Davis Coutts

Industrial Design

Hey there! My name is Davis and I have just completed my studies at Swinburne University of Technology. Over the past five years I have been studying, I had the chance to work on a wide variety of projects and get industry experience through the Swinburne industry affiliation program as well as travelling on an industry linked study tour to South Korea last year.

As a part of the industry affiliation program I got the opportunity to work at Sakimoto in Cheltenham, learning the whole process of designing and manufacturing lights in a business setting. Compared to my classes, the hands-on learning I was able to get from David Robinson (Owner) and the Sakimoto team greatly deepened my understanding of many parts of the design process and gave me inspiration for my remaining years of study.

I also worked at Like Butter in Castlemaine (work from home CAD design) from September 2023 until February 2024. Although short, I am extremely grateful for my time with LB crew and the in-depth business insight I gained. I learned a lot about how they set up their CNC machines to achieve maximum efficiency when cutting parts, and also a ton about how to more efficiently design plywood furniture for single sided machining to make the best use of the equipment.

My biggest area of interest at the moment is furniture design. Hopefully my past industry experience has translated to an impressive and well thought out display of my final year Capstone project, FLOAT.

FLOAT Coat Rack Configuration

Designed for people who move house regularly, the FLOAT furniture joinery system allows users to easily and quickly disassemble and transport larger furniture items that otherwise may not fit into a moving van or car. Made from high-quality and durable materials, FLOAT will likely stay with you for many years to come.

Hongik x Swinburne Industrial Design Study Tour (2023)

When on the Industry-Linked Study Tour to Hongik University in South Korea, my group wanted to convert our electric pedal-powered chassis into a transport system that helped tourists travel from train stations and airports to their accommodations. Called 'ZOMO,' our vehicle was designed to fit into bicycle lanes to filter past traffic more easily and get users to their destinations quicker. Riders could rent out a ZOMO bike and take trips from tourists, kind of like a car rental mixed with a rideshare business.

Country Road Partnered Design (2023)

This knife block and cutting board combo was designed to reuse already manufactured marble parts that did not meet Country Roads' standards. Originally meant to be a cantilever food platter, I saw the potential for a new product using minimal additional machining processes that would appeal to Country Roads' current user group.

About Space Lighting Partnered Design (2023)

After receiving the design brief from About Space Lighting, I wanted to design a simple yet functional floor lamp to fit seamlessly into their current range. This lamp is height-adjustable and can rotate 360 degrees, making it perfect for any setting. Able to accommodate all of the glass shades from About Space's 'Yosh' range, my design allowed users to configure and adjust the lamp to suit their needs.

Furniture Design (2022)

This project was my first real experience making a complex hardwood furniture product. Made from Tasmanian Oak and 4mm Veg Tan Leather, the 'Ontspannen Arm Chair' ('relaxed' in Dutch) is an extremely comfortable and stylish way to sit. After extensive user testing and CMF considerations (colour, material, finish) my chosen configuration aims to be unobtrusive yet interesting in any environment it occupies.

Acknowledgement of Country

The School of Design and Architecture respectfully acknowledges the Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners and knowledge-keepers of the lands, waters and sky that surround us, where we work, learn, create, communicate and make place. We recognise that sovereignty has never been ceded and this always was and will always be Wurundjeri Country. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who continue to make a better world through design.

We extend our acknowledgement to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students, alumni, real-life clients, and knowledge keepers, who have contributed to our own education diversity and growth. We will continue to ensure that staff and students respectfully honour ancestral connection to Country and Place in everything that they do.

We are dedicated to the notion of design to make a better world and we acknowledge that making tools, shaping place, sharing stories, making meaning, wayfinding and collaborating have long been and continue to be both central and integral to First Peoples' cultures. We recognize that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ cultural contributions have continued relevance to design practice and commit to: reconciling ancestries of design and contemporary practice as well as pursuing culturally and professionally appropriate ways to engage with a diverse population of colleagues, industries and clients. In a time of treaty-making and voice we understand that there are overlaps between caring for Country and the sustainable production of goods, services, experiences, products and buildings.

Guided by the principles of respect, reconciliation, and reciprocity we undertake to indigenising and decolonising design practice by dismantling colonial structures and challenging biases that have marginalised Indigenous voices and design.

As students of SoDA you will be given opportunities to both engage with and educate yourself in Indigenous creative practices and cultural protocols through a lens of inclusivity, diversity, respect, mutual understanding, inter-cultural dialogue in all aspects of design practice. Indigenous people have been telling stories, making tools, and connecting to Country through visual media, placemaking and place marking for more than 60,000 years and these practices are part of an ongoing, evolving and live tradition.