Ian Howard

“Ian Howard is one of the true pioneers of the Australian furniture industry, with the insight and courage to collaborate with great designers and master craftsmen to achieve outstanding international acclaim.” - Patrizia Torelli, CEO, Australian Furniture Association.

Ian was the founder and CEO of Aristoc Industries Pty Ltd, the legendary manufacturer of Australian furniture, and a driving force behind Australian design and manufacture. He was to appoint Grant Featherston as the company’s Chief Design Consultant in 1957, and Aristoc was to be the first Australian company to employ an Industrial Designer. After producing a successful series of furniture products including theatre seating, Mitzi, Arabesque, Lido, Squareline and Dilma, Aristoc went on to design and supply the famed Talking Chair in 1967, which was the centrepiece of the 1967 Montreal Expo. Ian was also to take a director’s role in the Industrial Design Council of Australia.

The following years saw the production under licence of furniture designed by Charles Eames, George Nelson and Fritz Hahene for Herman Miller and Wilkhahn and for the company to go forward in 1984, to become Co Design, one of the major contract furniture companies in Australia.

Ian was recognised in 2014 by the Australian Furniture Association and awarded the inaugural Australian Furniture Master of the Year Award.