Jolyon Yates

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Born in Durham, England in 1968, Jolyon studied Industrial Design at Sheffield University and then Automotive Styling at the Royal College of Art, London.  After a spell at Opel in Frankfurt, working on the development team of the Worlds first wholly virtual car design, Jolyon was invited to Style Porsche in Stuttgart. In this capacity he worked on major internal and external projects. In a freelance role, Jolyon went on to work with Stefan Stark, Seymour Powell and The Product Group. Returning to New Zealand in 1998, Jolyon taught Design at Massey University in Wellington before taking up a role at Bakewell-White Yacht Design in 2000. Jolyon now participates in various international transport and design projects: his specialisms include conceptualization, development, rapid prototyping, visualization, print and web. Odechair is a new venture, launched in 2008 involving the design and making of unique and distinctive one-off and low volume furniture. “An ODE is a lyrical poem that pays respect to that which inspires it” The subject of that respect is those who have lent thoughts, inspiration or kindness in the development of these pieces; friends and family, mother nature; the Atlantic Ocean; Northumberland; New Zealand; the rain. Specifically, this ODE is to those that we meet and learn from on our journeys. “In a world of loveless volume manufacturing, Odechair displays soul by reflecting the care and honesty with which they have been conceived and crafted”.