Grant Featherston b. c.1922

  • Designer (Furniture Designer / Cabinetmaker),
  • Designer (Industrial / Product Designer),
  • Designer (Glass & metal Artist / Designer)
A pioneer of industrial design in Australia. Featherston helped to form the Society of Designers for Industry (now the Design Institute of Australia) in Melbourne in 1948.
Tags: Furniture, Lighting
You are viewing the version of bio from Oct. 13, 2011, 11:59 a.m. , as edited by Olivia Bolton (moderator approved).
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Name
Grant Featherston
Gender
Male
Roles
  • Designer (Furniture Designer / Cabinetmaker)
  • Designer (Industrial / Product Designer)
  • Designer (Glass & metal Artist / Designer)
Other Occupation
  • Serviceman c.1939 - c.1945
Tags:
Furniture
Lighting
Birth date
c.1922
Birth place
Geelong, VIC
Death date
c.1995
Active Period
  • c.1947-
Residence
  • Melbourne, Vic.
Training
  • Unnamed course

Difference between this version and previous

Field This Version Previous Version
Other occupations
  • Serviceman c.1939 - c.1945
  • Serviceman c.1939 - c.1945
Field Changes
Biography An industrial designer practising in Melbourne, Featherston was born in Geelong and began his career as a designer in glass and lighting without formal training. ¶

After service in the 1939-45 war, he began to develop a range of furniture that has become his signature product: the _Relaxation range_ (1947-49) and the famous _Contour Chairs_ (1951-55 but re-released in the 1990s). This furniture was initially made by Grant Featherston but later licensed to other manufacturers. ¶

Featherston formed a design partnership with wife Mary in 1966 and together they were the winners of many Good Design Awards. Internationally, his best-known work is the famed _Talking Chair_, commissioned by architect and design critic Robin Boyd for the Australian Pavilion at Expo '67 in Montreal. When sat upon, these chairs delivered a tape-recorded message on Australian topics in French and English. ¶

Grant Featherston was one of the pioneers of industrial design in Australia and helped form the Society of Designers for Industry (now the Design Institute of Australia) in Melbourne in 1948. Curator Terence Lane organised Grant Featherson's retrospective exhibition 'Featherston Chairs' at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 1988. ¶

Grant Featherston. 'Product Design'. Look Here. Considering the Australian Environment. John Button, editor. [Fabian Society Lectures]. Cheshire, 1968. ¶

Terence Lane. Featherston Chairs. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. 1988. ¶