By Making is an ongoing project founded by designer Marlon Darbeau, a graduate of College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad & Tobago (COSTAATT) and John Donaldson Technical Institute.  He has 15 years’ experience designing in various fields from advertising and packaging to furniture and household objects. He has received numerous awards at both the AAATT and CAF ADDY Awards, and has had his work featured online in major international design journals.

Marlon debuted his work in an exhibition titled “En Route . . . Of Bridges and Barriers” which took place at Alice Yard in Trinidad in December 2008. He has also shown at “NEXT”, a Contemporary Art and Design Group Exhibition at BECA Gallery New Orleans, and has participated in Erotic Art Week 2009 Trinidad & Tobago.

He seeks to investigate the relationship between utilitarian objects, people and place. His interest is in the reinterpretation of traditional and/or familiar things, with intent in developing new, surprising, beautiful and desirable objects.  Each object echoes the value of working with different types of makers and technologies and so provides the basis for creating sustainable processes and relationships which can have positive impacts on our local value systems.

A reinterpretation of the familiar, Marlon brings together a few specialized artisans such as welders and wood turners and marries their work to bring to life unique and contemporary pieces made from contrasting materials such as cedar and stainless steel.  His collection contains a range of benches (Peerahs), tables, whimsical manipulateable forms, salad servers and bowls.