Regional Design Service
CREATIVE WARRIOR SERIES
“Simply put, our name is also our purpose: we serve our region through design.”
Phillip Nielson
We’re immensely pleased to present Aaron Nicholls and Phillip Nielson from Regional Design Service, located in (and proudly defined by) the NSW border town of Corowa, on Bpangerang Country.
A multi-award-winning company, Regional Design Service, has bloomed in the township of Corowa, with Aaron and Phillip breaking down the idea that only the wealthy can afford to invest in an architecturally designed space. Since 2017, Regional Design Service has been offering its clients a solid commitment to delivering intelligent, meaningful, sustainable outcomes. Having ‘big city’ architectural and design careers before moving to Corowa, where Aaron grew up, they now love being on-country, allowing them to properly collaborate with local people, bring in new ideas and provide long-term holistic value; strengthening the future of the community that live and work in these areas and the built environment they enjoy.
Phillip and Aaron were the first peers Britt rang for advice when she started her business. Phillip had just been awarded the coveted Dulux Study Tour for 2019, a program that inspires and fosters Australia's next generation of emerging architectural talent. What started as a congratulatory email resulted in a return phone call which turned into a long lunch and lots of advice. As advocates for design, they constantly push the boundaries always educating those around them. Their Studio on the main street of Corowa doubles as a gallery, encouraging the passerby to drop in and educate themselves on the value of design. The space hosts informative evenings on a range of topics such as the role of architecture practices in bushfire recovery projects or doubles as a market stall full of local creative craft wares.
Some days you’ll find them busy in the Studio on client projects, other days you’ll find Phillip judging the NSW Architecture Awards for the NSW Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, and Aaron fulfilling his role as an elected member of the local Council, or running a committee meeting for the Fed Art and Photography Prize. Both our businesses have a major affinity for vintage and sustainably sourced products, always seeking to upcycle or recycle quality pieces and materials, following the mantra - if you have to buy new, buy once and buy well, make it last multiple lifetimes.
We’ve stayed in touch over the years catching up at events and proudly supporting our local craftspeople, so we’re honoured to have them represented as this month’s Creative Warriors. These guys are pillars in our community, and here’s a little bit of what they had to say.
Urana Aquatic Leisure Centre, Bpangerang Country, Regional Design Service
How would you describe your creative or design aesthetic?
Our creative aesthetic is the culmination of years of global design and project experience. Over the years, our team has worked on every type of project for every client. This means we don’t have a specific ‘design agenda’ that restricts the type or style of work we create.
Deep down, we share a love for the controversial post-modern movement, which shattered established ideas about art and design from the 1970s to the 1980s. You might say that its influence on our work can be seen through our confident use of colour and geometry.
What part of the creative process is most exciting for you and why?
The most exciting part of a project is taking a client brief, pulling it apart and rebuilding it in a way that solves all their problems and gives form to their unique personality. It is a deeply personal process that can sometimes be challenging for clients to process when they realise the design is ‘them’, not ‘us’.
Where do you find your inspiration?
Everywhere… that is the joy of being Post-Modernists as inspiration can come from anything at any time – it can be serious, frivolous or both. (We adore intentional frivolity!)
Urana Aquatic Leisure Centre, Bpangerang Country, Regional Design Service
Describe a collaboration you are most proud of and why?
Honestly, the thing that gives us the most pride is being stopped in the street by complete strangers and thanked for the work we are doing. It’s being pulled aside in a café by a shocked community member and being shown how a chair we selected by Kartell hangs on the edge of a table, saving staff stacking chairs at the end of each day to clean the floor. It’s the look of delight on those faces when they notice/realise/ understand that design can be this simple and it is all around them.
Have you undertaken any type of training (formal or informal)?
Phillip is a Registered Architect in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. He undertook his studies at both the Queensland University of Technology and Deakin University.
DOCS Cafe, Bpangerang Country, Corowa by Regional Design Service
Tell us a little about your creative journey and what led you to live and work in our stunning region.
Before opening the business, Aaron worked globally with respected design institutions Vitra, Fritz Hansen and Herman Miller (and locally with Artemide, Dedece and Living Edge), presenting products and strategies which lead markets, reinforcing the importance of original and authentic design whilst demonstrating the symbiosis between Design and Architecture. It was an exciting and unique “apprenticeship”, establishing irreplaceable disciplines, principles and networks.
Phillip’s design expertise evolved between Melbourne and Brisbane, with studios including HASSELL, Architects EAT and K.P.D.O. The opportunity to work on global, local, private and public projects fed his curiosity about public perceptions of the built environment and the industry’s tenuous connection with the broader population.
In 2017 we were based in Melbourne and starting to explore opportunities to establish a design studio. An opportunity arose after reading about the Golf Club in Corowa (Aaron’s hometown), which was vying for Council Grant Funding to build a luxury cinema. Leading up to the March long weekend of that year (and intrigued by the potential), we contacted Council for a meeting to discuss the project. A date was set for the following Monday.
Armed with a killer pitch and a belief that regional communities should benefit from the same quality design as city dwellers, we presented to six Council representatives. We walked out with the cinema design brief, scope to undertake a main street revitalisation strategy, and another to review the potential of the Council’s built assets.
Somewhat blown away by Council’s hospitality and genuine interest in supporting our ideas, Regional Design Service was born. Year one of the business secured fifteen commissions, public and private, spanning five sectors. Since then, the depth of projects has spanned new residential projects, alterations, revitalisations, public architecture, strategic community planning, Heritage sites and commercial.
For young creatives starting out, what's the best piece of advice you would give them?
Get a good accountant and set your business systems up correctly from the start… it will help save a lot of headaches down the track.
And lastly, who would you pick as your mentor if you could choose anyone?
Aaron: Phillippe Starck
Phillip: RuPaul
You’ll find Regional Design Service at www.regionaldesignservice.com | hello@regionaldesignservice.com
or visit their Studio at 96 Sanger Street, Bangerang Country, Corowa NSW 2646
