KEY POINTS:
Designer Matt Smith reckons it's really all just a bit of "glorified shed tinkering". Never mind that he's the man behind Wellington-based design firm Punga & Smith, and therefore various clever, not to mention funny, bits of furniture that will give many of us a bit of an
"aha!" moment. Take the Sacrificial Chair, for instance.
You know how in every bedroom there's one chair that's always piled high with clothes? Well, this is the chair that's been sacrificed to casual storage. So rather than see any more chairs lost to such a cruel fate, he has made one especially for this purpose.
As for the shed tinkering description of what he does, Smith, who has an honours degree in industrial design from Monash University in Melbourne, believes most good designers have always done this. "Think of the Eames, or of Frank Gehry," he says, "they were also playing with materials."
Which is exactly what Smith and his contemporaries are doing. "So much [design work] is trial and error, it's about going into the workshop and playing with stuff - I just don't think you need to take it that seriously. And I think it's good to have a little bit of humour, or social commentary, in your work."
1 London Design Museum A small but perfect design museum overlooking the Thames, with a fantastic shop. Fashion, furniture, graphic design - we should get one up and running in New Zealand, with international exhibitions, within 10 years.
2 Karmann Ghia There is a gold Karmann Ghia that pops up around Christchurch. Flash.
3 Sacrificial Chair I'm not one for self-promotion but the Sacrificial Chair is plain genius.
4 Bloomsberry & Co. chocolate bars Owners Vanessa and Giles gave me my first real design work. After starting out packing chocolate bars in their garage (and trying to stop the dog from eating them all), I soon graduated to designing Bloomsberry & Co. product stands and trade show stands for the New Zealand and international markets.
5 Autoban furniture and branding Quirky designs and even better branding with some of the more interesting designs to be released in recent years. The Bergere Chair is a favourite. They're getting huge exposure for their furniture and interiors but a source tells me they're not all that clued up when it comes to manufacturing. That's good to know because neither am I.
6 1967 Puch SR 150 One of the best-looking scooters around - very kindly loaned to me by prolific Wellington-based designer Bobby Greigg of Robert Rose Design - although he keeps insisting that I "make sweet, sweet love to it".
7 Fiat 500, both old and new Slightly faddish, but I didn't appreciate these cars until I saw them in action in Sicily. Every available inch of road is used and lanes just don't exist. The new version is a good-looking, understated small car that steers well clear of the over-styled Beetle look. The original version you just want to put in your pocket and take home.
8 Crane Brothers stirling silver collar bones A touch of indulgence because no one knows they're there but you.
9 Phil Cuttance Design Meet the man and you'll understand where the designs come from. These things don't fit the New Zealand design aesthetic - or any design aesthetic! I think if he's not having fun doing it he just won't do it. A previous participant in this section, Phil has been invaluable with his advice on how to write mine.
10 Toy rhino I bought this rhino in Palermo, Sicily, on Christmas Eve. Something about it appeals to me. It makes me think I might do a series of coffee tables and slouchy chairs made from old sacks.
