About Shiny co.
Our Story - Shiny Co.
Caren Elliss
Caren Elliss
Born from a collaborative skill sharing project exploring the joyful potential of the crafted/design object, Shiny Co. - is a marriage of technical knowledge and creative play between Industrial Designer, Caren Elliss and Ceramic Artist, Alison Smiles.
The project, born in 2020, resulted in a significant exhibition held in 2021 at Canberr
Born from a collaborative skill sharing project exploring the joyful potential of the crafted/design object, Shiny Co. - is a marriage of technical knowledge and creative play between Industrial Designer, Caren Elliss and Ceramic Artist, Alison Smiles.
The project, born in 2020, resulted in a significant exhibition held in 2021 at Canberra Craft + Design, which included furniture, functional ceramics, sculpture, and hand printed textiles. The project was generously supported by the Government of South Australia’s Arts recovery grant and extended to engage a team of fabricators, a printmaker, an upholsterer and a photographer to provide a boost the free-falling arts industry during the covid pandemic.
This exhibition also resulted in the current functional ceramics range, LUDERE. Utilising 3D printing to create original single prototype forms, plaster slip cast moulds were developed to aid production. This technical prototyping approach is used widely in industrial applications, however the final surface design is then gently carved with a meticulous but spontaneous approach, and is passed between both makers at multiple stages to develop the final highly textured and colourful outcome. handmade designer ceramic homewares
Caren Elliss
Caren Elliss
Caren Elliss
A graduate of UniSA Industrial Design program (2008) with Honors, Caren has maintained her own furniture design studio since 2013. Producing commercial grade furniture for Universities, Hospitality fit-outs as well as maintaining an exhibition based practice, Caren has also interned in Mexican design practice, Air Design (2007) and is a
A graduate of UniSA Industrial Design program (2008) with Honors, Caren has maintained her own furniture design studio since 2013. Producing commercial grade furniture for Universities, Hospitality fit-outs as well as maintaining an exhibition based practice, Caren has also interned in Mexican design practice, Air Design (2007) and is an Alumni of South Australia’s highly respected Jam Factory Furniture studio (2009-2010).
Sustainable holistic design is a central focus of her current practice, and she is currently preparing a research project exploring alternative materials and production techniques to develop a more environmentally responsible approach to her design practice. australian small batch design
Alison Smiles
Caren Elliss
Alison Smiles
Graduating UniSA with a BA in ceramics, (2011) and Adelaide Central School (Hons, 2018) Alison has developed skills in producing both functional and sculptural ceramics, attending University of Sunderland (2009) furthering skills in slip casting, and developing wheel throwing skills as an associate at South Australia’s Jam Factory as an a
Graduating UniSA with a BA in ceramics, (2011) and Adelaide Central School (Hons, 2018) Alison has developed skills in producing both functional and sculptural ceramics, attending University of Sunderland (2009) furthering skills in slip casting, and developing wheel throwing skills as an associate at South Australia’s Jam Factory as an associate (2012) Following this period, she co-established six hands studio in Adelaide’s inner west with fellow Jam Factory Alumni.
Alison has attended residencies and symposiums in South Korea, China and Japan. Following an extended period as a lecturer at Adelaide College of the arts and as an adjunct Lecturer at Flinders University, Alison now works from her studio in Adelaide’s inner west, creating sculpture and functional ceramic work for Shiny Co. handmade designer ceramic homewares australian small batch design