Talking Design

Artist Natasha Johns-Messenger started her career studying painting at RMIT University before focusing on installation-based work, also completing her Masters Degree at University. Now based in New York, Johns-Messenger has just had her first solo exhibition at the Heidi Museum in Bulleen, Melbourne. Her site-specific work is truly extraordinary! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

Jeff Provan studied engineering and later architecture at RMIT before venturing into his first developments in the mid-1980s. with then business partner Barry Ludlow, the duo rediscovered Melbourne's laneways by creating distinctive townhouses. Fast forward a few decades, Neometro has become a leader in creating well-designed low rise apartments in inner-city Melbourne. Hosted on Acast. See acast....

Nancy Bugeja, Managing Director of the HM Group and her business partner Miguel Valenzuela, Creative Director of HM first met while studying design at the Barton Institute. Graduating during the recession of the early 1990s, they decided to pitch for work. Now 20 years later, they have become a creative force in the design industry covering everything from graphic design to branding as well as mak...

Siblings Alex and Georgie Cleary, creative directors of fashion label Alpha 60, started their fashion business by producing a range of shirts for family and friends. Now with 10 shops in Melbourne, Sydney and more recently in Perth, the duo combine style with a great sense for business. Alex started his career as an engineer while Georgie as a graphic designer. Alex partially cites their success a...

Architect Stephen Javens started his career studying Arts at the University of Queensland. However, seeing the demise of many heritage building in Brisbane during the late 1970s and 80s, changed his focus, graduating in architecture from RMIT University in the mid-1980s. With life and business partner interior designer Kerry Phelan, the duo, both directors of KPDO Architects, are helping to sensit...

Tracey Atkins, former television presenter and journalist joined forces with marketing whiz Janette Kendall a few years ago to create Golden Eye Media. When Atkins was asked to interview a 'speaking' furry toy in the late 1990s, she knew it was time to start her own venture. Golden Eye Media now roams the world filming luxurious homes. Part of their success has been in telling a great story about...

Stephen Ryan trained in Garden & Turf Management at Oakleigh Technical College. Rather than focusing on design, Ryan was more fascinated by plants. A former presenter of Gardening Australia and with his own nursery Dicksonia Rare Plants at Mt. Macedon where he was raised. Ryan has a great deal to pass on to garden enthusiasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wendy Lasica started her career as a dancer/choreographer, working in New York in the early 1980s. By the late 1980s, she was ready to return to Melbourne. A rich number of decades followed producing both work for dance and for theatre. More recently Lasica graduated with a Masters Degree in Urban Planning. Lasica brings to planning a sense of 'production', and a fresh perspective on what makes ci...

Melissa Jackson started her career studying textiles at RMIT University, graduating in the late 1980s. With a downturn in manufacturing at that time, Jackson headed to London, enrolling in the prestigious Central St. Martins School of Fashion. Returning to Melbourne, Jackson got her break at Christines in Flinders Lane, when a number of imported hats were held up on the wharf in peak cup season. Y...

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Interior Designer Caecilia Potter started her career studying chemical engineering before changing to arts law. But travels to places such as South Africa, in particular the wilderness areas made her reassess her future path. Potter, now director of Atticus & Milo, studied Interior Design at RMIT University and now designs everything from residential to commercial fit-outs. Hosted on Acast. Se...

Christopher Boots is one of Australia's leading lighting designers. Initially working for Mance Design, Boots now produces exquisite lighting working directly with architects and designers both here and abroad. While his designs vary in scale and detail, his hallmark pieces often include hundreds of crystals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Architect Bruce Trethowan has been instrumental in rejuvenating many of Melbourne's landmarks, including the recently opened Chanel flagship store on the corner of Russell Street and Flinders Lane. While Trethowan Architects takes such buildings forward, he also responds to its past. Corlyule, a historic homestead in Victoria, a collaboration with heritage architect Bryce Raworth, which received a...

