Karen McCartney talks to Brett Conroy of Blu Dot Australia about thoughtful and affordable design. 

Blu Dot is one of a new genre of furniture brands that addresses the problem of good, affordable and original design. The brand is pumping with ideas, personality, irreverence and fun but at the heart of it all is a philosophy devoted to design integrity and quality product. To understand the brand in an instant you just have to watch their innovative video 'The Real Good Experiment'.



When Blu Dot moved to Soho New York in 2008 they noticed the phenomenon of 'curb-mining' – which they describe as the act of finding art and furniture on the street. Their plan was to attach a GPS device to each of eight chairs left dotted around the city, and to watch, through strategically placed cameras who picked them up. GPS tracking would allow them to follow the chairs to their new home. Not only does it make an entertaining piece of film but their ingenuity got them coverage in a wide range of media including The New York Times.

Any website with a 'Do not click here' button with a follow up message, 'A conscious effort to break a few rules' is worth listening to.

Now Sydney has its own Blu Dot store, opened in February 2013 and run by the ever-enthusiastic Brett Conroy. Here he tells us why the brand is booming.

What attracted you to the Blu Dot brand?
That's a really interesting question. I first discovered Blu Dot in Dwell magazine about 6 years ago. There was an advertisement for a Strut Console Table in Watermelon. I was drawn to the strong architectural aesthetic of the design contrasted in a wild watermelon poly finish. I instantly thought these kids are fun. I need this in my life. Unfortunately, it was difficult to purchase Blu Dot in Australia at that time so I put my desires on hold. 3 ½ years later I was visiting the first Blu Dot showroom in New York's SoHo where I had the opportunity to take in the expanded and ever evolving collection in a branded space. I was super impressed with the product while at the same time disappointed at the lack of accessibly priced original modern design in Australia. I thought, someone needs to bring Blu Dot to Australia. The next thing I knew, that someone was me.


Stilt table lamp and floor lamps. 

How would you define its approach?
As one of the few design firms that also manufactures and markets its own designs I guess we like to think that we take our job seriously but we don't take ourselves seriously.

Why do you think Blu Dot product is right for Australia?
I think Blu Dot being based in the mid-west of the USA breeds a certain pragmatism that may be evident in our work - a straightforwardness, a sort of no bullshit approach. Being outside New York or other design-heavy locations is a good thing because we are free to do whatever we want without ever feeling the need to look over our shoulder at what the next dude is doing. I think this resonates strongly with Australians.


Rook table lamp, available in today's sale event.

What are some of the thoughtful design details that really appeal to your customers?
One of our core design principles is efficiency. We push for efficiency in every aspect of a product, from the use of materials, to machining and production, to packaging and transportation. With higher efficiency, we use fewer resources and make a smaller environmental footprint. Additionally, during the design process we consider the environmental impact of each decision we make and, whenever possible, choose the option that has a smaller impact on the environment.

What is new and exciting for 2014?
We have some awesome new dining chairs about to hit the showroom: Chip, Clutch & Wicket, a sweet console desk as well as graduated finishes to our more popular pieces.

To find out more about Blu Dot's furniture range, visit their website or follow them on Facebook or on Instagram @bludotaustralia.