Milo Tonry-Brown
High-end creative culture has long been celebrated in London, the old urban landscape characterized by a modern and contemporary palate, appreciated by the masses and intertwining with underground subcultures. The demand for high-quality and bespoke product is high. Emerging artists are met with the challenge of showcasing their talents in a fast-paced and competitive environment. Milo and his peers make art and design for an increasingly informed population who are apt to cultivate and curate their surroundings, doing so with not only a appetite for beauty and aesthetic, but with the expectation that their products are equitable, sustainable, and of good craftsmanship.
Through Milo’s perspective, creativity is defined as a way of thinking, a lifestyle, a set of specialized skills and the ability to create beautiful things. His unique experience has fostered his creativity and inspired his craft. Milo is from a family of artisans, his father a builder and his mother a former wood worker and current jewelry designer - he credits his taste and style to her. From this foundation, the development of his technical skills has been evolutionary, heavily influenced by his peers and schooling. He attended the Kingston School of Art, surrounded by “exceptional creatives and tutors,” where he admired the tenacity and capability of those around him; his mates from uni developing skills within multiple creative processes “doing bits where they can” to “make ends meet” yet staying true to their vision and artistic integrity. His time in school was crucial to his development, allowing him to expand his creativity and become self-reliant. “Navigating university with limited finances meant doing everything yourself.” He anticipates the days where time, space, and money are more abundant for those within his circle.
Last year Milo founded Duck Head Green, a design company providing hand-crafted, high-quality homeware with a clear and simple design philosophy: to be fun and unique with personal touches added to every piece. In his practice Milo observes his client’s behaviors and customizes his designs to cater to their unique lifestyle, creating thoughtfully designed pieces that harmonize the needs of the client and fit seamlessly within its environment. “I try to design products and furniture that enable people to relax, socialise easily, or to engage with their surroundings. My goal is to create furniture [and objects] that not only serve a purpose but also enhance the flow and convenience of your daily life in ways you may not have realized you needed.”
His furnishings and fixtures create little to no waste while abstaining from hazardous materials. Originally raised by the sea, his relationship to the natural environment contributes to his products that are characterized by organic shapes and simplified designs using a small selection of mediums intended to one day biodegrade, decompose, or be reused through another form. “Just like in nature, nothing is wasted.” As a conscious designer, he holds a personal responsibility of closing the sustainability loop as much as possible.
Written by Summer Wong
February 28, 2024
