MICHAEL PERRY (WALK THE PLANK)

We interviewed Michael Perry from Walk The Plank about his journey into designing and manufacturing furniture in Central Java. We hope you enjoy the interview, and get more of an insight into Walk The Plank and his latest collaboration with Beastman and East Editions.

EE: Can you tell us a little bit about your background, where you grew up and how your creative journey began?

MP: My mother was completing her Bachelor of Art when during my early teens and she would often bring home her works, ceramics, still life and landscape paintings, mixed media pieces, working on photography assignments, and there was also a collection of large scale nudes in the garage of our home. I suppose, my introduction of art and creative world started when I was young. During those times we migrated from Sydney to the Central Coast in the mid 80’s where I made new friends and a new lifestyle. We all shared a love of the ocean, which our lives were centred around. A lot of my friends took a creative path as we grew older and and this really shaped a vision for a life I wanted to live for myself.

EE: When did you first develop an interest in design and craftsmanship? How did this lead to a passion for furniture making?

MP: I think it was the other way around haha. I really think a life in the interior and furniture industry found me. I was working in a beachside hotel in Newcastle and quite my job, on my 2nd last day I was finishing my shift and this couple approached me in the lift asking if I knew if anyone was looking for work, and I told them I’m in. Turns out they were from a family of furniture importers opening a store in Newcastle. After the first week working with them they offered me a full time job. I started at the bottom in warehousing where I had to get handy with basic woodwork and learnt more about the basic technical issues, from there I moved into sales and management, then to imports and working alongside the interior design team where I really started to enjoy and learn working alongside established creatives in the industry, and from there I moved to Central Java to manage production, purchasing and design.

It turned out that through all my early experiences although I didn’t have any technical training, I had gained an understanding of the key elements that relate to a successful product, from construction, design and market needs. And most of all it was something I loved to do.

EE: How did the Walk the Plank begin? What is your role in the business?

MP: I had already been living in Central Java for two years, and at the time I was still working for the same furniture company who offered me my first job years ago in Newcastle. After working for ten years for them, I realized that I wanted to spread my wings and pursue my own dream, so I decided to say part ways. I would never forget all the chances, experiences and opportunity they had given me, and I’d always been very grateful that they took me under their wings all this time. It was one of my biggest milestones both in my personal life and professional life, but it was the best decision I ever made, and I never looked back since.

I took a trip down to a small port area in Central Java where during the dry season they salvage and repair fishing vessels after patrolling the Java Sea, and there was this load of beautiful, salvaged teak. I was walking over all this 3m to 4m planks, and I thought to myself “this is it, It’s now or never, this is the next step” so I invested all my cash into my first load of reclaimed woods so at that time I was literally “walking the plank”.

I took the lumber back to my small workshop and put together my first collection “Casually Approaching Shore”. I organised a show at China Heights, Surry Hills to launch the collection, where 2 of my best friends Matt Rushton and Paul Blazejewski jumped on board with the dream of taking it to the next level.

EE: Your designs are manufactured in Central Java. Could you talk about your relationship with the artisans there, and your production processes?

MP: I could say that Indonesia has been where I’m based in since 2008, and through this time I found myself drowning in the beauty of Indonesian culture, its history, the kindness of Indonesian people that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. I have met so many great people working with a huge variety of materials and techniques on all levels, from artisans in small villages in around Java to large scale full machine production facilities in bigger cities, It’s been a massive learning curve.

To ensure Walk The Plank build a better relationship with our clients, my wife and I decided to established a local company here, PT. Adikreasi Sukses Makmur, where we put together a team of designers, production management and administration to service Walk The Plank and our clients better.

When we work on a new product for Walk The Plank or for one of our client we firstly evaluate the design and materials with our designers and production team, we go through all the technical elements, we discuss colours, materials and construction. From there we work on technical drawings and renderings for approval, once approved we move to production of the first samples where we work through refining the details and constriction to create a complete product. We do a lot of custom work so we are always working with different materials and always learning more and expanding our offering.

EE: Why do you choose to manufacture there instead of back in Australia?


MP: As I have mentioned before, after spending most of my time in Indonesia in the last ten years, there’s no place I’d rather be than here in Indonesia. Indonesia has become my home, this is the place I see myself grow (personally and professionally). There is so much to learn here, such a variety of materials to work with and discover new possibilities and make new things whether it be furniture, accessories, or soft furnishings. I think it’s really important for the soul to have that freedom in life. it’s our dream to continue to grow Walk The Plank Collective with a global interior offering.

EE: How has Walk the Plank evolved since you first started?

MP: We started Walk The Plank by launching our own collection, following that we were continually approached by other great designers and creatives to develop and manufacture custom products for their brands or commercial projects. So we have really evolved into more of a custom design and build production company, that also has their own offering of products.

EE: What are your signature design values and philosophies and where do you draw inspiration from for your furniture designs?

MP: I think at the core the most important thing for us is being responsible in our business. We understand we work with natural materials each with its own challenge, so we ensure all our materials are sourced through the correct (certified) chain of custardy. For every product we manufacture we plant a tree with Tree4trees (a Non-Profit Organization focused on reforestation in Java). It’s something we have contributed to for years now planting thousands and thousands of trees together in partnership with local farmers. We just try and keep that same energy when it comes to everyone we work with, be it vendors or staff.

Regarding design, we really find beauty in the natural material. I think there is a lot to be said for the beauty of a material and being able to bring a product to life, and really showcase the beauty of the material itself is something that not only gives the product a look, but also a feeling. So not only being able to see the beauty in the shapes, lines and profiles of a product, but being able to see the depth in the material is really special to us.

EE: Tell us about the collaboration with Beastman? How did this collaboration come about? What was the process like?

MP: Brad and I have a bunch of mutual friends so we have known each other for a number of years. We had some discussion about doing something for East Editions years ago but It didn’t eventuate until a few years ago when Brad and Kel moved to Bali with their family. Brad and I started bumping into each other when we would come to Bali for a getaway and the discussion started there. So Brad came back to me with some pattern work and we went from there. I’ve always admired Brads work and his output. I also love the concept of East Editions and one of our favourite processes is working with other creatives that inspire us.

The process itself aside from the time it took us, was reasonably seamless. Brad’s pattern work is iconic and very architectural in nature so it’s a great fit. There were some technical issues to work through in regards to pattern work with the wood comstruction, and colour selection. We actually made a first sample with a steel base, and it didn’t really feel right, so we sat on it for a while and I came back with a Oak base solution which I think felt right since the inception.

EE: What do you see for the future of Walk the Plank?

MP: We will always continue and enjoy our custom design and build work for our clients, to continue to learn and work with other great minds is always a goal, but it’s also time to work on new signature items for our own collection. Broaden the horizon of our offering and with Walk The Plank Home experience to the world offering beautiful and sustainable products.

View more info and images of our Beastman X Walk The Plank Timber Coffee Tables here.

Find our more about Walk The Plank here