Furniture design alumnus goes international

Originally intending to pursue graphic design or architecture, Mr Lim had no idea he would one day have his own furniture design studio in eastern Singapore or see his work collected by top Australian public art museums.

Mr Lim completed a Bachelor of Industrial Design at RMIT in the late 90s before beginning full-time work in the industry.

Returning a few years later to do theAssociate Degree in Design (Furniture), he says his additional studies were an incredible building block for his career.

"Once I started approaching my course as though it was the first step in building my business, it changed the whole way I interacted with the teachers and the way I treated each project," he says.

"I was less concerned about completing the project just to get good marks, but completing the project in a viable, real-world situation."

Shortly after finishing his studies, Mr Lim embarked on a path to refine his skills, moving through Europe, the UK and the Asia-Pacific, working with some of the world's most renowned design and furniture manufacturers.

"RMIT gave me a solid knowledge of manufacturing and production processes in a wide variety of materials and fields, which has helped immensely throughout my career," he says.

"With a decent knowledge of various manufacturing and construction processes, I am able to engage confidently with these people, which makes my work much easier."

Now, with his own furniture brand Hinika, Mr Lim's design goals explore how people relate to objects, materials and the spaces that surround them.

"My aim for each project is to realise a delicate balance between creating something new and fresh while maintaining a sense of tradition and timelessness," he says.

One of Mr Lim's designs, the Hi Ho rocking horse, has recently been acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria for its permanent collection.

Hi Ho, like many of his creations, reinterprets a traditional idea as a piece of modern furniture that can be easily slotted into any contemporary, stylish interior.

Michael Goss, Vocational Education Deputy Dean in the School of Architecture and Design, said Mr Lim's success was very well deserved.

"Jarrod's vision, drive and willingness to learn together with his ability to creatively adapt to new opportunities have allowed him to make significant contributions to the field of furniture design and in the interface with manufacturing technologies," Mr Goss said.

"Our industrial, furniture and product design programs produce local and international leaders in their disciplines.

"Jarrod's innovative approach to his practice sees him well on the way to making his mark within the design community in Singapore and overseas."

Mr Lim currently lives in Singapore, designing products for his furniture brand Hinika and manufacturing products across south-east Asia.

RMIT is a leading provider of contemporary programs in industrial, furniture and product design.