The Design Files Talks

An incredibly inspiring creative entrepreneur, over the past few years, Jeremy Wortsman has been an invaluable mentor to us at The Design Files. In fact, when we first launched this podcast, Jeremy Worstman was our go-to, advising on everything we needed to know to bring a podcast to life! The founder of illustration agency The Jacky Winter Group, Lamington Drive gallery and JWGYTB podcast as well...

Penelope Seidler is so accomplished, her list of professional achievements is almost impossible to summarise succinctly! She’s an architect and an accountant, she's a member of the National Gallery of Australia Foundation Board, has been a director of Biennale of Sydney since 2010, and sits on the board of the Institute of Architects Foundation in Sydney. She was deputy commissioner for the Austra...

We've arrived at our 30th episode of TDF Talks, and I'm thrilled to conclude our third season with blogger, author, entrepreneur, global adventurer, and super mum-of-five, Courtney Adamo! I never cease to be inspired by Courtney’s incredible drive and her adventurous spirit. She’s built a truly remarkable online community, on her own terms. It was so wonderful to sit in her beautiful home in Banga...

Since accepting his position as the Director of the National Gallery of Victoria in 2012, Tony Ellwood has been responsible for a major overhaul of the NGV's programming, marketing and special projects. He has led a diverse and significant program of world-class exhibitions and events over the last seven years, transforming the NGV into the most-visited gallery in Australia. We were thrilled to ha...

Justine Cullen is a multi-award-winning magazine editor. After an illustrious career working at various tiles including Girlfriend , Marie Claire and  Shop 'Til You Drop , and Jones magazine, where she’s now editor-in-chief. In this podcast, Lucy chats to this trailblazing editor and mum-of-four about her career highlights, the challenges facing Australian fashion, and the age-old career-vs-family...

Her humble little eco-conscious cup has taken the entire world by storm, and today we have the privilege of picking this exceptional businesswoman's brain! Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

It was so cool to sit down in front of a live audience last week with Paul West, the chef-turned-farmer, sustainable living advocate, and hugely popular host of River Cottage Australia. Paul had the whole audience in the palm of his hand, as he tracked his atypical career path, and shared his ideas on living a more fulfilling, sustainable life. Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignf...

Before Peter Maddison sprung onto our screens as the host of Grand Designs Australia, he had a long and illustrious career as an architect. In this chat he reflects on his career from, failing his HSC to landing that incredible TV gig, and what it’s actually like filming the show six months of the year whilst running his own successful architecture practice. A candid conversation recorded live at...

For 25 years, Paul Bangay has created the most incredible, elegant and timeless gardens across Australia and the world! Over the course of his career, this Medal of the Order of Australia recipient has authored 10 books, the latest of which, Small Garden Design is out next month. We sat down with Paul in his studio in Cremorne, Melbourne, where we discussed his incredibly successful career, the me...

David Bromley is one of Australia’s most well-known artists, and his distinctive paintings are instantly recognisable. He’s a six-time finalist in the Archibald Prize. And amongst his prolific output, he has painted celebrities including Miranda Kerr, Kylie Minogue and Lily Allen, to name a few. But, as we discover, David really is much more than just an artist... Find links and other show notes a...

In this podcast I talk staying ahead of the pack, securing those big international deals, dealing with copycats, and much more. It's a cheerful and down-to-earth chat with one of our favourite local design superheroes, Bonnie Ashley of Bonnie and Neil. Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

Aside from her prolific design work with her husband Grant, Mary is a rigorous and passionate designer in her own right, with a particular focus on children’s learning environments. She’s worked with schools, childcare centres and museums, and continues to work as a consultant and an advocate in this space. I had a chance to speak with Mary about her and Grant's legacy, the challenges of being a w...