Photographer Nicole England studied photography at Elam, the fine arts school at Auckland University before pursuing photography in the fashion and advertising industry. And in the early 2000s, joined the POL Oxygen team, a prestigious Australian design publication. But in 2008, England was ready to start working on her own, capturing extraordinary homes in Australia and abroad. Hosted on Acast. S...

Geri Williams has had a diverse career, initially studying Arts at Queensland University. But she was drawn to television and became a reporter for a number of media outlets in Cairns. While working as a television producer for SBS and ABC television, she produced a design series Nest based on the home. Williams most recent position is with Sagra Gallery in Malvern, working as both a director and...

Interior designer Lucy Marczyk is an Associate Senior Designer with interior design practice Nexus Designs. She talks about her recent visit to the Milan furniture fair, as well as discussing a few key projects by Nexus Designs, including a one-off designed ferry interior fit-out which required a different approach to high-end residential housing, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...

Architect Mark O'Dwyer, co-director of H2O Architects has established a reputation for bringing considerably more to even the most utilitarian building. H20's recent Genebank for grain storage, located in Horsham, is just one example. The colours of the surrounding landscape is beautifully integrated into the design. As memorable is H20's library, inspired by artist Howard Arkley. O'Dwyer looks ou...

Samantha Sivarajah has studied a number of programs at RMIT University. Initially studying furniture design, Samantha then enrolled in Interior Design. A couple of years later, her interests changed to sculpture and finally Gold & Silver Smithing. Passionate about design, Samantha now operates the Design Dispensary in Gertrude Street Fitzroy, sourcing some of the most innovative household prod...

Emma Goodsir, owner of e.g.etal, studied Gold & Silversmithing at RMIT University before establishing a gallery for contemporary jewellery in Melbourne 17 years. A great supporter of Australian & New Zealand contemporary jewellers, Goodsir looks for both technique and how ideas are expressed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Architect Andrew Piva, a director of b.e. Architecture, has been with the Melbourne practice for almost 13 years. While the practice is adept in all architectural fields, from commercial to multi-residential, it has built a name for bespoke housing. Refined and beautifully appointed homes receive as much attention to interior detailing as the gardens surrounding them. The architects take an active...

Dean Gaylor, an industrial designer, is director of Mance Design. Established by the late Geoffrey Mance, Gaylor speaks honestly about the issues facing lighting designers in Australia. Like his predecessor, Gaylor designs bespoke lighting for architects and interior designers and works between smaller domestic projects to large commercial projects both in Australia and overseas Hosted on Acast. S...

A graduate of Harvard University, Landscape Architect Steve Calhoun came to Melbourne in the late 1970s to take up a position with a landscape architecture practice. Upon his arrival, he was also handed the responsibility of teaching landscape architecture at RMIT. And a few years later he established an undergraduate program at the University. Calhoun, one of Australia's most respected designers,...

Tony Newsham came from the United Kingdom in the early 1970s not knowing what to do as a career. Five years later, he opened Trellini in Melbourne and later in Sydney, what would eventually be one of Australia's meccas for high fashion in menswear. After almost 20 years forging a path, Newsham went onto become Vice President of Comme des Gardons on New York, where he resided for 13 years. An extra...

Architect Ian Perkins, Director of Perkins Architects, has established a name in the area of childcare centres. After designing more than 100 childcare centres, many of which are larger community hub, Perkins is finely tuned in seeing how young children start their formative years. In 1986, Perkins designed Samantha's, his wife's childcare centre in Malvern, setting a new benchmark in childcare th...

Professor Harriet Edquist, Director of Design Archives at RMIT University is known for taking on unusual projects that others overlook. Shifting Gear, which open at the National Gallery of Victoria on 18th March, showcases Melbourne's significant role in the development of the motor car, from the early twentieth century to more recent times. Those who appreciate cars, as well as Melbourne's rich d...