Convergence of design and artistry
With a bachelor’s degree in spatial design, and a background in sculpture, design technology and education, Jo is one of those rare talented individuals who effortlessly straddle the practical and the artistic sphere. As a graduate, she was taken under the wing by internationally renowned furniture designer David Trubridge who invited her to join his Whakatu Studio in Hawkes Bay where she worked with other talented designers and furniture makers. This experience sharpened her skills, gave rise to sculptural works and saw her pieces showcased in various exhibitions.
Drawn to sharing her passion and knowledge as an educator, she subsequently side-stepped into a rewarding teaching career. For a bit over a decade she taught design technology, practice and theory, to high school students at Epsom Girls’ Grammar. She is just as skilled when it comes to operating woodworking tools or a laser cutter as she is capturing ideas in a sketch book.
With a growing family, Jo eventually decided to return to her design roots. She set about to consolidate her skill set and create unique, honest pieces that convey a story. Nice.Jo was born. Inspiration and ideas are woven into Jo’s design vernacular and married with other influences, specifically the visual aesthetic of India where her husband Nilanjan comes from.
She adopts a thoughtful and iterative hands-on design approach that considers every aspect from the material at hand to the user interaction and the environmental impact. Recycled timber combined with novel paint finishes features heavily to create unique pieces.
Meanwhile, her series of stencils is proving an irresistible treasure trove for the creatively minded embarking on home decorating projects. The result is pure individuality and leaves you with a smile on your face. And that in turn fuels Jo’s passion.
