Welcoming Sam and Siobhan from Salysi in our latest interview.

hello + welcome! can you tell us where you are based and what it is you create?

We are based in Wellington, New Zealand. We design and create high quality furniture and homewares. Each piece is hand-made by us or made by local manufacturers in New Zealand.

share with us how your journey to design began.

I (Sam) have always had a passion for design and architecture. When I was 12 all I wanted for Christmas was an Orange Slice chair by Pierre Paulin, which I got (what kind of 12 year old boy asks for that!?) I later went on to study Industrial Design at Victoria University of Wellington, where I met Siobhan who was studying Interior Architecture.

I worked in the construction/manufacturing industry for many years, which broadened my understanding of how a lot of things were made. Siobhan worked various government roles and was looking for a creative outlet.

Designing and making our own furniture and spaces has always been a dream of ours, so starting Salysi was inevitable.

how would you describe the style of your work?

Our style is a bit of everything, I wouldn’t say we are constrained by any particular style. We have some fun, bright pieces, some ultra-modern minimalist pieces, and also more traditional pieces. That said, at the moment a lot our work is heavily influenced by 60’s and 70’s space age design.

One of our main considerations when we are designing and creating is to ensure each piece is well constructed, made to last, and can be passed onto future generations.

can you share a glimpse into your creative process, from conceptualising ideas to bringing them to life?

Everyday I have a new idea, which I think is the best in the world. But I’ve slowly learnt over the last couple of years to focus on one idea at a time.

My creative process always starts with sketching, where I iterate on an idea until I’m satisfied with a design. Then I model the design in CAD to work out proportions and render it to visualise colours and finishes. Finally, we prototype a full scale model in our small workshop so we can test how they work in the real world.

tell us about a piece you've created which you are most proud of - why?

It’s hard to pick one we are most proud of. We have been excited about each and every piece and each has taught us something important. At the moment, we are most excited about our newest range (two stools and a coffee table). The range encapsulates all that we’ve learnt so far and we’re desperate to finish the final prototypes so we can bring it to our website.

what’s one of your favourite moments in your creative career so far?

Whenever we’ve been asked to share our work in a magazine it has been super flattering. To be selected by another designer or stylist is a huge compliment.
We feel like the best is yet to come. The ultimate goal would be showcasing our work in Milan.

who are the designers or creatives inspiring you right now?

We have many favourites. Laurids Gallée has been a huge influence in the last few years and we have always really admired Sabine Marcelis’s work. The uniqueness of Ettorre Sottsass’s work has been a big inspiration from the beginning. And, as with anyone who has been to design school, Dieter Rams’s 10 Principles of Good Design is always in the back of my head. I’m inspired by how pretty he can make a minimal object.

describe to us your perfect day

Starting the day with a coffee at my favorite coffee shop (Customs on Ghuznee Street in Wellington), where I like to sketch out my ideas, followed by a workout at the gym. Then spending the afternoon designing and creating. Running a business is not always the fun stuff, so getting time to design and create is something I always look forward to doing.

what’s next for Salysi- are there any projects or directions you’re excited to explore?

As mentioned, we’re working on a new range, which we are really excited about. At the moment we are focused on growing so we’re open minded about our projects and direction. It would be cool to do a shop fit-out or something on a larger scale.

thank you so much for joining us. how can our viewers find you?

Instagram is where we share most of our work, you can find us at @salysi_official - or check out our website: www.salysi.com

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