cabinet with painted doors, ‘two halves’
What made you want to become a designer in the first place?
I come from a family filled with architects and so i guess design might be in the genes and I just applied it slightly differently.
Where did you study design?
I have never studied design as such. i did a city and guilds in cabinet making. It was run by two proper old school cabinet makers who were more concerned with how things were put together rather than the ‘design’. I think they thought my pieces were a little weird as they weren’t heavy on ‘secret mitre dovetails’ and ‘raised and fielded panels’. Having said this they were amazing at teaching hand tool skills, wood theory and its limitations.
cabinet with painted doors, ‘two halves’
What was the first thing you designed?
I found the first thing I ever designed in my mums attic recently. It was a crisp factory from when i was very young. ( i wasn’t allowed too many crisps when I was little).
What would you be if not a designer?
I love food so something to do with food probably.
Which design of yours are you most proud of and why?
The desk I am working on at the moment, it always seems to be what I am working on. I do really like the two halves cabinet I designed with Christian Taylor www.unooneprint.co.uk
It was great to collaborate with him as he has amazing talent. Its just quite a different piece from anything I had done before and thats always good i think.
cabinet with painted doors, ‘two halves’
Anything in your career you wish you’d done differently?
No, don’t think so, i am very happy, I have a great workshop which I share with another very talented maker Simon White www.simonwhitefurniture.com who is great to bounce ideas around with both practically and design wise. Just looking forward to whats to come hopefully.
Which designers do you most admire?
I have always admired what Charles and Ray Eames did for 20th century design, incredible. I want to live in ‘case study house 8′. I really like what the guys at okay studio get up to, I was first drawn to them by Peter Marigolds ‘make\shift’ shelves.
Which product do you wish you’d designed/do you think is an example of good design?
Too much to choose from, there is so much amazing stuff out there. I wish i had designed Matali Crasset’s ‘open room’ I really like that piece a lot.
Tell me about your design style at home?
My flat is getting very full of prototypes for pieces of furniture that I have designed. i I try to offset these with some more traditional nik naks, its hard to find the balence but I’m happy.
Charlie from Charlie Crowther-Smith Furniture will be exhibiting at 100% design this year more details here
Great works!