We love… Christel Hadiwibawa

    

With an architect father and her brother a graphic designer, Christel Hadiwibawa was surrounded by creativity from an early age. Enthusiastic and passionate about the design industry, Christel’s life has been one of exploration and experimentation, living off the adrenalin of new ideas and concepts. Christel studied industrial technology at high school and then majored in wood and furniture at the Australian National University School of Art in Canberra. It was here, under the strict direction of her university lecturer, that Christel learnt to challenge her thought process, develop her hand-making skills, and find her own design vernacular.

A year after graduating with first-class honours in 2009, Christel set up her first studio in Sydney, ready to take on the world. Christel’s designs consider every element of their function, aesthetic, and impact on the environment. As a girl who loves the outdoors, she is always considering sustainability in her design process. “In my earlier projects there was a strong emphasis on materials and environmental considerations within sustainability. This past year I have been looking more into the social aspects of sustainability … understanding demographics, culture, lifestyles, and exploring how objects, furniture, and spaces impact the way we react and behave.”

A result of this thought process is the Kembla shelves. Inspired by the increasing percentage of the population living in suburban areas where space is a luxury, the Kembla shelves fit perfectly in the corners of living areas “where space is often under-utilised”, points out Christel. Christel’s designs are simplistic, but incredibly sophisticated in their function. Describing her design style as “playful sophistication”, Christel says “playful refers to the aesthetics of my designs, such as the colour choice that can give a piece a sense of energy and character. Sophistication refers more to the quality of the materials and the thought process behind the design.”