Profile: Jordan Fleming

Melbourne-based interior, object and lighting designer Jordan Fleming creates timeless pieces that are full of personality and artistic flair, as evidenced by her (Emerging) Designer Awards win in 2024.

Designer Jordan Fleming thrives on what she refers to as “cross-pollination”. This is not only true of her multi-disciplinary practice but in her diverse scope of materials and the collaborative way she works. With this dynamic approach, Fleming’s experimental practice thoughtfully repositions furniture as fun, whimsical and engaging rather than solely utilitarian.

“I love the macro scale of it and, in the last couple of years, I’ve realised it’s my true passion.”

However, Fleming’s path has been far from linear. Between studying for a degree in object and spatial design, she worked in the art department in film and TV and as a cabinetmaker, then began working as an interior designer, with postings at DKO and Alexander &CO. “I started working in interiors straight out of university, but alongside that I had a studio space, so I was always making, and I started entering pieces of experimental furniture works, mainly at Melbourne Design Week,” she says. This led to her establishing her furniture design practice in 2018.

Fleming realised she couldn’t continue juggling her own work while also working full-time. “I still work in interiors on a freelance basis, and I’ll always flick between the two, but I’m primarily working on my practice,” she says. While product and interior design are distinct in many ways, the creative explains how “understanding interior projects leans a lot into object design. With interiors, I really love the spatial planning, the problem solving and the intimate working relationships you create.” These days though, Fleming admits that she spends more time thinking about object design. “I love the macro scale of it and, in the last couple of years, I’ve realised it’s my true passion.”

“It’s an honour to design something that someone else can live with and fall in love with.”

Each day in the studio is different, often dictated by priority. “There’s not too much structure. I just try and be in there as much as possible so I can’t get distracted by the outside world,” says Fleming with a laugh. She’s most creative later in the day, so the designer typically works late into the evening, finding that quiet time to focus. “That’s when I play around – I draw a lot and create models on the computer.”

In addition to finding inspiration during the quiet of the night, Fleming seeks inspiration from her physical environment, such as sea pods she finds while visiting rural Victoria where she grew up. “The environment of the city also inspires me – whether it’s architecture or someone’s front gate. I take photos and collect them.” She also archives images she finds at the library in old reference books: “I like weird things, from an ant mound to a pipe to a building in Japan.” Fleming is also continually inspired by seeing her designs in people’s spaces: “It’s an honour to design something that someone else can live with and fall in love with.”

Often drawn to misshapen or asymmetrical objects, Fleming reflects a similar boundlessness in her material palette. “I don’t know where a lot of my ideas come from … they just sort of accumulate in my mind after looking at lots of bits and pieces,” she says. Her works favour tactile surfaces like plaster, pigment, timber and metal, and she’s interested in working more with glass. “I also like materials that have a sense of patina over time, but ultimately I don’t want to pigeonhole myself into one material.”

Recently awarded Best Product Design at the (Emerging) Designer Awards for her unique approach to materials and form, Fleming is working with Artedomus on their New Volumes collection – slated for release in early 2025 – which is something she’s always wanted to do. “I love the mono-material of New Volumes and I’m excited to work with one strong material that speaks for the form itself,” she says. “I am also excited to learn the process of casting the terracotta … it’s a nice challenge to be pushed to think differently.”

“I don’t know where a lot of my ideas come from … they just sort of accumulate in my mind after looking at lots of bits and pieces.”

Having co-curated ‘Matters’ with fellow designer Marlo Lyda at last year’s Melbourne Design Week, Fleming is gearing up for a busy 2025 with projects on the horizon. She will release a new lighting product in collaboration with a local brand, as well as her own collection of coffee and side tables. The designer is also working alongside architect and designer Rosanna Ceravolo on a show, which will be a collection of one-off pieces. “I am venturing more into designing with other people for other companies, which is a direction I really want to pursue,” says Fleming.

It makes sense then that the evolution of Fleming’s practice comes down to people. “Creating alongside different craftspeople, manufacturers, designers, architects and interior designers feeds this energy that fuels my passion to continue making,” she says. “Sometimes, it can feel like a solo job, but it doesn’t have to be.” Driven by this innate passion for collaboration and experimentation, Fleming continues to create refreshingly idiosyncratic pieces that reveal the beauty that can come from not being afraid to cross lanes. Ultimately, her work embraces new ways of approaching design.