Sarah Gibson & Nicholas Karlovasitis from DesignByThem
Sarah Gibson and Nicholas Karlovasitis, co-directors of DesignByThem, met while studying industrial design at university. Since launching the brand in 2007, they’ve been championing Australian design, navigating its highs, the challenges, and everything in between.
Photos PETE DALY
Sarah Gibson and Nicholas Karlovasitis are the founding co-director team behind DesignByThem.
The Twill Chair in Rust Red and Pillar Round Side Table in Chalk Blue, designed by Gibson Karlo, with the Overlay Rug designed by Danielah Martinez from DesignByThem.
As co-directors and industrial designers, Sarah Gibson and Nicholas Karlovasitis design products for DesignByThem and have grown the company to include a curated collection of furniture, accessories and lighting from a stellar cohort of Australian designers.
Sundae Armchair designed by Jason Ju and Overlay Rug designed by Danielah Martinez from DesignByThem.
The Piper Pedestal Table by Gibson Karlo with the Bobby Chair designed by Daniel Tucker from DesignByThem.
“I think our best work is often when we challenge each other. Sometimes one is driving the concept and the other is refining or challenging the idea to push it as far as it can go.”
‘I feel that we should try to contribute to the industry in any way possible. Passing on knowledge to the next generation of designers is a real privilege and can only help create a better industry for all,’ says Nicholas Karlovasitis, DesignByThem co-founder and director.
Hello Sarah and Nick—can you introduce yourselves?
Nick: I’m Nick, co-founder and director of DesignByThem and one half of Studio Gibson Karlo.
Sarah: I’m Sarah, co-founder and director of DesignByThem and one half of Studio Gibson Karlo.
You established DesignByThem back in 2007 after graduating as industrial designers at University of Technology Sydney. What first inspired you to join forces?
Sarah: We realised many Australian designers we admired (and who sometimes taught us) were chasing royalties from design companies overseas. We wanted to create a platform where Australian designers came together under the one brand in order to promote Australian design locally and internationally. It took us a while to build the collection, with Nick and I designing a few products to get things going, and to create the marketing and sales channels that would support it. We’re glad to see a lot has changed over the years with more Australian designs emerging. We care very much about the collective idea of Australian design, whether that be through interiors and architecture or other Australian design brands also doing well.
You both value education highly—why is it so important to you?
Sarah: Interesting question—learning is one of the joys of life, we’re always learning at DBT and there’s a humility to learning that we foster internally and want for the brand. It demonstrates respect for others, what they do and a sense that designers are not elitist, but actually interested in what people want, need and desire.
Nick: I feel that we should try to contribute to the industry in any way possible. Passing on knowledge to the next generation of designers is a real privilege and can only help create a better industry for all. It also goes the other way and I feel that I should be always learning to improve as a designer whether you are experienced or a graduate.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt since starting the business?
Sarah: There’s been so many, haha! Early ones we learnt were around simple things like cashflow and risk (take it!) but I guess it’s consistency that we’ve learnt over time. Things don’t happen overnight but if you truly believe in something and keep at it, people will get on board. Of course, you have to adapt as well, but there should be an overarching goal that drives you that remains constant, that you know you will always be passionate about.
Nick: I agree. Another one is that not all things have to be approached in a typical way. Not having any business experience when we started allowed us to question the status quo. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn’t, but it’s always good to try and test—just like a design process.
When it comes to DBT, what are you most proud of?
Sarah: The people and the collective whole of the products.
Nick: As well as the fact that we have been able to work together for so long, and have endured many challenges.
Where do you each gather inspiration for your designs?
Sarah: Architecture, industrially manufactured goods, both old and new. Materiality can also often drive the design rather than an external factor. Art and fashion as well—sometimes for form, colour and texture.
Nick: Same. I don’t think we go hunting for inspiration, but we definitely absorb the world around us. Sometimes it can be something very simple as Sarah has outlined. I like looking at design history as well. I think it is important to study the past.
When designing, how do you work together?
