Founded by girl boss duo Christina Symes and Jessica D’Abadie, We Are Triibe is a multi-platform design firm dreaming up spaces for some of Australia’s trendiest brands. From Assembly Label to Aje, their reformed style and killer aesthetic pushes them to one of the top retail designers in the country.

Unita’s latest collaboration with We Are Triibe was for Aje Perth. Located in a high-end shopping centre in Claremont the store emphasises Aje’s raw minimalist style and neutral colour palette.

We sat down with the girls to chat all things design…

Christina Symes and Jessica D’Abadie – Co-Founders (We Are Triibe)

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?

 It’s always so rewarding seeing the positive impact our designs can have on our client’s businesses, home environment and ultimately their well-being. There is nothing better than hearing how our client’s new interior fit-out has increased their business or made a family come together more by using their space in ways that weren’t used before.

WHAT DO YOU PREDICT TO BE THE NEXT BIG INTERIOR DESIGN TREND?

 I think both in residential and commercial we are seeing a shift to more hand-made, we are seeing lot of people are taking a shift from stark minimalism into purposeful interiors, selecting objects and materials that have meaning and which have that hand-built aesthetic to them. We are also seeing a lot of designers – including ourselves, use a lot more colour in fit-outs. We have noticed a lot of Bauhaus-inspired colour palettes making their way into interior spaces which I think we will see more and more, either in the objects or through the use of primary colours selected in the materials.

WHAT ARE SOME KEY FACTORS A DESIGNER LOOKS FOR IN A BUILDER WHEN COLLABORATING ON A PROJECT?

 Great attention to detail, forward thinking, time efficient and cares about achieving the best result for the client as much as we do.

WHAT IS FAVOURITE ELEMENT OF AJE PERTH?

 It would have to be the different use of travertine and textural wall tiles throughout. The client asked us to design a refined space with a neutral palette, so we introduced travertine and textural tiles in different honed and natural finishes to create a tactile and elevated space.

Aje Perth – Built by Unita + Designed by We Are Triibe

NAME YOUR GO-TO ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHER?

 We work regularly with Terence Chin or Dion Robeson (who photographed the Aje Perth store)

WHAT EXCITING PROJECTS DO YOU HAVE COMING UP?

 We are working on an array of commercial and residential across Australia, however our most remote project would be a development just outside Mexico City which we’re excited to go visit in January.

Want to collaborate on an upcoming project? We’d love to hear from you!