Q&A With The Design Duo Behind deft.

INTERVIEWED BY Michaela Stehr IMAGES Supplied

Local conscious furniture and design brand deft. studios – founded by design duo Martin Tallie and Zani Alberts, blossomed as a response to living curiously and creatively. We chat to the dream team about their work and their collaboration with us, available through the VISI shop.

How did deft. materialise?

Deft emerged in the midst of Covid as a creative outlet & means of design exploration. We both have a  background in architecture and found the extension of design into furniture making to happen naturally. Our mutual passion for all things design & the hands-on craft of making paved the way for deft. 

What is your design aesthetic?

We’re constantly exploring new avenues of design & remain open to new concepts. We don’t tie ourselves down to a singular aesthetic, but rather a set of values & principles which we embrace throughout the processes of our work. These include simplicity, purity, longevity and a meticulous craftsmanship. If our work can spark joy in people’s everyday surroundings and not harm the environment in the process, we’re happy.

What was your process for collaborating with us?

We’ve always been avid admirers of VISI and the work they promote in their publications. The VISI collabs is an exciting platform to advocate the designs of new local designers. Our inclusion in Design Indaba’s Emerging Creatives 2021 program gave us the boost we needed to reach out to the team and propose an exclusive range of products.

When you created the hooks, what was your intention for the pieces?

To create an alternative to the ‘typical’ wall hook, leaving room to see how people would utilize it in interesting ways. It’s a simple, practical and fun addition.

VISI Collab: Organic Pebble Hooks

These organic shaped hooks are 8 – 10cm.

R230 each | VISI Shop

Buy

Is everything manufactured locally?

Yes. Everything is designed & crafted locally. We only work with local suppliers in our area which we’ve built strong relationships with. If we expect people to support our local business, our business must also support local.

Where do you see deft. going in the future?

Deft Studios was always imagined as a multidisciplinary design studio. We aim to extend our design services into the field of architecture, focusing on residential dwellings. We are constantly learning & evolving as we go. Currently, we hope to grow our team to a humble size and to remain personally engaged with customers. We will always be rooted in the slow craftsmanship of making quality, bespoke furniture pieces. 

Tell us about why South African design is so important?

Only South Africans can capture our diverse culture-led perspectives & storytelling through design – it’s unique. SA Design has gained recognition on a global landscape which proves the potential that we have as creators. Not only are we investing in our local communities but design has the potential to fuel economic growth in SA. I think we can all agree that local is honestly much more lekker. 

Looking for more design inspiration? Sign up to our weekly newsletter, here, or take a look at our Q&A with the design duo behind Kino.