With just two weeks remaining til SID kicks off, we catch up with Insider and futurespace MD Angela Ferguson, hear about her design favourites, and give you a snapshot of her desk.

On My Desk: 

1. Treats from Norton Street Grocer at Westfield Bondi Junction – Baci chocolate kisses, Sanbitter (like non-alcoholic Campari) and Jazz apple
2. Artemide Tolomeo Lamp
3. Diet Coke (I don’t drink coffee or alcohol and so this is my main vice)
4. Framed photo of my gorgeous little boy whom I adore
5. Diptyque Tuberose scented candle
6. The silver hammer is my NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction) NSW 2012 CBRE Businesswoman of the Year Award. I am now NSW President of NAWIC and work with an amazing group of women to deliver a range of educational and networking events to our industry
7. Tretford goat hair carpet sample used as a coaster
8. Iittala Kartio water glass in ‘sand’ from RoyalDesign.com
9. Stelton water jug from Cult (Corporate Culture)
10. Modular golden gnome – a gift to the studio from JSB Lighting
11. 3D glasses from Kraftwerk concert – part of Vivid Festival 2013
12. Books from Kinokuniya, Lesley McKay’s Woollahra, Ariel Paddington, thebookdepository.com
13. Bday gifts for my husband from Marimekko in King St, Sydney
14. pink post it notes – pink is my son’s favourite colour and I have a lot more pink around me than I expected to have when the Obstetrician said ‘it’s a boy!’.  I try and manage my time by fitting everything I have to do in a day on ONE post it note.  Usually I have to write very small to achieve this.
15. Letter ‘a’ from typo
16. Mint tea souvenired from the Ovolo Hotel in Melbourne
17. Jurlique handcream – I have been using this brand for more than 20 years and I believe it is by far the best product on the market.
18. Iphone 4
19. Prescription glasses from George Skoufis optometrist in Paddington.  He imports unique frames from all over the world so you get high quality frames that no-one else has.
20. Scissors from Kikki K and black pens
21. Cloth bound lined notebook from Bookbinders Design, The Galleria, Bourke St Melbourne.
22. ipad mini; my favourite device.  It fits in my handbag and I use it for absolutely everything: reading, watching tv, email, social media, taking notes (using Notes Plus app), organising my time (with Things app) and using it for speeches and presentations to clients.
23. Hay laptop cover available from Cult (Corporate Culture)
24. Invitations to various design and ‘women in construction’ events
25. Business cards and kikki k paper clips

 

Design Huner Q+A:

Your name: Angela Ferguson

What you do: Managing Director of futurespace – an architectural and interior design practice that collaborates with clients to design intelligent, practical spaces that inspire and add value to everyday working, learning and living environments.

Your latest project: the business of futurespace is always my main project. It is my role to drive the strategic direction of the business… and it’s a role that I believe more creative people need to be doing. With clients I assist them in aligning the physical space with their own strategic and organisational objectives.

Who are three people that inspire/excite you:

     1)  Marissa Mayer President and CEO of Yahoo! It can be difficult to make unpopular decisions and I admire her for that.  I also covet her incredible wardrobe.

     2)  Her Excellency The Honourable Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. She is an intelligent and stylish woman and that title says it all really!

     3)  Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton of Sass and Bide. I love how they’ve built an incredibly successful brand and a lifestyle that is dedicated to what they believe in ie ‘the strong, the obscure and the beautiful’.

What is your favourite…

Car/bike/plane/boat model:  I have a Dutch Gazelle bicycle that I would ride a lot more if there were more bicycle paths (and less hills!) in Sydney.

Chair model: Hans J Wegner CH24 Wishbone chairs – one of the most comfortable dining chairs available.

Residential space:  Far too difficult to choose one so I created a pinterest page called ‘I could live here’.

Commercial space: Usually the latest project of futurespace’s Design Director Gavin Harris.

Decorative product: Holmegaard Glass from Denmark.

Functional product: The instant boiling and filtered water unit I installed in my kitchen at home.

Handmade good: All the little sweaters and cardigans my mother has knitted for my son over the last six years.

Mass-produced good: The Ferrari.

Meal: Italian cuisine

Restaurant: Chiswick in Woollahra. Its in a beautiful garden setting, the food is always fresh and gorgeous, and its my local so I can walk there.

Drink: San Pellegrino San Bitter.

Bar: Cumulus Up.

Item in your studio: The bbq on the balcony.

Piece of technology:  Definitely my apple ipad mini. I use it to read, draw, take notes, play, watch videos and television, for social media, to take photos, read the news, internet – it does everything.

Historical figure: Princess Diana

Fictional character: Carrie Bradshaw

Vice: Impatience

Virtue: Kindness

What does the term ‘Design Hunter’ mean to you? Its about appreciating the value and quality of all things; its about looking beyond fashion or fad; its about appreciating beauty in both the obvious and the obscure and it absolutely comes from the heart.

From high profile designers to trendsetting design hunters, the SID Insiders will be leading the Sydney Indesign experience by lending us their eyes and ears, sharing their thoughts on Sydney Indesign and giving a personal insight into their own design journeys.

From their approach to Sydney, favourite haunts and city tips, right down to how they navigate their lives, make sure to follow their Twitter, Instagram andFacebook pages as they share their own experience of Sydney Indesign.

Register now for Sydney Indesign
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