Diego Faivre At Useful Objects
French designer Diego Faivre brings his playful designs to Useful Objects in Melbourne—celebrating the humble and iconic suburban Aussie milk bar.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Madde de Ponti, Yann Audic, Pierre Castignola
Diego Faivre is a French designer and artist based in the Netherlands, known for his playful and conceptual approach to design. Photo: Yann Audic, Courtesy of Useful Objects
Flowers by Diego Faivre. Photo: Madde de Ponti, Courtesy of Useful Objects
“My design vision centres on creating transparent, performative art using recycled materials and air-dry clay, promoting sustainability and community involvement.”
Diego Faivre and his cabinet. Photo: Pierre Castignola, Courtesy of Useful Objects
Boogie Tropical Lamp by Diego Faivre. Photo: Ronald Smits, Courtesy of Useful Objects
French Designer Diego Faivre transforms Useful Objects into a performative space of rapid creation, community participation and exchange for their final solo exhibition for this year. Titled Diego Super Bonza Store, the exhibition draws inspiration from the disappearing cultural icon—the suburban Aussie milk bar.
Netherlands-based designer, Diego, is a graduate of the Design Academy Eindhoven, his recent projects include the Mini Golf Extravaganza at the 2024 Salone del Mobile in Milan, where his design vision brought to life interactive installations that encouraged participants of all ages to engage and play.
‘My design vision centres on creating transparent, performative art using recycled materials and air-dry clay, promoting sustainability and community involvement,’ shares Diego, ‘The Diego Super Bonza Store exhibition embodies these principles by transforming the Useful Objects gallery space into an immersive reimagining of an Australian milk bar.’
The exhibition is part of Diego’s ongoing project, Minute Manufacturing, a project that has been evolving for over seven years and deeply influenced by his experience working in a factory, where every action was perfectly timed. The experience has fuelled Diego’s interest in time pressure, transparency, and efficiency, which he explores through his creative process. In all of his work, the artist invites the viewer to reconnect with design, embracing a playful approach that is abundant in joyful colour and unexpected form.
The unique exhibition is part gallery presentation, part makeshift factory and part idiosyncratic retail environment. Diego will work in the space for the first month, creating a cumulative exhibition of objects made on-site in full view of visitors. The public will then be invited to participate in weekend workshops with Diego on Saturdays in December (2–6pm on the 7th, 14th and 21st December), where they can make their own Diego Faivre-inspired design works for display in the exhibition!
‘Diego Super Bonza Store’ exhibition is free and publicly viewable: 22 November 2024 to 21 December 2024 and 15 January 2025 to 01 February 2025, Wednesday to Saturday, 12–5pm at Useful Objects