Team

One of a series of interviews with PLN Group People and Designers

We chat with Richard Heath, product designer, about design, creativity and shark deterrents...


Product Designer, Richard Heath, studied at Massey University's Albany Campus, Auckland.

Rich is responsible for the design of PLN Group's Enterprise Table, Scrum Isolate, and others.

We caught up with Rich to talk about what attracted him to the world of design...

What is design?

A bhuja mix of problem solving, forward thinking creativity and innovation.

What appeals to you about design?

Being able to be creative for a living, helping people solve problems and creating inspiring spaces.

What’s the first thing you ever designed?

One of the cooler products I worked on early on was a surfboard mounted shark deterrent device – I even got to hang out (briefly) with former world surfing champ Tom Carroll in the process!



Pictured: 'Scrum Isolate' by Rich Heath for PLN Group

Learn about Scrum Isolate

What has been your favourite design project at PLN Group?

I had the privilege to work on a vast range of design projects at PLN Group – from one-off bespoke creations to more mass produced commercial items.

For sheer physical impact, It’s hard to go past this sofa (pictured left) for a private residence in Coatesville. With a footprint of over 12m2 and a palette of velvet and brass it’s got quite a wow factor.

On the commercial side, the Enterprise Side Table (below) was a favourite to develop. It all started from a simple sketch - it’s been nice to see how well it has been received so far.

Who is your design hero?

Benjamin Hubert from Layer Design – his creations are continually pushing the boundaries of the perceived ‘norm’.

Does good design make a difference?

Good Design – Yes. Great Design - Definitely.



Pictured: Bespoke sofa by Rich Heath for the Coatesville House

Read about the custom furniture design for the Coatesville House project
Learn about the PLN Group Story