The designer on the process, Christmas traditions and his first collection with John Lewis
Talent is everywhere, opportunity isn't. Made by Care is a collection of products designed by care experienced talent, and is part of the John Lewis Partnership’s Building Happier Futures programme which supports care experienced people who can face barriers in society through no fault of their own.
Here, we sat down with Peter to find out more.
Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
I’m a British designer based in Scotland, and my work spans architecture, landscape and, now, product design. Those disciplines might initially seem quite different, but to me they are all part of the same thread because they all explore issues of identity and belonging.
A lot of my designs come from my experiences growing up; I was born in Holloway prison and I became a ward of the state. I was fostered for a period, then adopted. Many of my ideas explore concepts of belonging and identity; those themes filter into my work, my art and other aspects of my life.
How did the collaboration with John Lewis come about?
I saw the Made by Care open call, put together a range (quickly, because the deadline was looming) and sent off my pitch. I wanted to touch on different products to make sure my
designs were cross-category and would look as good on homeware as they would on a bag. I wanted everything to be unified by this idea of folding constraints into possibilities. When I got the call it was amazing – I can’t believe I am part of such a fantastic opportunity. It’s so great to see a company as big and established as John Lewis support care experienced people.
What’s your process as a designer?
One thing I love is bringing a simple idea into fruition. For me, it doesn't matter whether it’s a building, a landscape or a product, it all goes through the same process; I start with the concept about identity and belonging, then work out how I can get people to engage with this building more and bring people together. It’s how I can use design to give people
something of meaning. This same idea can come across in a small product too – how can you make something small more than just an object?
Which are your favourite pieces from the collection and why?
The coasters and the tray, because I love things made of wood and these designs work well with the natural material. Not only do they look great, but they also have the symbolism of the idea of the landscape, the folding of the contours,the idea of quiet transformation where
landscape changes over time. It’s ever-becoming, like us as people; we are always evolving. That’s what this is signifying.
