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Davin Larkin
Designer. Educator. Thinker. Maker.
Davin Larkin is a furniture and industrial designer based in Ireland's rugged County Galway. His self-named studio produces tables, lamps, mirrors, seating, and other home items. He is also a lecturer in furniture design and manufacturing at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology Letterfrack, which hosts Ireland's National Centre of Excellence for Furniture Design and Wood Technology.
Galway, Ireland
Get to know Davin Larkin
How did you come to be so influenced by Scandinavian design?
My love affair with Scandinavian design started in 2005. While I was working on my bachelor's in industrial design from the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, I got the chance to spend a semester at the Arkitektskolen (school of architecture) in Denmark's second-largest city, Aarhus. I was heavily influenced by the design ethos that flows through life in Denmark. My time studying and traveling Scandinavia influenced not only my design style, but also my belief that design should be embedded in everything we do.
What are the guiding principles of your work?
I have two main goals. First, as an educator, I want to offer my students the same encouragement, support, and training I was lucky enough to receive. Every student that I teach deserves tailored mentoring that will help them fulfill their dreams. Secondly, as a designer, I strive to create beautiful, useful, and long-lasting products. I employ the principles of universal design — simplicity, flexibility, accessibility, and the like. And I'm dedicated to sustainability, and making products that stand the test of time.
What's a crazy, pie-in-the-sky dream you have?
I have an urge to explore the world and experience a variety of cultures. Travel for me is about inspiration. It lifts my spirits and releases the worries that can weigh on my mind. So I'm very attracted to the idea of becoming a digital nomad — traveling, building my career, but not being tied to any one place. But for now, I'm focusing on my other two dreams: winning the lotto or becoming James Bond!
What is your studio space like?
I would love to tell you I have a fabulous studio filled with prized possessions. In reality, I am in the middle of a renovation project to create my dream home and studio. So presently I have the pleasure of sharing my studio with a washing machine and a spare bed.
What's a project of yours that you're proud of?
The capstone project for my bachelor's degree was a modular seat for airports that allowed passengers to sleep comfortably while waiting for their flights. These days, many airports have furniture like this, but back then it was unique. This was the project that helped me realize that I could achieve the high standards I expected for myself.
Can you tell us a story that helps explain a little more about who you are?
A few months ago I was talking with some friends about ponies, and I innocently asked, “at what age does a pony become a horse?” Their looks — followed by laughter — said it all. That particular bit of general knowledge must have escaped me. If a bit of knowledge isn't relevant to my daily life, it doesn’t stay in my mind. So don’t ask me to your next trivia night!