Resident: Here to Stay
Resident takes a global perspective on furniture design, working with a roster of international designers to produce pieces that emphasise quality and timelessness
‘From the world, for the world’ is how Scott Bridgens describes Resident, the Auckland-based furniture and lighting brand he co-founded with designer Simon James in 2011. It’s not an idea you’d typically associate with such a geographically isolated nation, but with manufacturing and distribution hubs in Auckland, London and Los Angeles and customers all over the world, the brand — though firmly rooted in New Zealand — maintains an international perspective. ‘The most important factor is where we can get the best quality and where we can make a product the most beautifully. There are some pieces that can be made in Asia but not in New Zealand or Europe, and vice versa,’ says Bridgens, who cut his teeth working as the operations manager for British designer Tom Dixon in London.
Working in markets where customers are accustomed to long lead times and a slow delivery process, particularly from suppliers based in the Southern Hemisphere, the ability to manufacture and deliver quickly has been crucial to the brand’s success, and it’s even more impressive given that there are currently only ten people on the team. ‘One of the first things we realised was that as soon as you say “New Zealand”, people tend to think it’ll take too long,’ says Bridgens. ‘We wanted to make that our strength — not just to be better than people expect but to be better at it than a local company. A lot of the time we can deliver to London faster than a London-based company could.’
While the firm operates a small in-house design studio, it also works closely with designers like London-based Tim Rundle and Chris Martin of Stockholm-based Massproductions.‘We have a stable of designers we work with consistently, but we’re open to anybody from anywhere becoming a Resident designer,’ says Bridgens. ‘We get product submissions from multiple countries every week.’
The studio takes a measured approach to sustainability. Bridgens and James believe that the simplest designs are often the longest lasting, and their vision is to produce well-made products that are designed for longevity. ‘For us, it’s about not being too conscious of trends. At the heart of it, we want to create products that will stay in the family for generations,’ Bridgens explains. ‘That’s really the definition of value — the relationship between what you pay for something and how long you use it for.’
Building a brand that can compete internationally is also a point of pride for Bridgens and his team, but ultimately it’s about creating a business that reflects the founders’ lifestyles and values. ‘It’s all about work-life balance, and New Zealand is a fantastic place to be creative,’ he says. ‘I think it’s fair to say that we probably have fewer distractions and more space, and I think those two things help to breed new ideas.’ And perhaps it’s not surprising that for a relatively young brand with such an established international network, creativity and camaraderie go hand in hand. ‘We have friends all around the world, but at the end of the day our home is down south of the equator. We’re very lucky to have created this opportunity that allows us to explore the world and have these friendships.’
Text / Jeremy Smart
Images / Courtesy of Resident
