TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Job Furniture designer

Where Evolvex.com.au

Why is it important?

I'm often out in meetings, and many of them are in cafes or bars. I have my iPad and iPhone, but when it comes to something creative I find it easier to write it down on paper. If I'm in a cafe, serviettes are always around. Before meetings I'll write my dot points on one, or doodle on one. Of course, I will then take my serviette drawing and turn it into something more professional. I'd never present it to a client.

What do your colleagues think?

People probably find it a bit funny, but among designers it's quite common. There's also something nice about drawing in a casual way; there's a feeling of throwing away judgment. You're not committing to anything. Often, you find you can progress a lot of ideas in that state, because you're so open.

Unusual moment?

Around the time I was doing the first designs for Evolvex, I was out with friends at a cafe and started drawing ideas and diagrams on a serviette. I still have that serviette. We recently filed a patent, and some of the drawings for that patent originally came from that serviette.

How much does it cost?

Free. You can always ask for more and they are easily stowed in a handbag. I highly recommend them as thinking tools. It's not like drawing on a white piece of paper; it's so easy to think creatively on something like a serviette.