David Trubridge

David Trubridge is a true advocate of the New Zealand design industry, who has dedicated much of his time to nurturing young design talent, while at the same time achieving international success and recognition for his own remarkable designs. He is someone who has played a significant role in putting NZ design on the map and who has long spread the gospel of sustainability.

David graduated as a Naval Architect from Newcastle University Britain, but since then he has worked as a furniture designer/maker and architect. He settled in New Zealand after a long yacht voyage with his family.

He is New Zealand's best known furniture designers and regularly exhibits overseas in Australia, North America, Europe and Japan.

In the last few years he has exhibited at 100% Design in London, six times at the Salone del Mobile in Milan, and three times at ICFF in New York. His ‘Body Raft’ design is currently being manufactured by Cappellini, and was voted ‘iconic’ by Urbis readers.

In New Zealand he has set up his own manufacturing workshop and the Cicada incubator for design graduates. He was one of the Antarctic Arts Fellows who were selected to go to Antarctica in the austral summer of 2004/5, which has led to a whole new emphasis on sustainable design in his work, and an awareness of both the moral responsibilities and the enormous opportunities for today’s designers.

Claire Mora, owner of Essenze and a friend of Trubridge’s said “David has enriched my life, as he has enriched many other peoples’ lives around the world. With his constant questions of: ‘But why?, Can’t we?, Must they?, he drives me crazy at times, but he makes me question things previously taken for granted or ignored.”

There is a never ending source of creativity and energy in David as seen through his designs. If he only touches a small number of people through this, he is achieving this goal and serves as an example to us all.