The Creator Series – Nick McDonald from Made by Morgen
The Founder and Director of Made by Morgen, Nick McDonald, reflects on how he turned a passion project, which operated out of a small shed on his parent’s property in country Victoria, into a thriving bespoke furniture business. Now based in Brunswick, Nick explains how instrumental Squarespace has been in the daily operation of his business.
Nick’s path to furniture making was anything but an ordinary one. After quitting his job in construction, Nick spent six months in Denmark, hoping travelling would help him discover a newfound purpose in his career. Finding himself in a small town on the west coast of the country ended up playing a pivotal role in his journey. Nick fell in love with the minimal nature of Scandinavian furniture and was inspired to bring some of those design influences back home to Australia, which eventually led to the formation of his company, Made by Morgen.
Made by Morgen is now approaching 10 years as a business and is currently thriving in Melbourne’s north. “I think people are drawn to Made by Morgen for a number of reasons, one being the subtle detailing that we execute well. Being self-taught in furniture making and design, it was imperative that the designs are simple,” reflects Nick. There is a beautiful simplicity and handmade craftsmanship that defines each piece. “Most products that we design and produce are very simple in their appearance, but what separates them from a lot of other pieces is the traditional joinery that we use. We do everything by hand, using a range of modern and traditional techniques,” notes Nick.
To showcase Made by Morgen’s dedication to quality craftsmanship and unpretentious, simple design, Nick has been using Squarespace for the past six years as his primary website platform. He chose Squarespace as an effective way to showcase his work on a highly visual platform, as well as a way to engage with clients. “The most beautiful thing about Squarespace for my business is the clear and concise way that our images are displayed, which is probably the most important thing in trying to attract customers,” notes Nick. He continues, “my Squarespace site has been instrumental in growing this business from a backyard furniture-making exercise to a business that is delivering furniture all around Australia.”
An organic evolution born from an unorthodox path, Made By Morgen is a testament to pursuing a newfound passion. “When I quit construction and started this venture, the whole aim was to go to work in jeans and a t-shirt with my dog by my side, and eight years later that’s still what’s happening, and that is my favourite thing about my job,” concludes Nick.