Ben Percy is learning, teaching and creating
Ben Percy is a UoN Graduate with a Bachelor of Teaching and a Bachelor of Design and Technology. He is winning design competitions, taking commissions, exhibiting his features around the country, and working hard on new projects, all whilst he teaches uni and school students how to do what he does. You may think it’s all too much to handle, but 26-year old Ben Percy is learning and teaching as he builds himself a substantial career.
“I’ve always been into woodworking and started through school. I wanted to become a design and technology teacher. It wasn’t until my second year at UoN when I became really passionate about designing as well as teaching,” says Ben.
Out of only six makers around the country, Ben was picked to work on a commission project for the American Hardwood Export Council, (AHEC). He was invited to collaborate with the AHEC to design and make two outdoor benches that featured in Sydney at an InDesign Live Exhibition. Ben says that he loves to create “modern and clean designs.”
Ben also had two chairs entered into the Australian Timber Design Awards. The chairs became finalists in the ‘Furniture and Joinery’ category and in the ‘Rising Star’ category and were featured in the Australian Timber Design magazine.
“I worked on one of the chairs; ‘The Pod' for three years while I was still at uni. It was made from salvaged timber from the gutted Hunter building on Callaghan Campus in 2009.”
Ben has returned to the Uni and is currently working at Callaghan in design and technology after finding his niche with woodwork at the Sturt School for Wood. He was there last year, where he won an Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Scholarship and achieved his Certificate 4 in Furniture Design and Technology. Ben is now teaching uni and school students design and woodwork.
“I teach students, instruct them with the machines and help them solve their design problems. It’s a challenging role with a lot of variety. I like the challenging design briefs that students are working through. I’m still learning a lot while I teach students, which I can then incorporate into my work.”
Next on the agenda for Ben, is to continue what he’s doing with ambition and stamina, as well to branch off onto many new projects.
“I’m currently developing a new rocking chair made from bamboo plywood. I’ve got several of my features in galleries all around the east coast; I’m still trying to extend my reach. This year has been about developing my own business and getting my name out there, because I want to continue featuring my work in exhibitions so that I can get commissioned… I also want to start doing pop-up shops around Newcastle.”
Ben says that without his time at UoN, he wouldn’t be where he is today. “The staff were very knowledgeable and professional. I wanted to learn everything I could and they provided me with what I needed. It’s greatly influenced what I want to do and how I want to teach.”
Check out Ben’s website and creative works here.
