Blog
Updated 6 November 2020
Do you dream of being an interior stylist? Sydney Design School offer a Styling Workshop with a focus on practical approaches and industry experience, presented by interior experts Vanessa Coyler Tay and our very own Jono Fleming. With the next round of classes kicking off on May 2nd, now seems to be the time to talk about what the course involves and what it's like to intern at T&W.
Always on the hunt for up-and-comers (click here for a trip down memory lane), we hand-picked Allira Bell from Sydney Design School's pool of candidates for a studio internship. Read on to find out more about her experience and check out the 3 shoots she styled for us...
Can you describe your experience at Sydney Design School?
I completed the Styling Workshop at Sydney Design School last year. It's a really hands-on course and Jono and Vanessa were very helpful and down to earth. I honestly can’t rave enough about the teaching! They shared lots of insider knowledge, and the class sizes were quite small which is great for getting to know people.
Part of the course involves a site visit to Temple & Webster. What was that like?
It was a really good experience to be immersed in the chaos of T&W HQ. Chris (Group Creative Director) and Jess (Group Head of Styling) gave a presentation and shared lots of industry and non-industry banter. In the background, Jono (Senior Stylist) was styling a shoot. It was great to observe his process and see him layering pieces to bring the shot together.
One of your assignments for the course is to style a real life shoot for Temple & Webster. What was the brief and how did you approach the task?
Each student had to choose 1 of the 2 Noritake dinnerware ranges and shoot it in the style of a lifestyle landscape. Back at Sydney Design School, I worked through the process step-by-step, beginning with pin-pointing the audience and coming up with a concept, then making a moodboard to assist with communicating ideas and in order to remain on brief. I scheduled, organised logistics and sourced props. When the shoot day rolled around, a professional photographer helped achieve the final image.
As the stylist with the most successful shot (congratulations!), you won a styling internship with Temple & Webster. What was that like?
The best part of the internship is the opportunity to work with such highly regarded industry professionals. It's a great experience to see them compose sets from nothing, to watch them continuously assemble products appropriately and aspirationally. I also realised how many cogs go into the overall shot and how many different departments are involved – even buying and the warehouse. There's a lot of back of house things that occur in order to create the final shot.
Tell us about the shoots you've styled for T&W.
I worked on three shoots of my own, starting with Sandsmade. It was really interesting to try something in the visual merchandising realm. I created a concrete background and layered purposefully cut sheets of ply to provide a layered effect. To reference the brand I used lots of black, white, and wood tones. Since Sandsmade are known for simplicity and good quality design, I wanted the overall aesthetic to be uncomplicated but sophisticated.
The next shot I styled was for Tween Bedroom. I wanted to create something that could exist in the real world. The "tween" age bracket means balancing the desire for independence with a gravitation towards trends. I used the product to guide my colour palette, and I followed the same steps that I learned in the Sydney Design School workshop. With reference imagery to hand, I consulted the T&W creative team for tips on building the set. They showed me how to use the equipment and work within the confines of the studio.
My last shoot at T&W had a focus on house numbers. It required lots of larger prop sourcing and quite a bit of painting. Taking an industrial angle, I used a restricted colour palette to ensure the numbers popped.
What’s next – where do you hope your studies will take you?
Ideally, in the direction of interior styling. I'd love to work across visual merchandising and full page editorials in magazines. My stylist crush at the moment is Adam Powell: he's very quick, super talented, and his mind always seems to go to another world. Whilst I'm still finding my style, it's great to work with as many clients as possible.
If you're interested in attending the Styling Workshop, visit the Sydney Design School Website for more information.
The next workshop starts on May 2nd 2016. It takes place over 6 evenings and 2 Saturdays.
Styled by Allira Bell, Sydney Design School
Styling – Jono Fleming and intern, Allira Bell. Photography – Denise Braki.
