Who to watch out for in 2023? Bolaji Teniola on the year ahead
We chat with one of Australia's top up-and-coming furniture and industrial designers Bolaji Teniola about material exploration, his associate program at the JamFactory and more.
Minimal and functional, Bolaji Teniola creates objects that strike at the heart of contemporary design. Focusing on the intersection between experimentation and materiality, Teniola’s practice aims to traverse various mediums, exploring materials and processes in search of pragmatic solutions that place equal importance on functionality and aesthetic appeal.
DIA: When and how did your career start?
BT: I started as a digital fabrication technician for RMIT University, which was exciting because it was at a time when 3D printing was still a new addition to the design process. I also travelled as much as possible to understand design practices in different parts of the world. From this, I had the privilege of working for leading studios internationally, first landing an internship in Eindhoven, Netherlands, at Piet Hein Eek, which ignited my passion for furniture design. Then moved to Jakarta, Indonesia, doing a stint at Alvin T design studio and learning about the blend of culture and contemporary design. The journey to where I'm at now has taught me a lot.
DIA: Tell us about your position at the Jam Factory?
BT: This year I'm a continuing associate at the JamFactory, carrying over from the foundation or first-year associate program in 2022. The fantastic thing about continuing at the JamFactory is connecting with other craftspeople, having access to tools and machines and, most importantly, time. Time to think, ideate, and make has been a significant benefit. Now all I need is the funds to develop my ideas further.
Insulate Chair
DIA: What are you currently working on?
BT: I'll be showing new works at Craft ACT for an exhibition titled Daisy Chain from February to mid-March alongside the other talented continuing JamFactory associates. In addition, I've been working on further developing my use of timber shavings and refining the process. This process refinement will be in the form of new works for an exhibition at JamFactory Seppeltsfield, which runs from early February to late April and new pieces for the Craft Vic Members Vitrine gallery, which I'm very excited about. That will run from early April to mid-May.
DIA: How do you approach multi-disciplinary thinking in your designs?
BT: A multi-disciplinary approach involves drawing on knowledge from different disciplines while staying within their boundaries. Whereas the inter-disciplinary approach analyses and harmonises links between disciplines into a new and coherent whole. So I like to think that my approach is more aligned with inter-disciplinarity, blending my understanding of industrial design and furniture design to develop works that don't quite sit within either space but might still be defined as such.
A good example is the Insulate Chair, made from wall insulation and bio-resin, developed for Availability, presented by alt.material. This exhibition allowed me to combine my interest in material exploration with my understanding of furniture design to create something new. Insulate is functional as a chair but isn't mass-manufacturable or something you would see selling in any furniture store.
Timber Shaving Vessels
DIA: Are there any insights you can share on design process?
BT: A big lesson for me was that various design processes are used based on the project's needs. For example, I was taught a linear design process: to begin by conceptualising through sketching, then CAD, and prototyping via scale models or at 1:1, then further product development, with some movement back and forth between each process.
The Shimmer Room Divider followed this linear design process because that was required. However, with the timber shavings, I had the material and idea, so I went straight to making because that was the best way to understand the material and realise each form, with photography being the best way to document the process.
Oubre Coat Stand and Moonshine Cabinet
DIA: Describe your dream project.
BT: I've been very fortunate to be living the dream at the moment. Getting a chance to make and exhibit work is something I've always wanted to do and is something I'd like to continue doing. But having my own design studio would be pretty cool too. Baby steps, though.
DIA: What's your favourite Pantone colour and why?
BT: With so many options, I can't narrow it down to just one. Of course, I enjoy the myriad of colour combinations possible, but it all comes down to the application and how it might impact a space, from the colour of the walls to the hues of the furniture and objects that inhabit the space.
DIA: In 2021 you were awarded the DIA Australian Furniture Design Graduate of the Year. How has the award helped your career?
BT: The DIA's Graduate of the Year Award has allowed me to meet and connect with other industry figures, which has been quite invaluable. It was also a major confidence booster to be recognised by the industry.
BOLAJI TENIOLA
Bolaji Teniola is an interdisciplinary furniture and industrial designer practising across South Australia and Victoria. With a Bachelor of Industrial Design and Associate Degree in Furniture Design, from RMIT University, Bolaji also draws on his experience working for furniture design studios in the Netherlands and Indonesia. He was the Australian Furniture Design Graduate of the Year in 2021.