Dorkus Design is the vibrant Melbourne label with a focus on bold colour and handcrafted details
IMAGE VIA @DORKUSDESIGN/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“Bold minimalism with a splash of colour.”
Melbourne creative Stephanie Watt loved “all things design and making” growing up, describing fashion as her first creative love. While studying industrial design, Steph started a side project, using her free time to experiment with jewellery and object design. Living with chronic illness, Dorkus Design was something Steph could create at her own pace – and her practice has organically evolved over the years.
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Now, Dorkus Design is a playful, thoughtful, vibrant jewellery label operating out of Brunswick. Steph primarily works with laser-cut pieces, assembling and finishing them by hand. Below, she speaks on her creative background, dream collaborations and finding her own flow.
Tell us about you. What’s your fashion background?
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Loving all things design and making growing up, I eventually studied design from TAFE to university. Industrial design was the perfect fit for me. I loved how broad it was and how we got to try so many different projects – I really enjoyed doing everything design and no doubt stamping anything I did with my fave aesthetic flavours!
Fashion was probably my first real creative love because it’s so accessible. We all get dressed every day (or whenever we can) and my grandma was a dressmaker, so I was lucky to grow up around fabric and sewing machines.
How did the label get started? Talk us through the process and the challenges.
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There was no official launch for DD. I just started playing around with design for something fun to do outside of my uni work. I wanted to start participating in the creative world but needed a project I could do at my own pace.
I had no expectations but found [that] just putting my work out there led to one opportunity, which led to another and so on. It’s similar to my design – one idea leads to another, which leads to a wearables collection, then an object collection, to an art piece, then back to a new wearable design and so on.
What were you trying to achieve from the project at the time? How has this evolved and what are you trying to communicate through the brand now?
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Living with a disability/chronic illness, it can be hard to participate in existing things so doing my own thing was my only real option. This gave me the freedom to design something really stylised and just go with my own flow.
Even if my physical flow was/is non-existent at times, things just happen when they happen. It’s also why I chose a practice that isn’t too physically demanding but mostly centred around fun! It’s much easier to go with the flow when your designs are fun and [this is] why DD as a label has such a tongue-in-cheek personality.
How would you describe Dorkus Design to someone who’s never seen it before?
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Bold minimalism with a splash of colour… mixing modern design methods and hand-crafted details to create designs that spice up our awkward-but-fabulous little lives!
What are you most proud of in your work on your label?
Definitely most proud of making something work for me and my situation. Allowing myself to create at whatever level I can (am well enough to), without any pressure or expectations. It’s been a really positive thing in my life and I’ve been lucky to make some really beautiful friends along the way.
What do you wish you knew when you started?
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Nothing – I think not knowing or overthinking has served me well. Just giving things a go is what worked for me.
Who do you think is most exciting in the local creative industry right now?
Everyone! Like wow, every time I go online or walk down the street I’m blown away by all the work I see by local designers and artists around me… the local icons are everywhere! I’m particularly enjoying seeing a few more micro drops from local creatives. The emphasis on unique pieces is something I love to see.
Dream local collaborators?
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My ‘to-do’ list is chock-full of dream collabs! I love applying and mixing the DD style with other locals’ projects, even if it’s a combination you wouldn’t necessarily expect. Hoping [the] stars align for some fun collabs with Sacreflux, Lizzi Morris, Lucinda Florence and Billie Morris soon!
Go-to dinner party playlist?
Smooth and funky to start, getting progressively groovier to encourage/manipulate everyone into a spontaneous dance floor or… some pop hits to entice folks to hop on the mic for some ‘DIY home karaoke’, that was coincidentally already set up and ready to go!
Who is in your wardrobe right now?
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If a ’70s PE teacher and an ’80s art teacher’s wardrobes had a baby, that’s my wardrobe! As you can probably guess from that description I’m a big op shop lover! You’ll find plenty of classic to whacky pieces from brands you usually find in op shops like vintage Katies, Millers, Fella Hamilton and Brown Sugar… mixed with a collection of ’70s sportswear treasures from my parents (thanks Mum and Dad).
Finally, I’m getting my contemporary design fix with some extra special pieces from Verner, Romance Was Born and forever pining after some stunning Kieroy jewellery to contrast my ’80s gaudy gold clip-ons with some modern classics!
How can we buy one of your pieces?
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Through my delicious stockists – Pinky’s, Craft and NGV Design Store, to name a few. I’m happy having my work out in the world, connecting with people I’d never cross paths with. Hitting me up directly via DM or email is also completely fine. Always nice to chat.
Anything else to add?
[The] Nec-tar choker collection is out now. [The] Laser Bloom objects collection and Lick upcycled wearables collection [are] coming soon.
Follow Dorkus Designs for more here.
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