lie, the Ribs bench is
made from steam-bent
hardwood.
3. The Gibson and
Karlovasitis-designed
Tuck stool is made from
zinc-plated steel with a
powdercoated finish.
2
1
DESIGN DOWN
UNDER
Collaboration is the centerpiece for an
Australian firm making its stateside debut
After Sarah Gibson and Nicholas
Karlovasitis graduated with degrees in
industrial design from the University of
Technology, Sydney in the early aughts,
they set their sights on starting their own
design collective. The native Australians had
enjoyed collaborating during class projects,
and wanted to see if that camaraderie
would translate into a successful business.
Their hope was to bring some muchneeded attention to the talented and
oft-underrepresented pool of Australian
designers.
Each gave up full-time jobs-Karlovasitis
at design consultancy 4 Design, Gibson at
commercial furniture company Thinking
Ergonomix-to pursue their dream,
officially launching DesignByThem in
2006. For the first three years, they focused
on consultancy, but soon that side of the
business ebbed, and product development
flourished. Pieces were designed by Gibson
3
and Karlovasitis almost exclusively in the
beginning but recently have been crafted
(with the duo's input) by a roster of six other
designers: Tommy Cehak, Stefan Lie, Seaton
Mckeon, Trent Jansen, Tom Fereday, and
Jon Goulder.
Their collections-from lighting and
wood furniture to seats and tables made
of recycled plastic-are "highly curated,"
Gibson explains, and the products must have
personality with restraint. "We don't like
when the character or details overbear the
design," she says. "It's those two things that
constantly play with each other." Living in
Australia is also an influence. A massive
café culture and the indoor-outdoor "open
and free" lifestyle require pieces to have
longevity even if used only for the interiors,
she adds, such as in Melbourne's Kettle
Black Café or Thai Kheen Khoon restaurant
in Sydney.
Yet part of what makes DesignByThem
a provocative group is a true emphasis on
sustainability. "We use a lifecycle strategy
in all of our products," explains Gibson,
meaning the materials dictate "the amount
of energy and resources in the product. It
determines the way you can process and
finish and dispose of material." They source
FSC timber and use water-based finishes for
4
4. The duo's Butter chair
features 80 percent
recycled content, mostly
post-consumer milk
containers.
safer factory operations. As far as looks are
concerned, "our goal has always been for you
not to know that it's a sustainable product,"
says Karlovasitis. "There's no reason that
it shouldn't look as nice or nicer than a
conventional product."
With the launch of a furniture collection
with John Goulder (refined in style and
made of timber), the debut of their Wire
furniture (which will be more playful than
utilitarian, explains Karlovasitis), and a
partnership with a well-known Australian
fashion designer in the works (yet to be
announced), DesignByThem recently took
their wares across the world, launching
to the North American market this May
at ICFF with hopes that the U.S. design
community will embrace their thoughtful
and versatile offerings. "That's a big part of
our strategy," says Karlovasitis, "so much so
that we're getting more and more product
manufactured in the U.S." hd
d esi gnby them.com
hospitalitydesign.com August 2015
071
http://www.designbythem.com
http://www.hospitalitydesign.com
Hospitality Design - August 2015
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospitality Design - August 2015
Hospitality Design - August 2015
Contents
Online TOC
From the Editor
From the Show Director
People
Sketchbook
Trends 3d Printing
Interview Helen Jorgensen
5 Questions for Karim Rashid
Profile Kelly Hoppen
Profile Poesis Design
Profile 13&9
Profile Maria Cornejo
Profile Design by Them
Profile Ladies & Gentlemen Studio
Profile Emerging Designers
Trends Collaborations
Trends Spanish Influence
Textiles
Bath
Carpet
Special Feature Custom Solutions
Airland Hotel
Press Hotel
Hotel Henriette
Newport Marriott
Industry Kitchen
Ad Index
Back Space
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Intro
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Hospitality Design - August 2015
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Cover2
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 1
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 2
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 3
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 4
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 5
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 6
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 7
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 8
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Contents
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 10
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 11
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 12
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 13
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 14
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 15
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 16
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Online TOC
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 18
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 19
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - From the Editor
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 21
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 22
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 23
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 24
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 25
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - From the Show Director
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 27
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 28
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - People
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 30
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 31
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 32
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 33
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 34
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 35
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 36
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Sketchbook
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 38
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 39
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 40
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 41
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 42
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 43
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 44
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 45
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 46
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 47
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 48
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Trends 3d Printing
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 50
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 51
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 52
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Interview Helen Jorgensen
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 54
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 55
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 5 Questions for Karim Rashid
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 57
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 58
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 59
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 60
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 61
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 62
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Profile Kelly Hoppen
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 64
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Profile Poesis Design
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 66
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Profile 13&9
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 68
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Profile Maria Cornejo
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 70
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Profile Design by Them
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 72
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Profile Ladies & Gentlemen Studio
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 74
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Profile Emerging Designers
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 76
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 77
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 78
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Trends Collaborations
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 80
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 81
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 82
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 83
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 84
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 85
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 86
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Trends Spanish Influence
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 88
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 89
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 90
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 91
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 92
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Textiles
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 94
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 95
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 96
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 97
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 98
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 99
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 100
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Bath
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 102
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 103
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 104
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 105
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 106
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Carpet
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 108
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 109
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 110
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 111
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 112
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 113
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 114
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Special Feature Custom Solutions
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 116
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 117
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 118
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 119
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 120
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 121
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 122
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 123
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 124
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 125
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Airland Hotel
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 127
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 128
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 129
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Press Hotel
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 131
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 132
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 133
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Hotel Henriette
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 135
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 136
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 137
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Newport Marriott
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 139
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 140
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 141
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Industry Kitchen
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 143
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 144
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 145
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 146
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 147
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 148
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 149
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 150
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Ad Index
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 152
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Back Space
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Cover4
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