With so many Australian designers trying to break into international markets, meet one who has built a brand through developing his skills in four major cities. 

Following his graduation in furniture design from RMIT and a year designing for Australia’s largest street furniture manufacturer, Melbourne born Jarrod Lim headed to Milan. With a little funding from The Australian Overseas Foundation, he landed a role in the studio of design trailblazer Patricia Urquiola.

There he had the opportunity to work with a multi-cultural team working on top Italian brands such as Kartell and Alessi. Given what he saw as surprising freedom to innovate and experiment he found his industrial design knowledge and training was a huge advantage. Able to liaise with the factories and pre-empt potential manufacturing issues, what was meant to be a short stay led to a two year placement in the world’s most influential design hub.

This was followed with a spell in London with top design and furniture manufacturer SCP working with the likes of Jasper Morrison, Tom Dixon and Terence Woodgate before heading back to Melbourne. Here he started sharing his knowledge as a lecturer at his alma mater in addition to Swinburne University of Technology.

However his desire to explore new markets got the better of him. His Streamline chair won the prestigious Singapore Furniture Design Award, creating sufficient awareness and interest in his work to pave the way for the setting up of his own studio in Singapore.

Now a decade into his time in Southeast Asia, Lim has found his worldliness has given him inspiration, experience and perspective. He involves himself in a wide array of projects, from the Urquiola directed OAsia hotel interiors to forging ahead with his eponymous brand. Comfortable dealing with design brands and manufacturers around the world and now with well established relationships that span continents, this adventurous Australian continues to go strength to strength. 

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