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Born and bred Capetonian, Jared Odell, is a fresh-faced industrial designer who has just launched his collection of furniture called Fulbrite.

Jared says he has always loved the idea of bespoke goods, from furniture right down to one-of-a-kind suits and cars.

He decided to share this love for bespoke items through custom design services to interior designers and the public.

The Fulbrite collection was sparked by the concept of being able to pick your favourite colours, that are then incorporated into the furniture with powder-coated metal. “I’ve tried to keep the designs as simple as possible. I didn’t want to hide how the pieces are put together, so I’ve used stainless steel fasteners and they add to the feel of the designs,” Jared says.

VISI spoke to Jared to find out more about his work and his inspiration.

Where and what did you study?  
I studied Industrial Design at CPUT. I first did the three-year diploma then traveled around the world for a bit to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. The following year, 2008, I came back and did my BTech in Industrial Design.

From where do you draw inspiration?
I think, for this range, I’ve drawn my inspiration from the actual materials I’m using, especially the sheet metal. I love the concept of folding something weak and two-dimensional into something strong and three-dimensional. By putting a fold in the metal in the right place you can add an incredible amount of strength to a component, so I’ve just been playing around with these possibilities, aesthetically and functionally.

Colour plays a large part in your new collection. What does colour bring to the table (excuse the pun)?
I like the idea of giving the customer the opportunity to add some of their personality to the pieces they buy. So you have the option to choose your favourite colour for the metal components, and you end up with one-of-a-kind furniture pieces. I love colour and I think the right touch of colour in interior spaces can completely change the whole mood of a place. So it’s great to be able to give people options to create a mood.

How would you define your style?
That’s hard to say. I just design what feels right to me, but I would definitely say I’m very influenced by Mid-century Modernism. For this range I’ve tried to stick to two main materials: birch plywood and sheet metal. My goal was to design products true to these materials, something that enhances the value of the material, not something that tries to hide what it’s made from.

Does South Africa inspire your design at all? If so, how? 
Yes, I think the relaxed culture of South Africans has inspired me to create furniture that’s fun and not too pretentious. European design is beautiful, but it’s often so serious. South Africans like beautiful yet practical things, so I’ve tried to create a range that’s usable and practical. I’m designing furniture, not making art.

Which South African furniture designers do you admire? Why?
I would have to say Haldane Martin. I love the stuff he does and how he tries to benefit South Africa through design. I hope to be where he is in five years time. Pedersen+Lennard really inspired me to go out on my own and start my own range. These guys were in the same year as me when we studied industrial design together and if they can do it, why can’t I?

What are your goals as a young designer?
I want to expand… and create many ranges of furniture for the local market. I want to create jobs and keep it 100% designed and manufactured in South Africa. In the future I’m aiming to show at the Milan Furniture Fair – one has to dream big!

With his strong ambitions and innovative furniture pieces, we reckon Jared Odell is a name to look out for…

More information: www.jaredodell.co.za, 072 556 7574,  info@jaredodell.co.za