Q&A: Scott Van Tuil, Designer & Maker
Inspired and influenced by his island home, a Hobart-based furniture designer and maker creates a portfolio of objects that are as beautiful in form as they are in function.
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Scott Van Tuil (image: Jonathan Wherrett)
What do you do?
I’m a designer and maker, working out of my studio - VAN TUIL Design Studio.
Describe a typical day on the job for you.
A typical day is spent in the workshop, working on current projects, and designing for future projects. A lot of my work has a uniquely Tasmanian story, like the Turbine Bowl and Arch Vessels which both take inspiration from the pioneering Hydro Electric scheme in Tasmania’s story.
The Turbine Bowl by Scott Van Tuil (image supplied)
What’s the best thing about what you do for a living?
Buying architecture and design books as tax-deductible expenses is pretty great! But I feel most lucky to be able to spend time creating beautiful things.
What about the worst thing about what you do for a living?
Easy - anything related to business administration.
You could live anywhere in the world, but you chose Tasmania - why?
We love Tasmania. There are so many easily accessible ingredients that make a fantastic lifestyle possible: the sea, the beach, the wilderness, culture, and food and drink.
The Loft Lounge by Scott Van Tuil (image: Jonathan Wherrett)
What are three must-dos for every visitor to Tassie?
In no particular order - eat, drink, and get to Bruny Island.
Where is your favourite local coffee haunt?
Describe your perfect Saturday in the part of Tasmania you call home.
A perfect summer Saturday starts with coffee and pastries, followed by boating off one of Hobart’s great beaches, and dinner and drinks at Sonny in the evening.
What are you reading?
I’m really good at starting books, so there are several on the go. Limberlost by Robbie Arnott is at the top of the stack, currently. I just finished Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, and have been dipping into some poetry by Mary Oliver and Ocean Vuong.
What are you listening to?
I have lots of listening time in the workshop, so it’s a mix of music, audiobooks and podcasts. My go-to podcasts are Monocle on Design, On Being, This American Lifeand The Imperfects.
How can people connect with you?
Find me on Instagram at @van.tuil, where I’m mocked for posting more pictures of the horizon than furniture, or at the VAN TUIL Design Studio website, that gives a sense of what I do.
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