My life in five objects: Martin Uhlarik

Sony D55 CD player

I have a degree in industrial design and always had an appreciation for good product design. The D55 for me has all the attributes I value and influenced my own design principles; pure, simple, and functional. Made from metal, not plastic, it emphasises manufacturing quality and still works today with superb sound. This object epitomises when design and technology cross streams. It was the first portable CD player and screamed high tech Japanese design at its zenith. Even the logo is great. You can see much of its aesthetics channeled in my design portfolio.

Pentax K1000

The most successful camera in history. A brilliant example of simple design, Japanese machined precision and function. It is still considered the best starter camera. If you can take photos with this, you can with anything. This camera is a family heirloom. It was my mother’s and documented our childhood. Then it became mine and now my children use it regularly. It still photographs brilliantly. A perfect example of timeless design. 

Stussy T-shirt 

Looking back at photos I think this is the only shirt I wore in my 20s. It’s aged well as a design but also more interestingly as a brand statement. What is it? Youth, California, an attitude. I loved it as soon as I saw it, even though nobody gave me the disclaimer what it meant. Funny, but both my kids wear their own versions of it and I still wear mine around the house.

My passport

Design is my real passport, it’s allowed me to live and work in a number of countries, experience various cultures, meet interesting people and expanded my horizons. I think that open mindedness has been critical in my success as a designer. My nationality hasn’t hurt. Growing up in a open and welcoming society that is multicultural and friendly definitely tempered my approach as a designer. It was also a new country when I was young and there was large scale design investment on a nation building scale. The flag, graphic design, schools, buildings, signage all in a modernist and optimistic style. I didn’t realize it at the time but it influenced me greatly.

Donnay tennis raquet

I started playing tennis in 1979 and watched the famous Borg - McEnroe Wimbledon match on TV. Not only was it one of the most iconic matches ever but I thought Borg represented the ultimate in cool. The way he looked, played and his style. Of course he had a Donnay raquet, which I got. For me this raquet represents how a brand can be associated with cool – a combination of technology, design and the right associated values.

 This article was originally published in the Autumn 2025 edition of Interior Motives. To subscribe, click here.