In 2004 David was selected for the Antarctic scholarship program which allowed him to spend several weeks in this remote and ecologically sensitive place. It was an experience that inspired Trubridge to elevate its quest for environmental awareness, both as an individual and as the engine of a business that continues to grow.
This philosophy is demonstrated in the company's dedication to the use of sustainable materials. Whenever possible, all wood comes from sustainably managed plantations in New Zealand or the United States. The wood is left natural, and only if necessary, non-toxic natural oils are used in place of harmful solvents. For manufacturing, a minimum quantity of materials is used. The design emphasizes the longevity of the design, and does not try to bend to the trends. Shipping and freight are often reduced by the introduction of the Seeds kit system. These are packed flat and ready to be assembled by the customer. Larger and more complex kits are also shipped in the form of flat packs, with distributors building them as required.
David Trubridge
New Zealand based David Trubridge is one of the world’s preeminent designers and a recognised leader in environmentally responsible design. Countless influential international publications have featured Trubridge’s iconic work, in 2008, the French magazine l’Express listed him as one of the top 15 designers in the world. He is the recipient of the 2005 Antartica fellow and in 2007 he was given NZ’s highest design award, the John Britten Award, by the Designer’s Institute of New Zealand.
A naval architect by training, David traveled the world on his sailing boat with his wife and two children, before settling in New Zealand in 1984. Trubridge has a long-standing passion for the environment, reinforced by the time spent at sea. Creator of furniture and lighting, his personal ethics and his ethics as a designer are inseparable: the two rely on nature to feed and inspire. The company led by David is respected around the world for its long-standing awareness of sustainable practices.
“I create to produce cultural food, to tell stories, to reach people emotionally and spiritually; objects are a vehicle for food that we so lack in all the pragmatic and consumer things that surround us. And the other reason why I design is to recreate this vital link with nature that we have lost so much, living isolated in cities.”