An Artistic Rebirth – Douglas and Bec Relaunches as Snelling

New Zealand brand Douglas and Bec relaunches as Snelling – a multi-disciplinary studio persistent in its commemoration of innovation and craftsmanship. With a renowned eye for exceptional design, the studio continues to create impactful contemporary products, nurturing careful consideration for quality, detailing and materiality.

Originally established in 2007 by collaborative father-daughter team Douglas and Bec Snelling, the new direction for the studio symbolises an amalgamation of creativity, design and manufacturing. As Douglas takes a step back into retirement, the global operation continues now with Bec at the helm. Snelling remains a furniture and design studio dedicated to delivering powerful products, blending traditional engineering elements with experimental aspirations.

Snelling remains a furniture and design studio dedicated to delivering powerful products, blending traditional engineering elements with experimental aspirations.

After a series of unpredictable and challenging events – which included personal adversity, artistic rejuvenation and a factory fire – the business had the opportunity for growth and ultimately reincarnation. Throughout this reimagining, Bec soon realised that the studio’s direction needed to adjust, and she found unique inspiration from her original roots as an artist and designer. Bec’s insight into the design process allowed for a holistic rebuild – a blending of work, life and art. Thus, Snelling was born.

“I’m finally working the way I have always wanted to, with my own unique way of communicating, and driven by an insatiable thirst to create – I’ve adored every moment,” Bec says. Her formal training and many years of design experience allows Snelling’s newly curated collection to linger between both sculptural and functional worlds. The authentic nature of Snelling continues to speak to the perceptive and unexpected, honouring the brand’s past whilst complementing its future.

The studio’s new approach is formed by accentuated artistic expression, and their first collection Lens is a representation of just that.

The studio’s new approach is formed by accentuated artistic expression, and its first collection, Lens, is a representation of just that. Lens personifies Snelling’s rebirth, with value placed on honest exploration, experimentation and quality. The pieces within the Lens collection are made to last, with the hope they will be enjoyed for generations to come. “The creation of Lens was a very slow process,” Bec says, “in fact it was the longest we have ever spent working on a collection.”

Through Snelling’s new direction, Bec continues to honour her father’s eye for design, skill and attention to detail. With emphasis placed on vibrant forms and maintaining a playful mindset, Snelling is both an extension of its previous life as well as a complete entity of its own.