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Friday Five with Louise Olsen

We’ve chronicled the amazingly talented and creative Louise Olsen, designer and co-founder of Dinosaur Designs before and now she’s back to share five things that keep her inspired, in this week’s Friday Five. Splitting her time between Sydney, Australia and New York City with her husband, Stephen Ormandy, Olsen continues to co-design various collections of resin jewelry, housewares, objects, furniture, and rugs every year with their signature, organic aesthetic, never failing to surprise with their new designs. Take a look at her five picks.

Photo by Louise Olsen

Photo by Louise Olsen

1. Nature
I’m constantly inspired by nature’s forms in my work. There’s something beautiful about the time things have taken to evolve and perfect.

Image courtesy of Guggenheim Museum

Image courtesy of Guggenheim Museum

2. Art
One of my favorite artists Mark Rothko. I love the way he uses light and tonality in his work. There is a beautiful luminosity and depth to the surface of his painting.

Photo by Bart Celestino

Photo by Bart Celestino

3. The ocean
We live by the sea and can see the ocean from our house. At night you can hear the waves and smell the salty air.

Photos by Rachel Kara

Photos by Rachel Kara

4. Sketch books and pin boards
They are my tools, they are a constant in my life.

Photo by Louise Olsen

Photo by Louise Olsen

5. Books
I love having a library with its wonderful resources. No computer can ever replace it. Bookshelf designed by Dieter Rams and made by Vitsoe.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.