OMNI by Tom Fereday

OMNI

DESIGNED BY TOM FEREDAY

PROJECT / OMNI

BRAND / Earp Bros

PHOTOGRAPHER / Jason Busch

DESIGNER / Tom Fereday

OMNI by Tom Fereday

The OMNI breeze block is a dry pressed cement block requiring no firing or high energy processing. OMNI is initially offered in white, grey and black and is available worldwide.

OMNI reinvents the traditional breeze block to offer an entirely new approach to building and interior design. By transforming the breeze block form to provide a faceted modular block, OMNI allows for a multitude of new and innovative applications to be designed and built. Offering both straight and 45-degree angles to be achieved simply by flipping the brick, OMNI was designed and proportioned to allow for an array of angular forms to be created including but not limited to L shaped walls, undulating surfaces, columns and even coffee, dining and bar tables.

What was the design brief and how did you interpret it?

In collaboration with Earp Bros, the brief we setourselves was to reinvent the traditional breeze blockfor the modern-day environment. By considering andexperimenting with the traditional form of the breezeblock we were able to entirely re-imagine the productand its potential application.

How does your project demonstrate a progressive approach to architecture and/or design?

By addressing the potential for the possibility of newapplications other than just straight feature walls theOMNI block entirely re-invents the category opening upopportunities for designers to interpret it’s use for bothindoor and outdoor application. The registered designis both novel and practical allowing for greater flexibilitywithin the built environment.

‘I try to develop products based on the principle of honest design, conveying a design process which celebrates the materials and manufacturing processes behind furniture and products to design from the inside out. By using the materials and environment as a positive design constraint I try to guide intelligent and thoughtful design outcomes which connect with people through natural materials, tactile finishes and unique design.‘

~ TOM FEREDAY

What does your design process look like and how does it evolve throughout a project?

I always start a project assessing what potentialproblems a design can solve. This always runs in parallelto address the materials and manufacturing processesinvolved.

What are some of your main sources of inspiration? What other designers, influencers or creatives do you admire?

I am very inspired by the Australian designers I workwith. For me, it is a very exciting moment in Australiandesign across both products and architecture/interiors.

What was it like to work with Earp Bros on this project?

Having already collaborated with Earp Bros on our soloexhibition PROCESS when the opportunity arose againto work together on a collaboration the decision wassimple. We worked together at every level of the designto achieve a truly original result.

OMNI re-invents the traditional breeze block to offer entirely new applications to the previously limited market. The exciting opportunities of the design are presented to the interior and architecture market, encouraging designers to play and engage with the possibilities of the product to reimagine the built environment.

- TOM FEREDAY