Nicole Lawrence Materialises Graphic Forms
With a decade of industrial design and manufacturing experience behind her, Nicole Lawrence materialises graphic forms through bespoke creations of contemporary furniture and lighting.
Words: Cardia Speziale I Photography: Hattie Molloy, Anna Kafcaloudis, Nicholas Wilkins, Phillip Huynh & Sarah Forgie
Warp Weft Floor Lamp by Nicole Lawrence. Photo: Phillip Huynh. Hero image left: Phillip Huynh & right: Amphora Vase by Nicole Lawrence. Photo: Hattie Molloy
Pillar Shelf by Nicole Lawrence. Photo: Nicholas Wilkins
Amphora Vase by Nicole Lawrence. Photo: Hattie Molloy
‘It is a privilege and an honour to work on what I love every day. Creating pieces with my two hands that people engage with is a true joy. I have a small, incredible team in my studio and a plethora of supportive local suppliers that I couldn’t do this all without. The relationships I have built over the past 3.5 years mean the world to me,’ says Nicole Lawrence. Photo: Annika Kafcaloudis
‘I have been working with metals for over a decade. This wasn’t an intentional choice at the outset,’ says Nicole Lawrence. Photo: Phillip Huynh
Table Lamp # 1 by Nicole Lawrence. Photo: Anna Kafcaloudis
Pillar Shelf by Nicole Lawrence. Photo: Phillip Huynh
“I am often inspired by a technique or material, and through my research and making, ideas come to me that are led by that process. Shadows, paintings and architecture will often be referenced for shape or colour.”
‘Coming out of high school, I knew that I wanted to work in a practical vocation but being a young woman, I was a little daunted by my options and lacked the confidence to put my hand up for some of the courses that interested me.’ Photo: Phillip Huynh
Smooth Floating Shelves by Nicole Lawrence. Photo: Sarah Fogie
Smooth Table by Nicole Lawrence. Photo: Phillip Huynh
Table Lamp # 1 by Nicole Lawrence. Photo: Nicholas Wilkins
Creating unique products that are ‘placed with pride and go the distance’, Nicole Lawrence Studio embodies the vision of its namesake and founder, whose intention for the work of her practice is to stand alone as a composition while having the additional bonus of functionality.
Early on in her artistic journey, Nicole decided to study Gold and Silversmithing, before landing a job at Melbourne-based lighting brand Christopher Boots, where she was exposed to a world of materials and techniques that further fuelled her passion for lighting production and larger-scale metal works.
Considering herself a ‘nuts and bolts’ person, she leant into the engineering side of design; studying Industrial Design at RMIT and TU Delft in the Netherlands, allowing her to learn 3D modelling, advanced digital production skills, and build on her existing skillset. ‘I like to know how and why materials and objects behave and are made the way they are,’ muses Nicole. ‘So that’s where I took my career.’
As a ‘materials-led designer’, Nicole’s approach to making is informed by the material or technique, rather than relying on other visual references. The outcome of her work, however, will often include compositions that reference graphic artworks, paintings, or shadows which she finds inspiring in one way or another.
‘My intention is for the work to stand alone as a composition or artwork whilst having the bonus of functionality of being a practical piece,’ she says.
The depth of care that goes into the process from beginning to end is the outcome of Nicole’s technical background, and personal values in relation to design; a belief that a designer’s responsibility doesn’t end when the piece leaves their studio — that there is a need for consideration about its function in the real world, whether it can be repaired when broken, or recycled if needed.
‘I do find there are a lot of mass-produced, poorly considered products on the market,’ she says. ‘So it’s a point of pride for me that the works I release are well considered, made in and around my Preston studio, and have the quality to go the distance.’
Of all the stunning products that come out of NLS, for Nicole, it’s the lights that take the cake. ‘It’s always been lighting for me [...] if you know you know,’ she smiles. ‘Designing and making a light that can change the way a space can feel is a very rewarding thing but also the technical requirements to design a beautiful, functional light satiates the engineer in me.’
Alongside the day-to-day work of her studio, and an upcoming solo show at C Gallery where she will be presenting a collection of new lighting works, Nicole was recently part of a mentorship program called Forward Focus, where she guided students to create works of their own that will feed into Melbourne Design Week 2024; a city-wide initiative by the National Gallery of Victoria that runs from May 23 – June 2.
‘In the lead up to the Melbourne Design Week event, I mentored some students as part of a pilot program run by Zachary Frankel for Hester Hornbrook Academy,’ shared Nicole. ‘The Academy helps
young people from diverse backgrounds who have struggled with mainstream schooling explore their interests in design and making in a two-day workshop where they make a chair out of waste material. The students’ work will be exhibited as part of Melbourne Design Week in the Tait Melbourne Showroom in Fitzroy — the workshop was an incredible two days of creativity and exploration,’ she adds.
Learn more about Nicole’s work and enquire about purchasing or commissioning an NLS piece here.