Sign stool by Trent Jansen
There's been a lot of interest orbiting around Australian designer Trent Jansen for the last while, especially since his clever Moooi 'Pregnant' chair appeared at Milan Furniture Fair last year.
Accordingly, 2009 has seen him perfect the act of bag-packing and passport-hunting, working on various projects in Milan, Singapore and Sydney, including an artistic collaboration with Oxfam and an installation for the Australian High Commission.
"These were nice projects that have been keeping me busy at a time where many manufacturers are reluctant to take on new projects," he explains.
Designer Trent Jansen turning stencil art into lighting
"This year has been really amazing so far, a good mixture of busy projects and down-time, allowing me to focus on some new work of my own," he explains. In particular, he is interested in pursuing humanitarian design – even though it's a very difficult area to break into. "I have been working with a particular humanitarian agency, but at the moment we are looking for funding to help take this particular project further."
Although designing often involves overseas stints, Trent Jansen is currently based in Sydney for the next little while.
"I like to work in isolation, so being in Australia can be great for me, giving me some space away from the overwhelming number of designers working in Europe."
"Australia has a lot of unique qualities," he adds, "but as we take more and more influence from the United States, I find myself having to look harder and harder to find them. I am very interested in the uniquely earnest characters and relationships that exist here, in the backlogs of Sydney's outer suburbs or in our isolated country towns. The loveliest thing that Australia has to offer to me is … some distance from everything else that is happening in the world."
Much closer in postcode is what takes place in his home town this weekend: the PYD Design Markets, where Trent Jansen will be making his 'Sign Stool 450' available for visitors "at a very special price." Other designers being showcased include names from Workshopped, Zaishu Studio, and Vert Design.
Kissing pendants by Trent Jansen
And beyond that diary date, Trent has many new projects planned: tableware and jewelry for an American company, accessories for an Italian firm, a limited edition furniture piece for the Interpretations Exhibition in November and "some lighting and tea sets for myself".
For details about the PYD Design Markets this weekend, visit PYD building, 197 Young Street, Waterloo, or click on www.pyd.com.au.
For more information on Trent Jansen, visit www.trentjansen.com.
Lee Tran, deputy chief sub-editor
Kissing pendants by Trent Jansen
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