“As for people that inspire me: anyone just being themselves - inside & out. ”
‘Colour Island’ collection of flower holders and stand alone objects, Dorkus Design’s latest form play works.
Further developing these contemporary everyday art objects for the home, Steph is now introducing hand painted detailing to these transparent lucite slabs. Playing with their usual bold minimalist style & mix of industrial & handcrafted mediums, they’ve added a new layer of trippy aspects for the eye with a cheeky bright colour palette.
Enjoy it for its individual form or very sweet function!
Tell us about Dorkus Design, how did your brand originate?
While studying Industrial Design I found my aesthetic could be applied to lots of different projects across the board (lighting, ceramics, sculpture, products, etc.), which was super fun when I only had to make one or two units. However, if I was going to have a brand where I made something more consistently I would have to design my product & practice to suit my physical capabilities & lifestyle as a disabled/chronically ill maker. Mixing contemporary technology with handy crafts for wearables & art objects has been a perfect fit for me.
How long have you been doing your craft?
I started experimenting with Dorkus Design pretty casually as a fun side project in 2015 while studying & it has grown from there. I’ve just taken things as they’ve come & tried to keep it playful - keeping that feeling of joy I had with all the creative things I did just for fun growing up.
How do you develop from idea to final product?
Mixing modern tech from my Industrial Design side with a love of using my hands for the crafty elements is a great starting point for all my designs. It also means I can produce small batches of very uniform pieces that become individual & unique when I hand paint each one, all wobbly in their own way. The hand painting is also my favourite part of the making process, very relaxing. As for ideation, I have a lot of downtime living with ME/CFS which means I have a lot of time for ideas to pop in my head & bounce around until I'm well enough to do them, by that point I've usually put a lot of thought & consideration into them both visually & practically.
Is it mainly just yourself working on the designs?
Yes it’s just me working away in my garage home studio, painted & heavily decorated - a cosy creative cave. A solo practice works well for me, doing everything at my own pace when I'm well enough with my ME/CFS. Having a home studio is incredibly helpful. I'm lucky enough to get to work with fab stockists, supporting each other & bringing those community vibes.
Who / what inspires you?
Everything inspires me, really. Something classic or something abstract, often a random shape I see on the street. I’m always taking mental pictures.
As for people that inspire me: anyone just being themselves - inside & out.
Your branding feels like a colourful warm hug, would you say your personal style is reflected in your brand?
Haha, how did you know?! Yes, my own fashion & interior style bleeds through: bright, bold, thoughtful. Minimal design is often quite serious so I like to play with my bold minimal style to create more tongue-in-cheek pieces. My exhibition work is where I push my minimal abstract oddness the most. That’s how I’d really dress & decorate if I had any restraint & wasn’t obsessed with everything at the op shop.