Today we're closing out our 2018 podcast season with something a little bit different. By popular request, today we’re featuring a very special guest – our founder and editor, Lucy Feagins! Tune in for a friendly chat between our managing editor, Elle Murrell, and the boss lady herself, recorded right here at our Collingwood HQ. Lucy shares her journey – from her early career in the film industry...

Though she studied photography, when I met Kara she was gaining notoriety as a stylist. It was only upon landing her first book deal that she rediscovered the lens. Today editorial photography is Kara's primary focus, she also sells her photographic prints online and has developed an impressive lifestyle brand, with a unique range of homewares, accessories and apparel to complement her distinctive...

After launching his brand at just 24 years of age in 2009, Nick Shelton has built Broadsheet Media into a household name – an immense achievement for a guy who never really intended to launch a major media brand! In our chat, Nick shared insights on his growing empire and Broadsheet’s diverse stable of projects and properties including, their now bi-monthly print newspaper, the brand new Broadshee...

In today’s episode, we chat to one of Melbourne’s most talented stylists, and someone I like to think of the original Instagram influencer – Stephanie Stamatis, otherwise known as Stephanie Somebody! We chatted about Stephanie’s journey from interior design to styling, finding her niche as a stylist and art director, and she shares amazing advice for any budding desk-worker keen to take the leap i...

In our new episode, we chat to one of Australia’s best-known stylists, who is also a best-selling author, and founder of ‘The School’, a unique creative hub in Sydney. Megan Morton chatted about everything from styling, to creating The School, to expanding into bespoke travel tours, and how she does it all! Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/2018/10/tdftalks-meganmorton-...

One of Melbourne’s most-loved foodies, Julia Busuttil Nishimura is a self-taught cook, recipe writer, and now, a best-selling author. Here, she shares how she's turned her passion for food into a super-successful career and her favourite spots for food shopping in Melbourne. With a background in primary school teaching, Julia Busuttil Nishimura’s passion for food led her to start her food blog, Os...

Rachel grew up in country Victoria and originally studied PR at RMIT, before moving to the UK for work. A change of pace came after she had children and returned to Australia. Craving an outlet for her creativity, Rachel began making embroideries and artworks for friends, and started designing products. Before long, her much-loved brand ‘Castle’ was born. We chat to Rachel about the balance betwee...

Moving to Melbourne from Sweden in 1995, Kristina Karlsson established stationery brand Kikki. K's 2001. Today, kikki. K has grown into a household name, with more than 100 stores across five countries. In our chat, the founder and creative director reflects on the incredible success of kikki. K and the power of dreaming big! Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/2018/08/td...

Tim Ross has been broadcasting his own brand of design advocacy (and lols) over the past six years. He has an uncanny way of getting people excited about design, even things they didn’t realise they cared about, like the classic Hills Hoist washing line, the Dolphin torch, or the Sydney’s brutalist Sirius Building! In our live conversation, the celebrity fka Rosso charts his evolution to enthusias...

The revolutionary Melbourne-based architect is the founder of award-winning practice Breathe Architecture, as well as Nightingale Housing. He charts the trajectory of this game-changing new housing model, and in doing so outlines a brighter alternative to Australia's inhibiting housing market! Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/2018/07/tdf-talks-mercedes-me-architect-jer...

Joost is many things: flower grower and a florist, he’s an artist and a designer, passionate foodie and restaurateur, but underpinning all of this he’s a champion of no-waste living. In this thrillingly candid convo ( language warning! ) he informs us on why our food system needs a major shakeup, and why he believes, everything starts with the buildings we design and the houses we live in. Find li...

Over the last fortnight, we have been hosting weekly conversations at the Mercedes me Store Melbourne. For our first event, Lucy spoke with the inspiring founder of Australian accessories labels A-esque and Mimco, Amanda Briskin-Rettig. Today we share a follow-up chat between the pair, where Amanda reflects on starting and building both her businesses, the shift to manufacturing locally in small r...

Inspiring words from the doyenne of Melbourne’s event design and visual merchandising scene!