What a great idea to meet here ( the Greenhouse by Joost ) instead of at the studio. I mean I really look forward to visiting the studio, but this is remarkable. And I have to say – no offence Donna – but the coffee’s a little bit better too !
Yes, it’s only here for another fortnight, so I’m keen to spend time here while we can.
OK, I’ve had a look at the e-store on line, and wow Marina’s done a great job with the photos. Beautiful, thoughtful product shots for the cushions. I also think the e-store format shows the versatility and range of cushions really clearly.
Yes, I think those photographs will be an interesting record of the design themes and the print techniques in years to come.
And your trade mark clever / casual photography for the bedlinen shots. That’s pretty funny, is that you and Clara holding up the bedlinen?
It’s quite hard to take a photo of bedlinen without overdoing it. So yes, that’s Clara and myself standing on the back table.
Alright, so who is this e-store for ?
Well, I think initially I imagined the e-store would be for the Melbournian diaspora. Melbournians abroad needing something to set themselves apart, something from home that’s great design, gets comments all the time and comes from your home town.
That’s interesting I’d imagined your biggest customer base would be the designers and the design concious overseas, looking for something new, obtainable only on line. Imagine the bag arriving from the other side of the world with the spacecraft studio tape around it… exciting !
Yes, I really relate to that. I remember that feeling… coming home from school in rural Scotland to find a package of records, all the way from Kingston, Jamacia. I even kept the packaging – for years !
And since we’ve opened the e-store I realise your right, it’s also going to be for overseas visitors, who’ve been to the studio or the store in Melbourne. They’ve kept up with projects and product development on-line and now they can be a real part of it. We’re really looking forward to getting to know those people alot better.
Yeah, I’ve seen your work all over Pinterest and other designer image sharing sites. I often wondered if those fans get in touch with the studio.
I’ve heard of Pinterest, but what is it exactly ?
It’s an online pinboard, you put up collections of images and people follow your train of thought. And spacecraft studio is all over it.
Right, well I don’t know if we know those actual people, perhaps some of them. We’re in contact with lots of people. I know we send images of projects to students, and bloggers all over the world and possibly to people compiling pinboards on line too. Sounds interesting.
I’ve just realised, today, it’s pretty exciting, you know, your e-store, the studio being more accessible – getting involved in this new world.
I think we’ve actually been in the world your talking about for a quite a long time, but maybe this does mark a new level of committment.
Are you afraid having more exposure on line will lead to more copying ? I always return to this theme when we talk, but spacecraft seem to provide the design direction for almost everyone printing in Australia right now !
No, as you know I don’t take much notice, and really nobody makes a good job of it. ( laughs )
I reckon you should seriously ! I think you’ll be doing a huge service to Australian design if you were more into litigation. Otherwise, maybe the studio should sponsor an originality award at one of the colleges.
That’s actually quite a good idea. I’ll get Clara to look into that.
Don’t sound so surprised ! I have good ideas all the time – maybe I could give up writing for a while and come and work at the studio ?
uh, huh.
What’s that supposed to mean ?
For a while we’ve loved the quality of these locally handcrafted shadow boxes, and feel they could create a wonderful stage for any cherished artifact.
Above is an A4 piece of backing cloth chosen and cut from a 15 metre table length. It’s a genuine visual diary of off prints, colour tests and collaborations over a 3-4 month period.
