Minimalism inspires “Clip Chair” shown at Geelong Design Week

Bryan Micallef designed his Clip Chair with minimalism and functionality in mind.

When designing his latest chair for a private commission, Bryan Micallef was inspired by the iconic simplicity of the paperclip, an object that arguably is a perfect representation of minimalist design that achieves optimal functionality. The Clip Chair brief was to reflect this but achieve an outcome using both industrial ingenuity and artisanal craftsmanship.

Made from sustainably sourced Tasmanian blackwood, the chair's frame is elegantly steam-bent and kiln dried, transforming the once straight wood into a fluid, organic form. This process showcases the material’s inherent malleability while also highlighting the precision and skill involved in its manipulation.

‘The chair’s design is a celebration of hidden complexity’, explained Bryan. ‘The cherry seat is joined with dovetail rails and slides seamlessly into the frame, a point of craftsmanship essential to the success of the chair’s minimalist aesthetic.’

The Clip Chair is on display at Boom Gallery as part of Geelong Design Week, celebrating the city’s UNESCO City of Design status.

Bryan Micallef Studio is a Geelong-based design studio specialising in furniture and objects. After building a successful career in advertising, Bryan Micallef has extended his creative energy towards the realm of furniture design. He has crafted his skills at the Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking and the Victorian Woodworkers Association, and over time has developed a distinctive approach characterised by innovative application of Australian or sustainably sourced materials to highly conceptual forms.

Micallef likes to approach subjects with an eye of whimsy and challenge. In particular, he likes to explore notions of materiality, for example making the inflexible flex, the straight bend and the heavy float. This invites an audience to engage with the pieces providing aesthetically compelling and thought-provoking conversations.

His designs have garnered recognition at prestigious events such as Paris Design Week, Denfair, and Furnitex Brisbane. Selected works are on permanent exhibit at the Make Mate studio at 5 Rutland Street, Newtown, Victoria.

Images: Elise Scott Photography

Learn more at www.bryanmicallef.com