NIC HARTLEY OF Sarah Ellison STUDIO
‘THIS IS NICE’ FASHION DIRECTOR, ALEJANDRA GARRAN, SITS DOWN WITH CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGER FOR SARAH ELLISON, NIC HARTLEY, TO DISCUSs ALL THINGS DESIGN, A FEW OF HIS FAVOURITE THINGS, AND HOW HIS CAREER PATH CHANGED FROM ARCHITECTURE TO DESIGN
AG: wet met in uni years ago WHILE YOU WERE STUDYING ARCHITECTURE and now You’re working for one of the best in furniture design. WHAT WAS IT THAT MADE YOU SHIFT TO DEISGN?
NH: Architecture is always something that interested me from a young age. Once I completed my Bachelor of Design in Architecture at Sydney University and completed internships, I realised it wasn’t for me. I was more interested in furniture design, and the workings of a small business. I am customer experience manager with Sarah Ellison now, and loving it.
AG: If you had a uniform… what would it be?
NH: Linen & canvas sneakers
AG: Favourite chair ever?
NH: Cannot beat the tubular Wassily chair in black, what i wouldn’t give for one.
Right: Photograph of Nic’s dream chair
fill in the blank, ‘it’s __________ to be nice’
‘IT’S CUTE TO BE NICE’
#it’scooltobenice
AG: What excites you about design and what does your audience respond to?
NH: I love design that acknowledges its context. Our audience wants something different for their spaces, and are sick of the common..
FAST FAVOURITES
AG: Photograph?
NH: Film
AG: Place?
NH: Mykonos
AG: Job?
NH: Photographer
AG: Designer?
NH: Sarah Ellison, duh.
AG: Vintage item to find?
NH: Ceramic pyramid phone
AG: Snack on set?
NH: Pastries
AG: Color?
NH: Oatmeal
AG: Song?
NH: Swim Good, Frank Ocean
AG: Beach in Sydney?
NH: Camp Cove
AG: Dinner spot?
NH: Ms. G’s
Nic’s favourite designer, Sarah Ellison
Listen to Nic’s favourite song, Swim Good by Frank Ocean, here.
AG: ‘this is nice’ is an ode to conversations with friends. How helpful is collaboration and open communication to you and your Sarah Ellison team?
NH: Being a new and still small business, we’re always chatting casually about what we love on insta etc. We’re able to put ideas forward in a judgement free space.
AG: Who are some of your favourite designers?
NH: Carlo Scarpa, Mario Bellini, Marcel Breuer & Mies
Mario Bellini sofa, photo by B&B Italia