Eric Au is a multi-disciplinary industrial designer and maker. He’s been cutting his fingers crafting things since he could barely hold a saw. He received his Bachelors of Fine Arts in Ceramics in his home town of Winnipeg, at the University of Manitoba. After completing his Masters in Industrial Design at the University of Calgary, he worked in a variety of fields ranging from fashion & product photography, marketing & design and ceramic artist in residence. He returned to Winnipeg in 2011 with renewed eyes and skills. He started his brand, Metro Grade Goods in 2013.
He works closely with new manufacturing technologies and melds them with modern materials to produce unique interpretations of common objects. Inspired by strong graphic design, bold contrast and functional aesthetics, he strives to produce work that can enhance everyday life. The result is a hand-finished, high-quality, pragmatic product that seeks out a lifetime of weathering.
Traditional storytelling meets contemporary craft.