Winners' tips for Maker of the Year 2023

What does it take to prepare a winning entry for Maker of the Year presented by Carbitool? Here are five tips from last year’s award winners!

1. Focus and restraint

A successful piece requires a balance of focus and restraint. Focus on the concept, let it inform all design choices around details, materiality, and form. Keep it simple, showing restraint in your work will allow your design to appear effortless and help your piece to stand out from others. – Jess Humpston, Overall Winner, Maker of the Year 2022. Photo: Greg Piper

2. Thoughtful execution

A successful piece is one that is thoughtful in its execution. The piece may not be to everyone's taste but the job of an entrant is to convey to the viewer what their intention and inspiration was for the piece. It is crucial to highlight the unique points of pride and innovation that set it apart. These may include the quality of materials used, the level of craftsmanship involved, and the design aesthetic. Not every piece needs to be justified by an overarching story but to be successful it needs to speak of intention and quality. – Daniel Little, Winner, Chests, Cabinets & Shelving 2022. Photo: Daniel Little

3. Don’t be afraid of mistakes

Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. The amount you can learn from taking a risk and it not pay off, is massive. In my first few projects I was petrified of making any wrong turn as I thought it would hamper progress. Once I learned to jump at a problem rather than tip toe around it, I became more productive, and ultimately the standard of my work increased. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. – Elliot Butterwick, Winner, World Furniture 2022. Photo: Simon Eldon

4. Material choice

Choosing appropriate woods comes down to colour, grain and figure. Some colour combinations may not look right, as some woods lay in the orange and pink zone, and some lay more in the yellow and green spectrum. A colour wheel can be helpful in finding harmonious matches. Figure in wood can be out-of-this-world dramatic – it can get loud real quick, so I really think about how much to use. Closed grain woods will probably suit a more refined and delicate design, whereas a heavier, less decorative piece may be more successful in an open grain wood. Before embarking on a project, it’s worth gathering wood samples that catch your eye – put some finish on them and compare all these characteristics. – Adrian Ferrazzutti, Winner, World Art & Boxes 2022. Photo: Adrian Ferrazzutti

5. Good photos are essential

Maker of the Year is judged via images so good quality photography is absolutely essential. The photographs should clearly convey the concept and functionality, and home in on key details within the piece. If the function or scale is hard to decipher, then a well styled shoot will allow the visuals to tell the story. – Jess Humpston, Overall Winner, Maker of the Year 2022. Photo: Daniel Mulherran

Enter Maker of the Year presented by Carbitool at www.woodreview.com.au/moty2023

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