Aran Barnes
University of Tasmania
Duncan’s process starts with inspiration, much
like many other designer makers. His inspiration is typically found in nature
whether it’s the dark cracks in a log, where he wanted to reverse the feeling
of danger lurking in the dark, and instead have a warm glow emitted outwards.
Or in the ‘Lilly Lamp’ with the silhouette taken from a Lily floating on a pond
with its long elegant stem arching skywards.
Meerding then moves on to the design and
prototyping stage, where he begins with rough sketches and making mock-ups and
models of his ideas. This allows Duncan to get a sense of scale and feel the
object in his hands.