Category: blog

On display at Melbourne Now at NGV Australia: The Ian Potter Centre is SBW’s Halo chair, designed in 2017, whose distinctive ‘arc’ backrest has made it a recognisable feature in cafes and restaurants around Melbourne. Halo chair is representative of Melbourne–designed and manufactured furniture, which is coveted by specifiers and interior designers for its simplicity, quality of make and sustainability credentials. Produced on demand and in serial production, the Halo chair is the product of a distinctively Melbourne design culture – where independent designers and brands develop sleek products in dialogue with local skills and manufacturing capacity. It is also demonstrative of how product design can be embedded with a sense of its locality.

After receiving a Bachelor of Industrial Design from RMIT University (2003), Vincitorio became the youngest ever Australian designer to develop products with Italian company Alessi. Berzon has a background in interior design and fine arts, and also holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Management/Marketing) from Monash University (2004). The Halo chair was recently featured in Jane Hall’s book Woman Made (2021), a celebration of female product designers from the early twentieth century to the present day.

ADMINISTRATION COORDINATOR

JOB TYPE: Full Time, 5 days a week 9am – 5pm
MAIN LOCATION: 33A Rokeby St Collingwood VIC 3066

Established in 2011, SBW is a proudly Australian design house, specialising in producing furniture that marries the functional utilitarian aspect with visually captivating form. This blend of design elements has seen SBW service the commercial, hospitality and residential sectors worldwide, with adaptable furniture pieces that can be configured into existing spaces, or leveraged as standalone statement pieces. SBW offers the option of customisation, working closely with clients to accommodate needs of fabrication, texture and dimension.

Founders Lisa Vincitorio and Laelie Berzon drew upon their respective award-winning backgrounds in Industrial Design and Visual Arts when founding SBW, and now over a decade on, continue to hone their astute design approach to bring locally designed and manufactured furniture to the world.

CANDIDATE | We are looking for an energetic, down to earth and pro-active individual who is excited to work with our small team and help contribute to the growth of this brand into a household name.

THE ROLE | We require someone who is customer focused, a genuine problem solver and capable multi-tasker with a strong customer service orientation and proven client communication skills to join our team. As our Administration Coordinator, you will be responsible for the overall administration and coordination of SBW projects from order to installation.

With exceptional support from management including fast turnaround times on projects, a dynamic growing company, future career development and a base salary dependent on experience + Super .

• Manage the job scheduling and administration of customer accounts
• Acting as the first point of contact: dealing with correspondence and phone calls
• Be hands on in recognising and developing systems and process improvements in achieving prompt delivery turnaround and customer satisfaction.
• Provide administration support as directed, scheduling, calendar & email management
• Liaise between sales team and production team with sales support, Admin & Compliance
• Liaising with staff and enjoy being part of a team who confidently share the passion of our brand
• Preparing quotes and sales orders

YOUR KEY BUSINESS SKILLS

• Strong organisation skills
• Strong verbal and written communications capabilities
• Well-presented and with a great phone and email manner
• Excellent customer service standards and ethics
• A consistently solid work ethic
• Abilities to prioritise and multitask on a daily basis
• Valid working visa and driver’s licence
• Strong customer service orientation and an ability to interact with and develop positive client relationships
• Previous experience or exposure within an admin role
• Experienced in MYOB & MS Excel with a high degree of proficiency
• Experience in business administration including sales invoicing, PO processing, job management & coordination
• Experience working in the furniture or construction industry.

WHAT WE OFFER

• A permanent full-time position
• Relevant product training

If you are a team player who is good at thinking outside of the box and meets the criteria above, then please email your CV to info@sbwaustralia.com.au if you meet the criteria.

Our HALO chair has recently been featured in “Woman Made”, a coveted publication by Jane Hall of London studio Assemble, celebrating female product designers from the early 20th century to the present day. We at SBW are honoured to be featured alongside this revered list of other iconic female designers. The book comprises a world-wide selection of trailblazing designers, including Ray Eames, Faye Toogood, Eileen Gray and Florence Knoll to name a few. 

In the past, where women may have been historically overlooked in this field, this publication gives rise to spotlighting the influence of each designer, with a lead product and short text focus. Released through esteemed publishing house Phaidon, SBW proudly garners a new achievement with this incredible opportunity to be documented in such a context.

More power to the women of design.

 

A closer look at the details of the latest collection TYPE from SBW

In much the same way as the minimalist fashion movement of the 1990’s ushered in a sweeping change to the decadence and maximalism of the 1980’s runways, many modernist movements such as the Bauhaus school brought forth a response to the grandiose of movements like Art Deco and Art Nouveau. Forms became more streamlined, utilitarian and focused on communicating through visual language.

With the Type collection from SBW, the conceptual form of lettering has been interpolated into the design of tables and chairs and various pieces. Resolute edges meet classic curvature to create the shapes of letters, such as “N”, “S”, “C” and “D”. It further deepens the exploration of visual language, as we see shapes traditionally designed for “verbal” communication now juxtaposed into visual communication.

Blending monochromatic colours with the use of timeless textures such as natural stone and marble, the harmony across the collection is tied in by SBW’s balanced approach. Whether used as statement pieces, or configured into spatial settings, these pieces are adaptable, and carry with them not only a fresh perspective, but a nod to the legacy of design throughout history. 