Sarah: Lots of healthy arguments! There’s also a tug-of-war of minimalistic vs expressionistic, so that the product has just the right amount of character to make it endearing but not too much that it’s try-hard. Potentially there’s a feminine/masculine tug-of-war also, but again we ultimately like the balance.
Nick: I think our best work is often when we challenge each other. Sometimes one is driving the concept and the other is refining or challenging the idea to push it as far as it can go.
‘I think it is very easy to get too caught up in your own idea. Having somebody there to tell you it isn’t a good idea is invaluable,’ says Nicholas Karlovasitis.
The Confetti Armchair and Pillar Round Side Table in Nutmeg designed by Gibson Karlo with the Overlay Rug designed by Danielah Martinez from DesignByThem.
The Butter Stool in Beige, Clay and Sage with the Confetti Dining Table—Pill designed by Gibson Karlo from DesignByThem.
“Learning is one of the joys of life, we’re always learning at DBT—there’s a humility to learning that we foster internally and want for the brand. ”
The Bobby Counter Stool—Metal in Nutmeg designed by Daniel Tucker from DesignByThem.
The Pillar Round Side Table in Nutmeg designed by Gibson Karlo works hard in the living space as a side table and also in the bedroom.
Sarah—what does Nicholas bring to DesignByThem that’s most valuable?
Sarah: I’m more a pusher, a bit gun-ho and he’s more a finisher? I’m perhaps more concept, and Nick's a bit more detailed—but it depends what we are talking about. I can get very detailed with different things. Nick’s also a great people person, I can be a bit too direct sometimes.
Nick—what does Sarah bring to DesignByThem that you couldn’t do without?
Nick: Sarah is a great pusher and is very determined. She generally has an optimistic timeline and is very good at focusing on something. I am definitely more of a multitasking person. 100 things at once, all the time. I also like working on long term strategy, which Sarah does too. We do balance each other out really well, and we do switch roles sometimes when it comes to being a starter and refiner, but it’s always very balanced. Sarah is a great sounding board and support for me.
The best part of working as a team?
Sarah: You don’t go on endless tangents with a very bad idea. You ultimately waste less time and get to the truth of something much faster. You learn not to be too precious about your own ideas.
Nick: I think it is very easy to get too caught up in your own idea. Having somebody there to tell you it isn’t a good idea is invaluable. It can sting at times, but ultimately it always comes out to a better solution.
And the most challenging?
Nick: Finding time to work on the critical items. We have done a lot of work in setting up structure and processes so that we can work on the areas that we can contribute the most to.
Sarah: As the business gets bigger it’s hard to let go, but you ultimately have to otherwise there’s two of you looking at everything and slowing things down when it comes to greater business decisions.
What’s a piece of valuable advice you have learnt throughout the years that you would give to an aspiring furniture designer?
Nick: Do your research and be comfortable with killing ideas or designs no matter what stage they’re in. Do not follow trends and find gaps in the market or have a key strategy/concept when you are developing a product.
Sarah: Don’t do things for exhibitions unless you need the deadline only. Make sure it’s something you want to do long-term and stick to that goal.
How has DesignByThem evolved throughout the years?
Sarah: The two major shifts for us has been around the Australian made vs overseas made—we ultimately learnt the hard way through copies made overseas that you need to make products for an accessible price if you want a market for them. Ultimately we support Australian design first and Australian manufacturing second. If we can make a product in Australia and it’s viable to sell then we will always do this, but not if it’s at the cost of the designer making a royalty from the design in the first place. We also want to export Australian design in an accessible way and with that comes logistic considerations that are sometimes not available locally.
Nick: The team growing has been a pretty incredible thing to be part of. Having dedicated team members and a great structure/systems has allowed us to expand and constantly improve.
What’s coming up for DesignByThem you’re most excited about?
Sarah: 3 Days of Design, and some great products we’re launching there. As I said, it's always good to have a deadline! The products are very exciting in their own right, which is great.
Nick: We will be pushing and evolving the design language of the brand further with some of the new products and entering some categories which we have not had a strong or any offering. So very exciting.
To stay up to date with DesignByThem & view their entire collection, visit their website or follow @designbythem on Instagram.