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Where and what did you study and what year did you graduate?
Associate furniture designer, 1996-98, JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design.
Bachelor of Education (Secondary Design), 1991, University of South Australia.

Where did you head after graduating?
I taught design in high schools for four years while making my own furniture and then applied to the JamFactory to see how my furniture skills stacked up and the rest as they say is history.

When did you launch your own business?
In 1999.

What motivated you to start your own business?
At that time there was no such thing as a furniture designer position with any manufacturing or architectural firm.

How would you describe your business to someone who didn’t know you?
koush has two arms which tend to vary in length at times! We do custom furniture and interior design. The other arm is a range of furniture products that have evolved from one-offs into a collection that is a little quirky and fills gaps we have found in the market.

How would you describe the products you design to someone who hadn’t seen them?
Our products are a bit like a good wardrobe – there are some pieces that are great basics that become the basis that a whole look is grounded on, and there are some pieces that are a feature in themselves and make everything around them look better! In terms of how they look, the line is contemporary and features great materials, colours and textures.

What are the most challenging parts of being a designer running a small business?
One of the most challenging aspects is getting time to design, rather than being an accountant, marketer, receptionist etcetera.

What inspires your design projects?
Function, texture, detail, the need for individual furniture and spaces.

What are the next steps for you?
I am looking to take the koush production range national, developing relationships with retailers across the country and expanding and developing the range accordingly. I also plan to grow the custom furniture and interior aspect of the business to work interstate.

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