HANDMADE - Back to Where We Started?

Iconic Australian showroom Spence & Lyda presents sublimely art directed textile, furniture, ceramic and lighting collections, in a uniquely curated selection of the very best of crafted design. A champion of ethically and environmentally sustainable objects and products, Fiona graduated design at Sydney College of the Arts, and embarked on a career in textiles prior to spending 20 years in the film industry in costume design. Launching Spence & Lyda in Sydney in 1996, her collaborations include a long-standing and respected partnership with the Missoni family and Missoni Home brand.

Fourth generation designer-maker Jon Goulder studied furniture design and fine woodworking at Canberra School of Art, prior to establishing Jon Goulder Designer Maker as a design consultancy. Awarded with the inaugural Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award, Jon has since been the recipient of many prestigious awards, and his work is held in permanent collections in state and national museums and art galleries, including the National Gallery of Australia. He is dedicated to developing one-off and limited edition handcrafted works.

Since founding Vert design house 10 years ago, Andrew has designed a vast range of products ranging from intimately handcrafted objects through to mass-produced industrial products. An open and honest approach is core to his practice, applied throughout the process of designing, prototyping and making. Since graduating UTS Sydney Industrial Design in 2005, Andrew’s work has appeared in over 20 exhibitions in Australia, Europe, North America and Asia. Andrew teaches design at UNSW Art and design and speaks regularly about design at events across the world.

After holding senior government positions at both national and local level, including the Australian Broadcasting Authority, SBS, The Australia Council for the Arts, and the City of Sydney, Lisa served as the CEO for the Australian Design Alliance (ADA) — an independent group representing 14 peak design industry associations. Joining the Australian Design Centre in 2015, Lisa is committed to showcasing, promoting and developing the best in contemporary craft and design, both internationally and around Australia.

australiandesigncentre.com

Photo: Boaz Nothman

Founding Smart Design Studio in 1997, William continually explores flexibility in contemporary living, through the intersection of art and architecture. He is passionately committed to attention to detail to realise projects to the highest level of quality and design innovation. Smart Design Studio has a staff of 40 and has received numerous prestigious awards including the 2016 Wilkinson Award for Residential Architecture, the AIA Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture, the World Architecture Festival INSIDE Award for World’s Best Residential Interior, and the IDEA Interior Design and Houses Awards.

Celebrated author and design commentator Karen McCartney was editor of marie claire lifestyle prior to launching INSIDE OUT, a magazine she ran for 10 years. Whilst at NewsLifeMedia, Karen spearheaded the digital play for Body+Soul website and worked across News’ digital product design platforms. Karen is the author of several architecture books including Iconic Australian Houses and Super House which both translated into successful exhibitions. Founder of creative strategy and content agency Editd, Karen regularly contributes to the Good Weekend Magazine.

AUTHENTIC DESIGN ALLIANCE TM, Director

Design writer, curator and creative producer AMS was key to establishing the SPACE Furniture retail network, and has been instrumental in creating national platforms that exhibit, promote and sell original contemporary design products. As former editor-at-large of Belle Magazine, AMS curates content and produces events for public and industry exhibitions and speaker series; and has attended global design fairs since 1987 as journalist, buyer, keynote speaker, design advocate and curator.

As director of the AUTHENTIC DESIGN ALLIANCE TM, a platform committed to outlawing counterfeit/knockoff designer furniture in Australia, AMS aims to promote original design products and design history beyond the design industry.

Image: Sonny Vandevelde 

Kobe is an active member and champion of the Australian design manufacturing industry, spending most of the last decade managing large-scale design and art events in London, Sydney and Melbourne. In partnership with husband Adam Price, Kobe established JP Finsbury Bespoke Joiners in 2012, a workshop of master craftsmen producing high-end interiors, furniture and prototyping for the local industry.

Clients include Adam Goodrum, Trent Jansen, Megan Morton, DesignbyThem, Tom Fereday and Design Office. Kobe launched Factory Design District at VIVID Ideas, a curated three-day exhibition of Australian design, making and manufacturing, featuring both new and established Australian brands, independent design studios and makers.