John Quan | Email | Website

Where and what did you study and what year did you graduate?
Certificate III in Fashion Studies, 2003, TAFE South Australia.
Bachelor of Design (Industrial Design), 1998, University of South Australia.

Where did you head after graduating?
I spent many years wandering the corporate wasteland as an itinerant white collar worker,with stints at Telstra, Ansett and Commander before becoming a public servant with the Australian Taxation Office.

When did you launch your own business?
In 2007.

What motivated you to start your own business?
I didn’t want to die being a public servant.

How would you describe your business to someone who didn’t know you?
I am a designer and maker of furniture and products. I am currently completing a two year career development program at JamFactory Contemporary Craft & Design in the furniture studio. As a design associate, I participate in studio work designed to provide me with the practical experience required to start my own practice as a designer and maker.

How would you describe the products you design to someone who hadn’t seen them?
Simple.

What are the most challenging parts of being a designer running a small business?
Being able to derive all my income from my design work as I currently have a second job which helps fund my creative pursuits.

What inspires your design projects?
My day to day interactions with my environment and other people. Many of my designs have been borne out of a personal need or desire of some sort.

What are the next steps for you?
I would like to spend the next years working for local and international designers that I have identified as being inspirational for me and learn as much as I can from them. In the long term, I hope to create a diverse practice.

John Quan received a scholarship from Arts SA and CraftSouth to participate in Springboard Stage One.

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