John Goulder

Jon Goulder grew up surrounded by furniture, both in his family factory and at home. In 1992 he completed and apprenticeship in upholstery and furniture making to become a fourth generation craftsman. He began his professional design career in 1994, designing soft furnishings for large commercial retailers, before moving to Canberra in 1996. He completed a diploma of Art, craft and design in the wood workshop at the Canberra School of Art in 1999. Since then Jon has worked hard to design a body of work that grounds him as a stand out Australian designer.
Jon is in many collections and has taken part in major exhibitions, the most recent is ‘Freestyle , new Australian Design for Living’ with Object galleries and Melbourne Museum, Freestyle has just toured nationally and is set to tour major venues in Europe and America in 2008. Some of Jons work is represented by Living Edge.

Hi Jon. What are you working on at the moment?
I am working on developing the Calypso Lounge toward commercial production. The piece that was released at the Power House Museum early in 2007 was a prototype. I now need to evolve the piece toward a commercially viable furnishing. Living Edge will represent the Calypso along with some of my other work throughout Australia and into America..

I am about to embark on my biggest creative period ever. I will design and develop 8 new works for my first solo exhibition, opening in Perth at FORM Contemporary Craft and Design and then touring to Sydney and Melbourne in 2009. After the Australian leg I will take the show to Europe and America.
My solo exhibition will look at designing the interior of a house – living, dinning, and lounge rooms. I will include my previous work – the Leda seat, stack stools and Calypso lounge in the show. At this point of my career I am very focused on breaking onto the world stage and have several large international companies interested in working with me now
and in the future.

Leda Seat, 2002

You come from a long line of Craftsmen. How did growing up with this influence shape your sense of design?
It is hard to say, I spent most of my youth growing up in the family factory, My earliest memories are me surrounded with furniture. I learnt to appreciate different styles and influences from my Dad and form his Dad. I was taught to appreciate antiques and did appreciate them for many years but then began to refine my sense of design and had a natural rebellion against antiques I wanted to design furniture that was relevant to my time, the technologies available and so on.. I want to leave my mark in my age.

What/who have been some of your other influences?
Hanging out with mates, skate boarding half pipes, snowboarding around the world and living near the coast.

How would you describe your design style in contrast to that of overseas designers?
Hmmmmmmmmmm Ummmmmmmmm I am not sure if there is a particular overseas style. Every one does their thing. The followers fade away- the people who know how to be themselves seem to rise to the top. There are many impersonators out there. Generic furniture is boring, copy cats make me sick. As my mum says – be yourself be yourself be yourself…..

As far as the current trend – quirk – the unliveable style – the statement piece – art design. I am different in the sense that I design furniture that is hope fully harmonious to live with and is highly functional.

George Chair XXXX

How do you approach the design process?
The usual way – sketch, model, CAD, prototype.

What do you love about Australia?
Space, nature, opportunity, friends, the beach off course that’s where I live always.

What would you change?
Nothing….. Many designers complain about how tough it is because of the distance. I think all designers do it tough, It’s a matter of how good you are and how committed you are. I am a lifer. I have design in my blood.
Links:
www.jongoulder.com
Email: jon@jongoulder.com
www.livingedge.com.au

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