Lecturer, Program Director (Furniture Design)
BFA(Hons), BEnvDes
| Contact Campus | Inveresk Campus |
| Building | Architecture & Design |
| Telephone | +61 3 6324 4069 |
| Fax | +61 3 6324 4477 |
| Simon.Ancher@utas.edu.au |
My practice is driven by a passion for design and some idiosyncratic fascinations, which return in different forms. At the moment, I am really enjoying a shift to more collaborative work and I'm finding ways to upscale production and deal with the manufacturing end of making furniture. This seems to be one of the greatest challenges to Tasmanian Designers if we are to make an impact on the world market.
I believe that good design is fundamentally about creativity and self-expression, but with that comes a need to be strongly disciplined in terms of quality and craftsmanship. Function is critical, and that includes the functionality of production and transport, as well as usability.
Since 2000, I have undertaken commissions and interior fit-outs through my design business, Simon Ancher Design. The majority of this work has been designing and making one-off pieces for private clients, restaurants and companies. However, we have started to expand and are now generating a line of domestic furniture designs - able to be tooled, manufactured and marketed on a larger, more economical scale.
Designing one-off pieces and undertaking commissions is an important part of my work. I make sure that I am involved in both national and international exhibitions each year. Recent public art commissions have let me investigate my interest in morphed bench seating, such as those commissioned for Moorilla Winery. In works such as 'Plied Rocker', I was able to take advantage of the structural nature of plywood, make a feature of its decorative qualities and explore ways of giving it a sense of volume.