Alexander Rose Ltd have been Shortlisted for Seating – Chair Award in The International Design and Architecture Awards 2022. Read more about Design Team Manager Alan Morley and Designer Louis Radtke below:

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Name: Alan Morley and Louis Radtke

Company: Alexander Rose Ltd.

Position within company: Design Team Manager and Designer

Website: www.alexander-rose.co.uk

Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc)

Alan: I started my career as an apprentice cabinet maker and furniture draughtsman in Brighton, England, before developing my own contemporary furniture design and manufacturing business in 1983. The company became best known for its classic modern interpretation of the famous “Deck Chair”, which originally sold in One Off, Covent Garden and international Avant Garde outlets.

In 1990, I changed direction and moved into industrial design, facing new challenges working within the Leisure Industry, designing waterslides for theme parks and swimming pool complexes. Working in collaboration with architects and structural engineers, I designed some of the world’s most exhilarating waterslides.

I then moved into interior design and created technically challenging installations within the private sector.

After many years in industrial and interior design, I took up the position of in-house furniture designer at Alexander Rose and developed many collections of innovative furniture that maintain the company’s position at the forefront of their industry.

Louis: Design has surrounded me throughout my whole life. With both my parents being architects, it has been hard to avoid. Although I decided that I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my parents when I was in secondary school (under the influence of a very inspiring woodwork teacher), my passion for industrial design was really cemented during my art foundation course at City College Brighton (now Brighton MET). I then went on to pursue this further by completing my BA Product Design at the University for the Creative Arts. In the middle of this, I also trained at IED in Barcelona during an exchange programme. Other than my education, I’ve always loved to make furniture in my spare time, and this influenced my love of materials, particularly wood.

How would you describe your personal design style?

Alan: Functional, aesthetically pleasing, comfortable and commercially viable.

Louis: My design style is functional and minimalist, with aesthetic flairs being incorporated into my designs through design details and problem solving. I also feel that its important to be adaptable with your personal design style, so that you can create the best product for the situation and environment.

Where does your design inspiration come from?

Alan: A desire to be original and always to add a unique feature.

Louis: For me, design inspiration comes from the objects we use everyday that are so well designed that no one notices them. I am just as inspired by the fact that the keyboard I am typing this on is so instinctive to use that I forget I am interacting with it, as I am inspired by a beautiful and thought provoking piece of artwork. I think that inspiration can come from anywhere if you are looking for it.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?

Alan: Generally, people are now realising that developing their outdoor space as a thought through design process.  A well-managed project is a great investment, enhancing lifestyle and increasing the value of the home at the same time.

As interior/exterior design merges seamlessly throughout the property, the consumer experience and appreciation of design is greatly enhanced.

Louis: The only answer to this question should be sustainability. As designers we are in the middle of a conundrum where we need to design products that sell to meet market pressures, but we also have a moral obligation to try to create products that are not so damaging to the environment. The aim for designers moving forward is to create products that don’t go to landfill but can become the resources to make new products. The circular design model is so important for the future of our planet.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2022 and beyond.

Alan:

• The use of sustainable materials, recycled and recyclable to achieve circular  design and economy.
• No single use plastics – Alexander Rose has implemented this as a company policy to all our suppliers.
• Market research is essential for following trends and designing to a target price points.
• To always have in mind the size of the products in relation to maximising container loading.
• A well-considered marketing/sales strategy is key to the products success.

Louis:

• Circular Design
• Design for Disassembly
• Democratic Design – designing to an affordable price point
• Quality – for long lasting products
• Simplicity – for even longer lasting products

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?

Alan: Set strict deadlines to work to a known launch date.

Louis: Walk away from your design. Try not to get tunnel vision and see things from other perspectives.

How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?

Alan: The awards are so very important, as they set a benchmark for designers and makers to aspire to. The recognition of one’s work, passion and dedication are what keeps us involved, not only for ourselves, but more importantly, to pass on our experience and skills to the next generation, to keep the “Design Flame” alight.

Louis: The international Design & Architecture Awards are so important for recognising the work that designers and architects alike put into creating the world around us.

What projects are you currently working on?

Alan: Dana Dining in Teak hardwood. This collection follows on from the Dana Lounge, which is our latest shortlisted design.

Louis: Currently we are completing work on two new ranges due to be released in 2023 along with Dana – Bolney and Trak. Bolney is a contempary take on traditional garden furniture in a dark hardwood, and Trak is a small collection of oak indoor furniture for garden centres to sell during the winter months. We are also working on a new metal range for 2024.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?

Alan: The Dana Teak Collection has been a great project for many reasons. Taking inspiration from a Mid Century Danish classic design and paying homage with our own interpretation, by designing an outdoor collection for our distribution has been both challenging and rewarding.

Co-designing the collection with Louis Radke, our in-house young furniture/industrial designer, has given the project a combined experienced and skill set, that can be seen in this beautifully crafted furniture, with attention to constructional and aesthetic details. Our factory partners in Vietnam have been fantastic to work with, and their machining expertise has been an invaluable contribution to deliver this project.

Louis: Dana has been a really enjoyable project to work on. We were particularly inspired by traditional Danish furniture design with this range, and it feels really special to be able to pay homage to the masters.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?

Alan: The Dana collection, due to making what is traditionally a hand-crafted product, converted into a mass-produced product with modern machining methods. The design process has taken double the time of any other collection, over my 19 years with the company.

Louis: Trak has been a challenging project as we are really trying something new by designing indoor products for garden centres. I think the best designs come from being challenged though. That’s where the real innovation comes from.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?

Alan: Factories prototyping our designs and to have known/agreed manufacturing costs.

Louis: It would be very difficult to work without CAD. I use Fusion 360 which is a great programme and very intuitive. It would be impossible to design without a pen and paper. For communication between designers and manufacturers, sketching is a vast extension of language and we wouldn’t be able to explain half the things we need to without sketching.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?

Alan: For the Dana Lounge to follow the success story of the Sorrento Lounge and to design more inspiring furniture for the 2024 season; that process has already begun.

Louis: Travelling will be very important in the next twelve months. You can only communicate so much with people over email before you need to speak face to face. It’s great to be able to travel again after Covid.

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:

Alan:

Your most treasured possession? A bronze gong

Your favourite holiday destination? Switzerland

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar? Mount Bromo Hotel in Indonesia

Your favourite book, film & song? The Count of Monte Cristo, Casablanca, Route 66 by the Rolling Stones

Your favourite food and drink? Seafood Tagliatelle and a crisp white Chardonnay.

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon? A walk in the English countryside and a great pub lunch.

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be? A jazz musician

Anything else interesting? Watch this space!

Louis:

Your most treasured possession?

My binoculars. Watching nature is my favourite way to disconnect and relax. It’s also a great source of inspiration.

Your favourite holiday destination?

Portugal. Hot sun, lovely people and delicious food.

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?

Hotel: Starnash Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast. My parents B&B in East Sussex. Where I grew up so I have so many great memories of this idyllic place.

Restaurant: Riddle & Finns in Brighton. The most amazing seafood!

Bar: The Berwick Inn in East Sussex – my local.

Your favourite book, film & song?

Book: The Spider Truces by Tom Connolly

Film: Leon: The Professional

Song: Clover Over Dover by Blur

Your favourite food and drink?

Salty Roast Lamb and a cold beer.

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?

Relaxing at the pub with my family.

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?

I would love to be a wildlife photographer/filmographer.

Alexander Rose Ltd have been Shortlisted for Seating – Chair Award in The International Design and Architecture Awards 2022.

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