We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Dave Nesbit ("DN").
Dave Nesbit has been a cabinet maker of 30 years and has worked in his own business for 20 years. Dave likes to design and create furniture that you won't see everyday. The use of Corian with the addition solid timber is incorporated into all his pieces. In 2019 his first design ( Luna tv cabinet ) using acrylic and solid timber, won the best freestanding award in the ACFA awards. With covid 19 cancelling the 2020 ACFA Awards, Dave is looking forward to the 2021 Awards, as he has been busy designing new pieces of furniture. There has also been some interest from a journalist of a design publication in Portugal. As Dave waits for his furniture to gather momentum, he also designs and creates high end kitchens for his clients.
Dave Nesbit Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Dave Nesbit.
Dave Nesbit Design - The Bridge Sideboard
Designer Interview of Dave Nesbit:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
DN : I started my Cabinet Making Apprenticeship 1991, in Perth Australia. I have no formal design training. My furniture designs were born out of wanting to challenge and hone my cabinetry skills.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
DN : Acrylber Furniture is my furniture business, and gallery where all my pieces are on display.
DI: What is "design" for you?
DN : Simply put, Design is all about "Lines" and what you can form with lines.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
DN : Freestanding furniture pieces out of solid timbers, and acrylic.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
DN : "The Bridge" sideboard is my favourite piece. I was thinking of how I could craft a simple design into a complex piece which I was able to do so by having the leg run through the cupboard, and form part of the structure.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
DN : I have only ever designed for myself. The first piece was solid timber curved buffet, made of Jarrah and American white oak. This was when I was 19, after completing my cabinet making apprenticeship.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
DN : My favourite materials are solid timber, and acrylic.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
DN : I am usually most creative when I am relaxed.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
DN : How to make the piece technically difficult.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
DN : Happiness.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
DN : Happiness, sense of accomplishment, proud.
DI: What makes a design successful?
DN : Achieving the purpose for which it was created.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
DN : Aesthetics, quality.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
DN : Sustainability appears to be front of mind to many up and coming designers.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
DN : My Acrylber Furniture Gallery opening Jan 2021. No plans for next exhibition at this point.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
DN : My inspiration for my furniture designs comes from a desire to test my traditional cabinetry skills. My creativity comes from within.
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
DN : I can only state that my design style is unique as I have not yet seen, nor heard of anything comparable. Each piece may have features of past styles/ furniture periods that is completely unintentional.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
DN : Perth, Western Australia. No cultural heritage to affect my designs. My industry allows me to source the materials for my designs.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
DN : I envisage an abstract idea of technical difficulty off the cuff, then work out how to actually bring it into a piece of furniture.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
DN : My own furniture pieces, 1. bedroom suite made of walnut and maple birds eye veneer, 2. curved timber buffet, 3. Our dog's hand made stand for his food and water bowls (timber and acrylic). Also, my Smart phone and smart TV.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
DN : Just like most people, I wake up, tend to family and pets then go to work, place of self employment.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
DN : Keep experimenting, think out of the box, keep trying. Have faith in yourself.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
DN : Whatever you can envisage, you can create. Generating interest , or a buyer in what you create requires as much work.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
DN : Self belief is most important.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
DN : Not necessarily a skill, creativity.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
DN : I use a drafting board (pen and paper).
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
DN : I just create as and when ideas come to mind, there is no time restriction or limit for me.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
DN : A few months.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
DN : How did you that?!
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
DN : Freestanding furniture using solid timber and acrylic. I find that I can form acrylic just like timber, only without the grain.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
DN : To create more free standing furniture pieces with technical or structural difficulties that challenge my cabinet making skills.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
DN : I work alone as my creations are from within. They are not envisaged by anyone else.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
DN : I have two ideas in the pipeline, an acrylic bed, and a timber freestanding bath.
DI: How can people contact you?
DN : My website - acrylberfurniture.com.au
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
DN : No, thank you.