Your name: Phoebe Olsen
What you do: I own and manage two businesses; www.spinelessclassics.com.au, where we design and print the entire classic book on a poster for your wall and www.myfavourite.com.au, an online gift shop stocking design-led gifts for men, women, children and for your house and garden.
Your latest project: We are constantly working with the publishing houses to design and release new titles but we are particularly thrilled with the release of two of the most requested titles by our customers and retailers: ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’.
Who are three people that inspire/excite you:
1) Lucy Feagins from The Design Files – every post of hers there is something to be excited about!
2) So it isn’t one ‘person’ but I do love ‘Belle’ Magazine for different styles across many genres, from total kitsch to absolute minimalism – every month I’m inspired!
3) My nieces and nephew – watching them grow and learn is a daily joy.
What is your favourite…
Car/bike/plane/boat model: I’m not really fussed about a particular make of any but do love my VW Golf for its form, function and style!
Chair model: The Y Chair by Jans J. Wegner
Residential space: My grandparents’ house on the Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne – I didn’t appreciate the space, architecture and flow when I used to go there as a child but I do now and sadly it isn’t in the family anymore!
Commercial space: Royal Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne
Decorative product: Costume jewellery – I’ve lost count how many necklaces I have!
Functional product: Zip HydroTap – still, sparkling or boiling water ‘on tap’!
Handmade good: The quilts handmade by my very clever Mum.
Mass-produced good: Velcro – couldn’t live without it for displaying at trade & consumer fairs!
Meal: Sweetcorn fritta’s – anytime, anywhere.
Restaurant: The Fat Duck, Bray, UK
Drink: A large G&T with cucumber
Bar: too many to list!
Item in your studio: My Macbook-Pro, I couldn’t live without it!
Historical figure: Queen Victoria
Piece of technology: Photoshop
Fictional character: Anne Shirley – Anne of Green Gables
Vice: Annoyingly anything sweet and the frequency of my working well past midnight!
Virtue: Loyalty
What does the term ‘Design Hunter™’ mean to you? Be open to everything – you never know what that idea or object will lead you to design wise.