Do you dream of being an interior stylist? Sydney Design School offer a Styling Workshop with a focus on practical approaches and industry experience, presented by interior experts Vanessa Coyler Tay and our very own Jono Fleming. With the next round of classes kicking off on May 2nd, now seems to be the time to talk about what the course involves and what it's like to intern at T&W.
Always on the hunt for up-and-comers (click here for a trip down memory lane), we hand-picked Allira Bell from Sydney Design School's pool of candidates for a studio internship. Read on to find out more about her experience and check out the 3 shoots she styled for us...
Portrait of Allira Bell. Photography – Denise Braki.
Can you describe your experience at Sydney Design School?
I completed the Styling Workshop at Sydney Design School last year. It's a really hands-on course and Jono and Vanessa were very helpful and down to earth. I honestly can’t rave enough about the teaching! They shared lots of insider knowledge, and the class sizes were quite small which is great for getting to know people.
Part of the course involves a site visit to Temple & Webster. What was that like?
It was a really good experience to be immersed in the chaos of T&W HQ. Chris (Group Creative Director) and Jess (Group Head of Styling) gave a presentation and shared lots of industry and non-industry banter. In the background, Jono (Senior Stylist) was styling a shoot. It was great to observe his process and see him layering pieces to bring the shot together.
Styling – Allira Bell. Photography – Hugo Sharp for Sydney Design School.
One of your assignments for the course is to style a real life shoot for Temple & Webster. What was the brief and how did you approach the task?
Each student had to choose 1 of the 2 Noritake dinnerware ranges and shoot it in the style of a lifestyle landscape. Back at Sydney Design School, I worked through the process step-by-step, beginning with pin-pointing the audience and coming up with a concept, then making a moodboard to assist with communicating ideas and in order to remain on brief. I scheduled, organised logistics and sourced props. When the shoot day rolled around, a professional photographer helped achieve the final image.
As the stylist with the most successful shot (congratulations!), you won a styling internship with Temple & Webster. What was that like?
The best part of the internship is the opportunity to work with such highly regarded industry professionals. It's a great experience to see them compose sets from nothing, to watch them continuously assemble products appropriately and aspirationally. I also realised how many cogs go into the overall shot and how many different departments are involved – even buying and the warehouse. There's a lot of back of house things that occur in order to create the final shot.
Styling - Allira Bell. Photography - Sue Stubbs.
Tell us about the shoots you've styled for T&W.
I worked on three shoots of my own, starting with Sandsmade. It was really interesting to try something in the visual merchandising realm. I created a concrete background and layered purposefully cut sheets of ply to provide a layered effect. To reference the brand I used lots of black, white, and wood tones. Since Sandsmade are known for simplicity and good quality design, I wanted the overall aesthetic to be uncomplicated but sophisticated.
Styling - Allira Bell. Photography - Denise Braki.
The next shot I styled was for Tween Bedroom. I wanted to create something that could exist in the real world. The "tween" age bracket means balancing the desire for independence with a gravitation towards trends. I used the product to guide my colour palette, and I followed the same steps that I learned in the Sydney Design School workshop. With reference imagery to hand, I consulted the T&W creative team for tips on building the set. They showed me how to use the equipment and work within the confines of the studio.
Behind the scenes: Styling - Allira Bell. Photography – Denise Braki.
My last shoot at T&W had a focus on house numbers. It required lots of larger prop sourcing and quite a bit of painting. Taking an industrial angle, I used a restricted colour palette to ensure the numbers popped.
What’s next – where do you hope your studies will take you?
Ideally, in the direction of interior styling. I'd love to work across visual merchandising and full page editorials in magazines. My stylist crush at the moment is Adam Powell: he's very quick, super talented, and his mind always seems to go to another world. Whilst I'm still finding my style, it's great to work with as many clients as possible.
If you're interested in attending the Styling Workshop, visit the Sydney Design School Website for more information.
The next workshop starts on May 2nd 2016. It takes place over 6 evenings and 2 Saturdays.
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