With a mutual love for Australian design, Nicholas Karlovasitis and Sarah Gibson founded DesignByThem. Danielle Hanrahan talks to the duo about simplicity, sustainability and their rising brand.

Simple, sustainable and understated are words that epitomise the signature style behind Nicholas Karlovasitis and Sarah Gibson’s design studio and consultancy, DesignByThem. Having both studied industrial design at the University of Technology, Sydney, Nicholas and Sarah had always dreamed of one day collaborating their creative ideas. “We had always wanted to do something together but never had any concrete plans while studying,” Nicholas explains. “It was only after I had worked at a design consultancy and Sarah at a commercial furniture company that we realised we wanted to produce our own designs.”

But not only that, they wanted to create a unique Australian brand they could showcase overseas. “We felt that many designers were chasing overseas companies with very few options available locally,” he adds. “We wanted to create a collaborative and unified brand that we could export to international markets as uniquely Australian.”

Since 2006, DesignByThem has continued its rise as one of the country’s most forward-thinking design brands. The studio’s versatile resume of projects includes medical products, fashion hardware, commercial interiors, furniture, lighting and accessories, all of which represent the duo’s approach to design. “We believe our products should have a playful balance of fun and function, be simple and well-made, yet have a sense of character that makes them approachable,” Nicholas says. “The designs must also be sensitive to time and not be driven by trends, and be sustainable without having to proclaim it.”

The Butter Stool is the perfect example. Released in 2009, it’s created from a single piece of 100 per cent post-consumer recycled plastic that can easily be folded and hand assembled, and recycled at the end of its life. Its commercial success is a testament to what the studio is doing differently – Ecodesign. As explained by Nicholas and Sarah, Ecodesign is designing products to be environmentally sustainable.

In order for a product to be deemed sustainable, its entire life cycle, as well as the context that it fi ts within, has to be considered. “Life Cycle Analysis is very much a part of what we do,” Nicholas relates. “We love working with sustainable materials, if we can get our hands on them, or using simple finishes that can be restored over time.” With one of the studio’s first products, WebLight, made from 70 per cent recycled plastic bags, it’ll be exciting to see what this talented pair create next.

THE HOT SEAT

Place to shop …

NK: It’s a tough one. I love buying furniture and homewares from 20th and 21st century auctions such as those by Shapiro Auctions in Woollahra, New South Wales. For new work it’s either Top3 by design or the MoMA online store.

Favourite designer …

NK: My favourite designers today are the Bouroullec Brothers. Their work epitomises beautiful restraint.

SG: I really like HAY Furniture from Denmark. Also, Aesop is a beautiful brand that uses design to enhance their image and hopefully inspire the average customer to appreciate good design.

Trends I love …

NK: Sustainable design and the rise of small brands offering exciting variety in all areas of design.

SG: I love colour blocking – in fashion, products and buildings. At the moment we’re seeing some fun use of colours mixing up unusual palettes; it reminds me of the ’70s, but is classic as well.

Trends you’re becoming sick of …

NK: Green washing – too many companies are taking on ‘sustainable design’ as a marketing tool.

SG: Storytelling when it’s overdone. If not well considered it can compromise the functionality of an object or environment.

For more information on DesignByThem visit www.designbythem.com