Holly Birkby is the metal virtuoso behind the striking laser-cut steel trophies for this year’s Cape Argus Cycle Tour. We caught up with her to chat about these beautifully dynamic works of art, inspiration and her design heroes.
Tell us about the brief and design process behind the unique trophies you designed for this year’s Cape Argus Cycle Tour.
The client approached Carrol Boyes (who sponsored the trophies) with some specific requests – they had something figurative in mind with cyclists, the flora and fauna en route, and so on. I worked with laser-cut stainless steel because it’s light, it has a kind of machine aesthetic that I thought tied in well with bicycle materials, and one can use laser-cutting in such an illustrative way.
The trophies consist of three layers of steel: The front two show the cyclists circuiting while the back plate depicts mountain silhouettes en route as well as stylised, sprocket-like king proteas. The trophies are quite big too, about 60cm high. I hope they become emblematic of the event, in the way the iconic Giro d’Italia and Tour de France trophies have of their respective events.
Did you ride the Argus?
No… My grand ambition is just being able to cycle to the nearest café, on a cute bicycle with a basket, preferably while looking like Audrey Hepburn. If I ride something with two wheels, I prefer there to be an engine attached!
Do you have any predictions for local design trends in 2013?
I think some of the trend forecasting boils down to a self-fulfilling prophecy, so I’ll settle for 1970s-inspired fibre art meets Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal in the hope that it will catch on.
Trends I wish would go away: Fake lime-washed beach-house paraphernalia and endless variations of the “Keep Calm and Carry On” meme.
Who are your favourite South African designers? Where do you draw your inspiration?
I don’t really know how my inspiration works. It seems to be something like this: My skills + techniques and materials I’m aware of + rebellion and humour x totally random catalyst ÷ practicality and resources.
Local designers that often make me go “I wish I’d made that!” are Haldane Martin, Lyall Sprong and Dokter & Misses.
Do you have a design mantra?
If it doesn’t make me smile, then it isn’t working. Lopsided smiles and evil grins are acceptable.
Where are you from, and what is your background?
I’m from Cape Town. I studied jewellery design, which was a great technical training and it it teached me a lot of discipline, but I was drawn to sculpture, industrial design and other fields. I’ve had all sorts of jobs, including working at a florist and a foundry.
What do you get up to when you’re not in a studio?
I garden – I like growing herbs and trying to concoct herbal goop in the kitchen, read, draw, tinker with my motorbike, watch too much TV…
Where is your favourite lunch/coffee/hang-out spot in the city?
Rose Corner Café in Bokaap for very early morning koeksisters (breakfast of champions!) and Olympia Café in Kalk Bay for everything else.
Find Holly’s designs on her Facebook page or carrolboyes.com