Interview: Sydney-based Furniture Maker Jonathan West.

Bespoke furniture maker and metalsmith, Jonathan West makes his exquisite pieces in his St Peter’s studio in Sydney. Working with wood, metals and other raw materials, Jonathan creates an honest and natural palette. But it’s not all serious stuff – he’s also got a playful side that he brings into focus with some of his pieces, inviting interaction from the user.

For Jonathan, furniture is about interaction, expressing a piece’s reason, function and how its creation can provide a solution. Each project reflects a respect for simplicity. All of his work is beautifully articulated and the design is led by thoughtful intention. Not to mention, it also looks smashing!

We recently had a chat to the talented, hardworking chap, who has many of Sydney’s most talented designers as his clients. Got your pen and paper digital “pocket tool” ready? Good. You’re going to love this guy. Take it away, West-o!

Mecca Coffee, Alexandria designed by Smith & Carmody. Photography by Shauna Greyerbiehl.

The man himself. Photography by Shauna Greyerbiehl.

+ Hello Jonathan, welcome to Yellowtrace and thank you for taking the time to e-chat with us. Could you please tell us a little bit about your background and, the path that led you to where you are today?

Hi Yellowtrace – Thanks for having me. Following school I guess you’d say I dabbled in various science based uni degrees. Completing none of them, I soon came to the realisation I was happiest when making things (something I’d always done growing up in Orange, in country NSW). This lead me into the joinery path through TAFE. Following this I worked in various design oriented workshops, including the Australian Museum for a number of years before I started my own business in 2013.

Edition Coffee Roasters, Sydney CBD designed by Amber Road Design. Photography by Christopher Morris.

+ How do you characterise your design sensibility and your aesthetic? Is there something that’s fundamental to your practice – your philosophy and your process?

Honesty and tactility really underpin my design and making process. My favourite pieces are those that invite touch and interaction and I find if a material is strongly expressed through its abilities or constraints this is achieved. An example might be expressing a nice timber joint detail or an interesting junction, this and an element of playfulness are what I try to achieve in my work.

Brass cabinet designed by Studio Snoop. Photography by Shauna Greyerbiehl

+ How do you go about establishing a concept and an overall direction for your furniture pieces? Do you have a certain process that you always follow?

I find that with my furniture, concept and direction is almost always a response to a requirement. That’s very simple in establishing what is being designed and made in the initial stages, but as a design develops it’s also a response to a more complex set of questions such as context of the piece which often informs materials. Are there any restraints of the materials, are there boundaries such as how much attention it should demand or just receive it slowly and subtlety?

I consider myself a maker first, before a designer, so for me, this often helps spark an idea. Discovering a nice detail in the workshop and being able to expand on it and prototype I find helps a lot before I sit down to draw.

H & E table for H & E Architects. Photography by Georgie Cargill.

White Oak Table. Photography by Shauna Greyerbiehl.

+ How important is the ability to balance the design and business in today’s market? How much time do you spend on each side of your practice?

As my business works a lot with other designers, architects, builders and clients, I would say that the majority of my time is spent in running the business. I’m lucky enough to have worked on a lot of great interior spaces completing joinery and furniture, and managing the production and logistics of this is very demanding. The designing and making of my own pieces is what I think about when I fall asleep at night – not the running of projects.

Cornersmith Cafe, Annandale designed by Smith & Carmody. Photography by Shauna Greyerbiehl.

+ What are some of your methods to staying motivated, focused and expressive? And your top 3 main sources of inspiration and references you are drawn to regularly – i.e. books, magazines, websites/ blogs etc?

For me running your own business I find really motivating, absolutely everything to do with its success is dependent upon your work and effort, I find focus and expression follow with ease. I’m always drawn to and inspired by the work of 20th century designer/ makers, people like Nakashima and Malouf and more so their contemporaries like Wharton Esherick who was as much conceptual artist as maker and Wendell Castle as another example. I’m always thumbing through books in kind or something to do with architecture and design.

Gardening and nature is a massive source of inspiration for me also, I know it’s clichéd and I don’t see its influence directly but a connection to natural forms and material in its most elemental way, I feel very strongly. I would also have to say many of my friends and peers as artists, designers and makers are a massive source of inspiration.

Archie Rose Distillery, Rosebury designed by Acme & Co. Photography by Murray Fredricks.

+ What do you feel is the most challenging part of being a designer today? And if you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?

To start with – time, or rather lack thereof. While deadlines are often very helpful with design development and can help with letting go and moving forward, for my business where there is primarily production to manage during business hours, in part to facilitate the overheads of running a large workshop, design and the time required in drawing often tends to happen after hours.

KAMAJI sideboard. Photography by Shauna Greyerbiehl.

+ What advice would you give to emerging designers who want to follow your path? What was one of your biggest lessons learned since starting your practice?

If your product is strong and you are professional, you’re halfway there. Communication and professionalism make the business environment so much easier to navigate. With these qualities as well as thick skin and intuition, you’ll find the right doors for you will be open. I actually feel I’ve learned a lesson with every new project or piece, not all massive but the effect has to be cumulative. If you’re not banking all these micro lessons constantly, you’re not getting better.

Oscar Wylee, Chatswood designed by Smith & Carmody. Photography by Shauna Greyerbiehl.

+ What’s next – can you share wit us your vision, some of your goals and some of your current projects?

In the short term I’m finishing up some pieces I’ll be showing at Denfair this year as part of Handkrafted’s stand. I’m excited about these pieces as they were an opportunity to stray from the kind of work I’ve been making more typically. Pieces made for exhibition have a sense of freedom in a way that nobody (i.e. a paying client) really has to like it – you just hope somebody does! The context of such an exhibition like that is also very different to a home for example, so the pieces are definitely more bold with a strong personality. Part weird part wonderful is how I’m feeling about it at the moment!

Heavy protoyype for Denfair. Photography by Shauna Greyerbiehl.

Small Stool. Photography by Shauna Greyerbiehl.

Let’s get real:

+ What’s the best mistake you have ever made?

I tussled with a circular saw as a 14 year old and wound up with about 40 stitches on the back of my hand – perhaps like the victim of a shark attack might eventually find such respect, it placed me in the very real world of dangerous machinery and I’ve never looked back.

+ Best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Choose carefully in the dark! – This came from my mother who had an antique business for 20 years, she’d scour the markets at 4am before competitors would arrive with the sunlight. There’s a nice metaphor in there..

+ Your most treasured belonging?

My bed – running a business and having 2 young kids – need I say more.

+ What’s one thing other people may not know about you?

I played professional sport for 4 years after leaving school… Something that feels like a past life now!

+ It’s not very cool but I really like…

Spending time in my small garden pruning!

Jonathan and team (Geordie Cargill and Robin Clancy). Photography by Shauna Greyerbiehl.

[Images courtesy of Jonathan West. Photography credits as noted.]