Versa

Fascinated by the tension that lies between natural materials and contemporary design and manufacture, Tom Fereday develops unique designs originating from an intrinsic inquiry into the role of objects today. Built on the principle of honest design, Fereday’s work celebrates the materials and manufacture behind furniture and objects, guiding considered and thoughtful design outcomes that explore the notion of quiet innovation.

Born in Australia, Fereday grew up in London, England. There he studied sculpture and graphic design at the Wimbledon School of Art. He completed his honours in Industrial Design at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. Working across Europe and Australia Tom Fereday went on to found his sole practice in 2012. His works have been presented and published internationally through collaborations with brands including Louis Vuitton, Alessi, Stellar Works and Herman Miller and exhibited through galleries including Museum of Contemporary Art; Art Gallery of New South Wales; Powerhouse Museum; Australian Design Centre, and frequent international furniture fairs.

Spanning architecture, furniture and object design, Charlie White is characterised by the transformation of found materials through an aesthetic of sombre, gothic plasticity. His seductive and expressive works freely traverse the ambiguity between art and functionality.

Working in Architecture practice, White’s design background is rooted in his formative studies in Fine Art at the Canberra School of Art and the Glasgow School of Art. Along with degrees in Philosophy and Architecture from the University of Melbourne, White’s design work positions itself as part of a greater historical continuity of spatial understanding.

A veteran of previous Melbourne Design Week exhibitions, works from White’s commission-based practice reside in private collections both in Australia and abroad.