Interview with Timothy Hardman
Timothy Hardman has been making furniture since 2010. He specializes in an organic modernism style of design, bridging the natural curves and textures of wood with geometric structures.
Designer Interview
9 May 2022
I have worked as a scientist for the majority of my career. The more I studied and progressed, the more I realized science is really a creative field, the goal being to solve problems that have never been solved. This process requires an immense amount of creativity and planning, and in a lot of ways is similar to being a designer. I had always liked designing furniture, but once I made the connection that I could harness my skills in science to furniture design, I was able to become a much more powerful designer. I think science has given me an appreciation for the creative process that I would not have gotten otherwise and allowed me to design and develop a unique style of furniture.
I try to design around the materials I have. It is common for me to procure raw materials with no design in mind, then sit with them for weeks or even months before settling on an idea. I think a lot of design tries to design out the materials they incorporate and make the final piece unrecognizable based on the parts it is comprised of. I am focused on highlighting the natural materials that comprise my designs and accenting them with simple elegance.
Design is when you erase a problem. Some of the best design is not noticed as it either fits so perfectly into its contextual space or because it fills a void so well that it seems to have always existed. I think good design is not so much noticed as it is appreciated. The difference between art and design is that design should take the user into account, because of that the energy should not be put into the product itself but rather how the product will interact.
I like designing functional art. For me, this is the most rewarding form of design. I want people to use my design, to have it physically be a part of their life.
I heavily feature wood in my designs. Wood is a beautiful and dynamic material that will always have unique and distinctive properties, which allows for unique designs.
Being surrounded by art makes me want to create. When I am in a culturally or artistically rich area I want to contribute to it and become motivated. I hope my furniture can have the same effect on people.
Balance is the key to design. I spend the most time trying to balance design I am realizing. This can result in hundreds of sketches to visualize the precise ratios and combination of elements necessary to create a beautiful piece. For me, I try to balance natural curves and hard geometric edges, which requires much visualization and varies greatly based on the piece.
To design something is to simplify a problem. This problem can be functional, aesthetic, or emotional, but each design aims to simplify a problem. When I am designing I am lightening the world, getting rid of problems and making solutions. I feel free, weightless.
Nothing is better than assembling a new design. I always like to have people with me to witness it and get immediate reactions.
A successful design makes the world a simpler place. It makes the world more calm, less chaotic, reduces friction. When a good design is realized, something else is eliminated.
Design is about how you feel, I do not think there is an aspect that I look to first. Good design should not need to be scrutinized, it is either understood or not understood. Simple, understandable design is what I look for in good design.
I see the design field as evolving towards a relationship between user and object. I think more people are seeing the object as the materials and process involved in realizing the design, be it child labor or pollutants, people are connecting more with the process than the end result. I think this paradigm shift will create a more sustainable market and also result in people caring about the objects that they use and posses, an understanding of the object as a whole instead of the object as its function.
I hope to hold an exhibition at the end of 2022 or beginning of 2023 with new material I am working on.
I would describe my style as organic modernism. I think nature contains some of the most beautiful textures and patterns. Not much needs to be done to appreciate these features and as such I try to keep it simple and incorporate modern themes into organic materials.
Sketch. Always be sketching. It is the easiest way to fail and succeed in creating your vision.
Color, texture, depth.
It is important for me to stay active. Exercise can free mental block.
It varies, some designs take days, some take months. I design around the material or intended use and do not start until I feel I have the best design possible.
I currently am employed in a research job in Oncology. I hope to shift from working in science to being able to design full time.
I work by myself, but am open to working as a team.
Email: Timmy.Hardman@gmail.com
Website: THDesignstore.com
Instagram: THDesigns_
Website: THDesignstore.com
Instagram: THDesigns_