One Day : Paul O’Brien - Furniture Designer & Maker
Location: Cork, Ireland
Profession / passion: Furniture designer & maker
Website: www.modet.ie
Instagram: @modet_furniture
One Day is an ongoing project sparked by the Covid-19. In the days of isolation we would like to focus on what we do best; bringing people together.
We will continue to post One Day every Wednesday going forward. See our instagram stories to experience these peoples One Day in action.
A text, song or film that everyone should experience.
The Beauty of Everyday Things - Soetsu Yanagi.
What is the story behind your profession/ passion?
I came to furniture fairly late, at the age of 30. Initially I studied art, with my main interest being in sound and sculpture. After a few years I decided to pursue furniture making as it combines creativity and practical skills in equal measure. After studying fine furniture making I worked in a world-renowned furniture studio, honing my craft with a team of international makers before striking out on my own and founding my own studio, modet, in 2017. ‘Modet’ is the Swedish word for ‘courage’.
How do you want people to react to your work / passion?
I try to create pieces that appeal to both sight and touch and I spend a lot of time refining subtle details to achieve my finished designs. I often employ curves, carved elements, light and shadow, softened edges and natural finishes to evoke a sense of refined quality.
Function or form?
Good furniture is a balance of both. Depending on the piece one usually takes precedence to some degree and I think the key to good design is understanding the context of a piece and designing accordingly.
Analog or digital?
Purely as a result of my training I am analog. I sketch designs in my notebook before drawing them out full scale, and usually make models too. In saying all that I am very open to the use of digital technology in craft and it is something I hope to explore in the future.
Quality or quantity?
Always quality. “Less but better” - Dieter Rams
When was the last time you learned something new and what was it?
After nearly 40 years on this planet I started to learn to swim just before Christmas. I have a toddler and wanted to be able to take him swimming. Unfortunately the pools have been shut due to Covid but I hope to get back to it soon.
What does freedom mean to you? Being my own boss is freedom to me. It can be hard work, stressful and it can be hard to ‘switch off’ but being in charge of my own time is very important for me.