Intention
over excess.
Ty Symonds is a creative practitioner with experience leading large-scale design programs and creative teams. His current focus is on studio-based work, material research and projects that bridge artistic thinking and design.
He believes design carries meaning. That form should emerge from material and context, not trend or spectacle.
In the media.
Mermaids, mulch, and making with Ty Symonds
This is a conversation about trusting your intuition versus over-analysing, and building impactful collaborations with a commercial mindset – all without losing your soul. We get into leadership as a creative practice, the importance of making (not just designing on screens), and why nature doesn’t believe in waste. In this episode of Creative or Dead, we chat to Ty Symonds – a designer who thinks like an artist.
Woven into the land
“When Kieren was sharing his stories of home with us, the importance of the billabongs, mermaids and turtles of the Naiyu community became really clear. That’s when we decided on a dining range because it was about life giving, sharing with family and community” - Ty Symonds
Defining trends
“Be inquisitive, ask questions, constantly let go of what you think you know to make room for new knowledge and new perspectives. Read that article that doesn’t interest you, learn something completely new and unexpected.” - Ty Symonds
Local innovation and sustainability
“What excites me most about this range is the natural, ergonomic forms and the gorgeous green tones. Each piece feels so comfortable and organic in the hand. It’s a perfect blend of form and function, and we’re so proud it’s made in Australia using reclaimed glaze.” - Ty Symonds
Saltbush collection
“We have felt in the presence of design royalty working alongside Susan and Gordon [the husband and wife founders of Tait]. The partnership allows for a creative synergy that not only respects each brand’s heritage but also explores new possibilities in design and functionality.” - Ty Symonds
Tasmanian craftsmanship
“These punch cards, a relic from before the wave of technological advancements, sparked an idea that would play a crucial role in our 50th anniversary celebrations. ” - Ty Symonds
Sustainable, timeless design
“It’s an honour to sponsor the Sustainable Designer of the Year Award, and to celebrate those who share our vision for a more thoughtful and inspiring future.” - Ty Symonds
Honouring traditional handicraft
“It’s truly inspiring to see the way these designers have innovatively reimagined waste and how they instil sustainable practices throughout their businesses. I love the way that they’ve adopted a hand-on approach to carefully select specific materials and to honour traditional crafting skills.” - Ty Symonds
Luxury and comfort
“By partnering with specialist textile mills such as St Albans, we are able to honour decades of expertise and craft and bring that story to our customers. We know our customers love to support local initiatives, so this partnership really was a natural fit for both brands.” - Ty Symonds
Celebrating the Australian landscape
“Working with Julie White has been a truly transformative experience. Her distinctive hand-drawn prints and deep connection to Australia's landscapes brought a fresh and vibrant perspective to our winter collection of throws.” - Ty Symonds
The Design Files Magazine 02 launch
“Last night we launched issue 2 of our print magazine with friends and colleagues in Melbourne. The event was generously hosted by Country Road in their beautiful new dedicated 'Home' store in Albert Park.” - TDF
Aussie cotton flies off the shelves
“According to Ty Symonds, Head of Design - Home at Country Road, customers love Australian cotton because it’s associated with quality and sustainability.”
Boom in homewares category
“The demand that we're seeing and our growth ambitions for this category are essentially driving an expectation, you could say, to experience Country Road Home at its fullest expression.” - Ty Symonds
Interior design trends
“Never buy into fads, but rather embrace trends that bring you joy. Bring new colours, textures and forms into the home that speak to your personality.” - Ty Symonds
The first of its kind
“Launching a standalone store is an exciting opportunity to continue expanding our category beyond the existing space within our apparel stores, to provide a truly bespoke experience for our customers.” - Ty Symonds
The coffee table, the unsung hero
“Make sure to lead with functionality and then decorate with this in mind to ensure you get the most out of your coffee table,” says Ty. “Storage, ease of cleaning and usable surface area play an important role in how you will live with your coffee table and get the most out of it.”
Fashion forward interiors
“Covid saw an incredible spike in the homewares industry across the board. Not just for homewares, but for home renovations too,” says Ty Symonds. “Spending more time at home meant that we wanted to make our spaces more comfortable, and textiles became incredibly important, especially bedding, cushions and throws.”