Humour in design: furniture maker explains how wit helps creativity
Clark Bardsley, who recently created a window installation for fashion store COS’ pop-up in Hong Kong, tells us about his unique Arm chair
How would you describe your style? “Playful, clean, reduced to an essence.”
What influences do you seek out? “Influences from the environment – materials, quality, sustainability and influence from people and culture – behaviour, practice, craft. I am influenced daily by music and musicians – listening to the message, its freedom, its ability to be meditative and thoughtful at the same moment.”
What is your favourite material to work with? “Metals. Their workability, the character of their stresses, the theatre of transformation, melting, bending, punching, creasing …”
Tell us about your Arm chair.“The piece is produced using techniques from handrail manufacture. Steamed timber makes a perfect handrail: smooth and flowing, to touch and guide you around space. This tactility leads the eye to the chair-like form in the centre.”
There is a lot of design that doesn’t deserve to take itself as seriously as it does ... A playful spirit in design leads to objects that make people happy
What was the idea behind it? “A piece like this is different to most of my work in that it is a display, not to be touched. What drives this is a desire to connect with others, create a smile in the mind of all who see it.
