Meet Your Maker: Robyn Wood's bespoke approach

Her early dreams of becoming a furniture designer were carried through her education at the former Underdale CAE and the University of South Australia to working on architectural fit-outs with IJF and Total Space Design before time off to raise a family. In 2013 she realised she had to pursue what she loved.

Now established as a designer of bespoke objects and furniture, Robyn Wood Studio specialises in natural materials with a focus on wood and Australian timbers. Her inspiration comes from simple things such as a shape or line from which she sketches up ideas, followed by rapid prototyping with cardboard models and plywood prototypes.

Robyn Wood

Wood’s approach to date has been to produce bespoke one-offs, creating statement occasional pieces with character. Her favourite pieces are smaller works such as Bud Lamp and Drift, the popular cufflink organiser, as both epitomise her approach to integrating clean design with functionality.

Being a solo operator, the marketing and building of her brand are as essential as the design and production of her products. Wood puts in the hardyards to sell her products and is a regular at design markets in South Australia and interstate, which helps her to understand her customers.

Wood is about to start a new phase and explore increased production with a commitment to working with local joiners and manufacturers. South Australia remains a key source of inspiration, with Wood remarking,

“I’ve done a lot of markets and you see a lot of copies and trends, but in SA there is a lot of originality, very high quality and a wide range of products.”

Her ultimate ambition is to be part of a hub that brings designers together, with exhibitions of furniture and furniture designers. “There is so much talent here that isn’t being seen,” she says. “There is a need for those designers to have that exposure.”

Robyn Wood is a part of the Well Made community and featured on the platform.

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