A Design Doyenne

A few words with Lyzadie Renault, founder of LyZadie Design Studio.

Can you tell our readers about your journey as a product/furniture designer?

I’ve always been inspired by the living heartbeat of Aotearoa – its sense of awe and adventure. It struck me first as an architect, and then as a product designer. Allowing myself to consider forms and functions in nature leads me to the heart of whatever I’m working on.

Do you mainly use NZ timber in your design?

Our sustainable designs use raw and natural rescued materials, and each piece is handcrafted in New Zealand. Luxury shouldn’t cost us the earth; we believe in giving back to our planet rather than taking from it.

New Zealand timber does feature heavily, but above all I look for materials that can operate in a circular economy. Where possible, the studio and our makers use resources that have already seen a life, and bring them out of the line-up for landfill into new, lasting designs.

We pride ourselves in providing transparency in that manufacture process. Sustainability is at the heart of what we do. To maintain both the high standards of the brand and the focus on the environment, the studio partners with makers with the same passion and commitment to these philosophies.

Did you feel at the time of going on this journey that there were not many women product/furniture designers?

I did, especially in New Zealand. But I have been encouraged by the growth in this area, and have been so supported in my journey. I think women have a unique take on furniture design, perhaps with a non-linear view? Form and function combining to create an elegant simplicity that is nurturing in its outlook.

At what stage of our new house build would we ask for your advice?

I love to get involved at the conceptual stage of any build. There’s a quote from Monica Khemsurov and Jill Singer in their book, How to Live With Objects: A Modern Guide to More Meaningful Interiors: “… it’s the objects you surround yourself with that truly give your home its soul…” I couldn’t agree more. The soul of a place can be enriched not only by the objects it contains, but by the inspiration of those objects. Infused with your personal narrative, a space should speak to who you are, the way you live and how you fit within your world.

Do you come up with a concept of furniture design for each room?

It depends on the client. I work hard to interrogate the feeling my clients want from a particular piece or the design of a particular room, and that leads the concept drawings for us to take it further.

What do you love best about your job?

Seeing the journey of a new idea. I’m always struck by how much of the original inspiration – usually from a glimmer in nature – is able to come through, not necessarily in the form of a piece, but in the way it makes me and my clients feel. I don’t think it will ever get old.

lyzadiedesignstudio.com