Matt is our in-house Furniture Designer, and we were thrilled to have him join our team here at Funky Chunky Furniture in August 2022. Since joining us, Matt has worked on our brand-new Spring Summer 2023 Collection, bringing a fresh perspective to the table with his innovative ideas and designs. We recently sat down with Matt to find out a little more about him and the inspiration behind the new collection.
Matt, can you tell us about your background and how you got into furniture design?
I have always had a passion for design, which led me to pursue a degree in Industrial Design. During my studies, I specialised in model making and physical Product Design, honing my skills and developing a keen eye for detail. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase my work at the New Designers exhibition in London, which was a real highlight of my time at University.
-
I also had the opportunity to work for a freelance design agency in Wiesbaden, Germany, where I was involved in creating promotional materials and exhibition stands. This was a fantastic opportunity to gain real-world experience and put my skills into practice in a professional setting.
-
However, my love for furniture design began in childhood, when I spent hours in my grandad's workshop, making birdhouses and garden benches from scraps of wood. These early experiences kickstarted my love for wooden furniture.
-
As an adult, I continued to pursue my passion for furniture design in my garage, where I would spend hours designing and building pieces from the ground up. All of these experiences have shaped me into the designer I am today, and I am passionate about creating beautiful, functional furniture that will stand the test of time.
-
Image Credit: indypendenz
If you’re looking for inspiration for new designs, where do you go?
As a designer, I believe that inspiration can be found anywhere in everyday life. I always take an interest in certain products and think of how they can be improved, this thought process has led to some of my most successful ideas and has become an integral part of my design process.
-
Over the years, I have had the privilege of working alongside some exceptional designers. These individuals have been a constant source of inspiration, and I have learned so much from their perspectives and approaches to design. I am constantly challenging myself to think outside the box and consider new ways of approaching my work.
-
I also find a lot of inspiration within our own team here at Funky Chunky Furniture. The Marketing department does a great job of keeping me up to date with current trends which helps to guide the design process and ensures that our products are always relevant and exciting. And the people in the workshop are the ones who bring our ideas to life, working hard to create beautiful, high-quality pieces.
Image Credit: Khanisorn Chaokla from Getty Images
Do you have someone you would call your biggest influence or a favourite designer?
I have always admired Marcel Breuer as a designer and his approach to the craft. He adopted the ‘form follows function’ philosophy, which is something that I try to incorporate into my own design. Breuer was a master of creating furniture that was both beautiful and functional, and his iconic creations like the Wassily Chair have stood the test of time, still influencing modern design to this day.
-
Marcel Breuer had the ability to create pieces that were visually striking without relying on decoration. Instead, he allowed the form and materials of his furniture to speak for themselves which I take great inspiration from.
-
Image Credit: svetikd - Getty Images Signature
When working on the Spring Summer 2023 collection, what was your process?
I always begin by looking for something to inspire an idea first and once I have that, the sketching phase starts. This is where an idea can really take shape and I find that this process can take anywhere from an afternoon to a few weeks, however long it takes until we are all happy as a team with it.
-
Once we have settled on a final design, the focus shifts to bringing the piece into reality. This is where the technical side of design comes in and we work on details of materials, construction and functionality. There’s always a few tweaks and adjustments that need to be made along the way, but that's all part of the process.
-
For me, the most rewarding part of the job is seeing the original sketch come to life. It's great to see an idea that started as a simple sketch on paper transform into a working piece of furniture.
-
What is your favourite design from the Spring Summer 2023 Collection and why?
I really enjoyed working on the Gosforth Long Dining Set, Gosforth Square Dining Set and Gosforth Chest of Drawers. These pieces were different to our usual designs as we incorporated rounded sides. This presented some challenges and there was a lot of trial and error as we worked to get them just right. When the pieces were complete, they looked amazing and it was an extremely rewarding moment.
-
-
Can you explain a little bit more about what is included in the Spring Summer 2023 Collection?
As a furniture company, we are always looking for ways to meet the changing needs of our customers. One trend we have noticed in recent years is the increasing demand for furniture that is designed specifically for smaller spaces. With many people now living in apartments and other compact living spaces, there is a growing need for furniture that is both functional and space-saving. This is why our Spring Summer 2023 Collection has a real focus on furniture designed for smaller spaces, making our range more inclusive for homes of all shapes and sizes.
-
In addition to our focus on smaller spaces, we have also introduced some new finishes which make this new range stand out. There’s also a new collection of Garden Furniture and plenty of accessories to get the complete look too.
Take a look at our brand new Spring Summer 2023 Collection here.
