Land Before Time

Behind Australian jewelry trademark — Dinosaur Designs — is a masterful duo, projecting their affinitive love and appreciation for art and design while continuing to discover new inspiration merged with a certain unique, creative spirit.

Resin Double Circle Drop Earrings, $260 — *Resin Double Circle Drop Earrings*, $260

Medium Resin Rock Bangle, $90; Round Ring, $140; Long Flute Drop Earrings On Wire, $180 — *Medium Resin Rock Bangle*, $90; *Round Ring*, $140; *Long Flute Drop Earrings On Wire*, $180

Meet power couple artists, designers, and co-founders of Dinosaur Designs, creative director Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy. Having met at The City Art Institute in Sydney, now known as UNSW Art and Design, the two creatives shared a unique and mutual love of art and design. Olsen very memorably recounts their meet-cute connection, “Stephen and I met at art school, we majored in painting and drawing. In 1983, [with our shared love of art and design], we thought it would be fun to create something of our own. Thus, establishing Dinosaur Designs over thirty years ago in 1985.” Though Ormandy recently exhibited at Joshua Liner Gallery in New York City, both designers are currently in Port Macquarie, Australia showcasing their latest paintings and sculptures, Olsen & Ormandy, at the Glasshouse Gallery in Australia. With uncertain speculation that a couple who designs together, stays together, for both Olsen and Ormandy experiencing life together has very much proved the greatest artisan inspiration. “Our background as artists constantly informs the way we design for Dinosaur Designs. [The pieces] are very tactile, painterly and sculptural which is an underlying aesthetic of Dinosaur Designs. We’ve grown together, we started the business at art school, we have our ups and downs, it’s all part of the adventure; there is always a strong love and we have a lot of fun together.”

Resin Horn Vase, $140 — *Resin Horn Vase*, $140

In the earlier stages of this partnership, Liane Rossler, who remains a shareholder alongside Olsen and Ormandy, started designing and released a line of clothing and jewelry. “Right there, we then soon discovered what worked and didn’t work and took the jewelry path. We experimented with different materials, including brass and then found our path into the resin. Resin now becoming the core to Dinosaur Designs’ DNA.” Color, form, and tactility are the hallmarks of this Aussie jewelry label, merging brilliantly to bridge the gap between art, design, and fashion. While continuing to push the boundaries, Olsen and Ormandy continue to experiment. After finding grand success with resin, the key material has proven itself as a wonderful vicious fluidity that has since allowed the duo to cross the boundaries between sculpture and painting. “Each resin piece is handmade in the Dinosaur Designs Sydney studio. It’s a wonderful privilege to be at the forefront of our production and have it based in our studio, there are so many discoveries in the making.”

While nothing about Dinosaur Designs is ordinary, the couple implies that their new endeavors are opening new worlds and creative appetites. “We see ourselves moving more into the art world. We started Dinosaur Designs to support our art careers and this is the direction we want to continue in. Each collaboration has been wonderful learning, there is so much discovery to learn from each other when you collaborate.” Inspired by other greats in the design industry, such as Toni Maticevski, Romance Was Born, Alex and Trahanas, and Louis Vuitton just to name a few, Olsen and Ormandy use their environment, and the global spectrum to fuel any design inspirations as beacons of success for their best-sellers. The ‘Joie De Vivre’ has become the prized possession passed down from the couple’s inspirations to encouraging their client’s own. “We find that different [global] locations have tendencies toward different colors. In New York and London, we find people are attracted to more of a neutral palette, black, white and green. In Australia, we find that people are attracted to color. At the moment, our new pink palette is in high demand.” According to Olsen and Ormandy, the ‘Joie De Vivre’ is more than a piece in a featured collection, but rather a way of life. “‘Joie De Vivre’, is a celebration of life and color, perfectly attuned to the festive season. This season is about joie de vivre, a cheerful enjoyment of life, family, friends, and food. Colors are fun and celebratory, and forms are bold and organic, echoing the DNA of Dinosaur Designs.”

Careful to not divulge concrete potential happenings come 2020, both Olsen and Ormandy enticingly imply the inner works of the company’s upcoming collection. Strongly featuring black and white pieces, it is believed the duo intends to also incorporate a more definitive take on the tribal palette for the latter part of the year.