The bold definition of the forms in the collection are not only visually striking, but also allow for proper utility, able to host ornaments or be used for everyday purposes. In the way letters form words that communicate meaning to us, the use of letter forms is repurposed here in a different light, allowing the pieces to communicate a visual language and meaning in the context of space, whether home or industry. 

Now that the dust has settled, and we have finally found our feet again, we thought it might be nice to share our highlights from our whirlwind trip to the Salone di Milano this year…..

Tropical nature in all its decadence has inspired an all-new palette of colourful, tactile finishes, designed and curated by Something Beginning With. Exclusive to SBW’s Australian designed collection of furniture, the collection’s vibrant spectrum of colour and material options references the lush, green tropical landscapes of the Ubud rainforest in Bali.

We would like you to meet the FINN easy chair and coffee table, new to the Something Beginning With family, proudly designed and made in Melbourne.

A celebration of softness, the FINN easy chair is the result of an extensive development process to create a versatile armchair that is both unique and adaptable in an array of environments. FINN has a voluptuous form and strong demeanour – it’s an inviting chair that exudes presence, without dominating a space.

10 years of SBW with Creative Director, Lisa Vincitorio

From humble beginnings to 10 years as an end-to-end furniture design house, we sat down with Creative Director Lisa Vincitorio to discuss her career in design, the genesis of SBW and the trajectory of the brand. 

 

How did SBW begin?

SBW was originally formed in 2010 and launched in 2011, when Laelie Berzon and I combined forces with a shared vision to create an Australian designed and manufactured furniture brand. With a prior history in design and furniture sales in the A+D market, we felt that we could create a range of versatile and creative products that would service designers in creating unique and beautiful landscapes. It was important for us to create products that are well designed, focusing on attention to detail, customisation and adaptability. 

We wanted to be a part of the whole process, from concept, to production and eventually to the end location. As a designer, with a career that has spanned nearly 2 decades, that was one aspect I didn’t want to miss out on again. I wanted to see where the product ends up. Unfortunately, as a product designer, it is one side of the process that you miss out on if you design for a design-specific company. And for me it is one of the most satisfying parts of the business. 

 

When did you first develop an interest in furniture design?

I knew very early on in high school that I wanted to be in a creative field, but it wasn’t until I attended the RMIT university Open Day that I realised that a specialty in Industrial Design, and in particular furniture design, was the direction that I wanted to follow. I have always looked at furniture as a usable and functional sculpture. Furniture has the ability to add depth to a space when needed, or almost disappear in a space to let the interior speak if that is required. It is all in the design. When designing a piece, it is important to balance form and function. It is a juggling act that if done successfully, can result in trans-seasonal or trans-generational pieces.

 

What is your design philosophy?

It is important to me that we create quality products that transcend fashion and trend. We have products in our range that predate SBW that are still relevant. We are able to easily bring a product back into relevance by re-colouring or selecting different materials. I think that is entrenched at the core of what we do. It is also of importance to design products that are accepted by the end user, and within a marketable price point. This, in my opinion, differentiates a product from just a piece of art to a piece of utilitarian design. Our philosophy is about longevity and applicability. I truly believe that unless you can balance all these aspects, you have not been successful in the design outcome.

 

What inspires you creatively?

I have always been inspired by the world around me, whether it be nature, fashion, graphic, or architecture. When we are planning a new collection, we are considerate of our clientele, what we lack in our collection, and what we want to say about the SBW brand entity through a new range. We are constantly telling an ever evolving story of who we are through our work.

 

What is your favourite SBW piece and why?

I have an affinity with the Halo collection from our current range, in particular the Halo sofa. I love the balance of materials, with its fine lines and plush upholstery. I love how the frame is made up of 3 continuous circles, and how the arc forms scallop at the front-bottom and again at the back-top. It is intricately welded and detailed, each piece intentional. I am very excited by our new collection and its play on different materials, which will exude luxury. It is an evolution of the SBW brand, far removed aesthetically from our current collection yet complimentary at the same time.

 

What is your biggest achievement for SBW to date?

I would say moving into our showroom, and being included in the Women in Design publication have been great highlights for SBW.

 

Where do you see SBW in 10 years?

I would like to see SBW expand to having showrooms opened nationally!

Each year, once the hangovers of New Years have subsided, and we’re back at SBW HQ, we set the tone for the year ahead.  A campaign photo shoot follows, allowing us to share this intention and feel with our community and the industry.

Late February, we did just that, and we’d love to share with you some of the beautiful images which were captured, as well as some of the people who contributed in making it a success…

From the initial vision and creating a concept, to art direction and styling onset, we carried through the entire process in house, which was a cathartic process for us. We find this produces images which are an authentic reflection of us as a brand and partnership – with a keen eye of the photographer behind the lens of course.

This year, we wanted to take a minimal approach to accessorising, as we wanted our furniture to speak for itself. In a sense, not having an abundance of props meant there was nothing to hide behind, allowing soul focus on angles, composition and the details.

The location which set the foundation for our shoot, was at Melbourne’s renowned Establishment studios, complimenting perfectly the paired back and refined feel we were seeking.

We were lucky enough to collaborate with a select group of incredibly talented artists, who were a pivotal part in making our vision a reality that exceeded our expectations.

Rather than a simple credit in small font in an inconspicuous location, we wanted to introduce and celebrate each of these inspiring and diverse creatives, to show our appreciation for their contribution.