“I’m passionate about packaging design,” says Benja Harney. “So often people do bog standard boxes. But with a little thought and care you can do amazing things.” The Sydney-based designer has created pop-up boxes for Smirnoff Black Vodka and Clarens among others. But over the past five years his work has been used to beautiful effect in fashion. Stylists have commissioned Harney to create window displays for Hermes, pop-up books for Harper’s Bazaar and sets for Commonwealth bank. For a designer working with paper he was also a natural to work with renowned Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, whose buildings are constructed from recyclable cardboard. Harney designed the box and cover prospectus for a recent Ban presentation. While his handmade designs have emerged serendipitously with a backlash against digital design, Harney says his work relies on computers in the design stage. “Part of the magic is getting the technical, mathematical feeling, but made by hand where you can see human error. There’s a friction which people love. But it’s the simplicity of paper that people respond to.”

Alongside his packaging and paper-sculpting, Harney plans to move into furniture made from recycled cardboard. Milan’s Salone del Mobile is in his sights. “Paper in the home is a wonderful thing,” he says. “It’s a natural product and even if it’s designed beautifully it doesn’t cost the earth.”