Since Graduating in Industrial Design at RMIT in 2003 and being nominated as the No. 1 Australian Design Graduate of 2004, McFarlane has developed a his unique perspective. His eclectic array of products have been exhibited locally and abroad and he was a finalist in the Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Awards (2006). McFarlane opened his design studio in 2008 Stuart and his clients have included Sneaker Freaker and Monkii multimedia. Typically, McFarlane blends typology, functionality and materiality with poise, whilst allowing clarity and balance to preside.

Small Australian Projects is a unique, design focused company that works with Australia’s finest architects to produce furniture that engages and celebrates national identity and environmental sensitivity. We emphasise the emotional connection Australian’s have with their places. The inaugural range of products was produced in collaboration with award winning architects Donovan Hill, setting a high standard of quality. The local manufacturing team consists of expert cabinet makers, who prioritise sustainability.

Shareen Joel Design was launched in 2003, following Joel’s 15 years local and international experience in fully integrated design and brand management vehicles. It is an interdisciplinary firm of respected specialists that provides a unique blend of design management spawning interior and architectural design, product development, creative direction and brand implementation services to commercial and private clients, such as Witchery, Dulux and Macquarie Bank. SJD couples innovative design with commercial prowess. The practice’s work is characterised by simplicity, balance, elegance and proportion.

Ryan Russell is a multi-award winning design studio established in 2006. The practice aims to extend thresholds and blur lines within the design fields of architecture, interior design, set design, graphic design and industrial design, creating dialogue between people and places. Ryan Russell prides itself on its adaptability, conceptual nous and innovation. A belief in creating a sustainable future is also key. Idealistic? Maybe but then again someone has to be.
Ryan Russell heads the practice and holds a Bachelor of Design Studies and a Masters of Architecture.

Dale Rock and Drew martin are the two halves of Melbourne based design and manufacturing team Rock Martin. Rock is originally from Canada and Martin from Queensland. The two formed Rock Martin in 2005, combining their backgrounds in manufacturing and boilermaking and fine arts respectively. They have been desiging things and making things from steel ever since.

Rob Harper began his own design practice, RDO Rob Design Office, three years ago, focusing on interiors, lighting and public space. Solving complex problems and finding order in pandemonium are Harper’s specialties. He produces simple, optimistic designs and prefers to work in a gritty urban context. Private and multi-residences, exhibitions, commercial fit-outs and public domain projects are among the practice’s completed works.

Emilio Fuscaldo established Nest Architects officially in 2006. The studio is committed to creating design and architecture that stems from first principles and ends at a place both the client and architect can be proud of. With no discernable style, Nest Architects treats every project individually. They find the balance between the site’s opportunities and the client’s brief, in very much the same way a bird would construct a stable nest according to its environment. Fuscaldo and Imogen Pullar both hold degrees in architecture.

Minosa is a luxury bathroom brand established in 2001 by the award-winning Australian designers Simona Castagna and Darren Genner. Minosa strives to create stunning bathroom products featuring the finest materials and exceptional craftsmanship, exuding an elegant and highly functional individualism. The boutique nature of the company enables the designers to be meticulous in relation to all phases of product development and client consultation, from user-friendly designs through to innovative material use and construction methods. Minosa’s vision is ‘Quality without Compromise’. www.minosa.com.au

Jye Edwards is a recent graduate of the Australian School of Fine Furniture, where his exploration of a variety of mediums and artistic directions within the creative arts provided a solid grounding to now establish his own studio.
The opportunity to create desirable, superbly crafted pieces of art for those who appreciate quality and attention to detail drives Edwards.
His work has appeared in the Object Gallery ‘Design Now’ graduates exhibition and he received the emerging artist award for the Clarence City Council Art Prize in 2007.

Justin Vecchio combines his training in industrial design, his study of furniture deisgn at RMIT and his hands on manufacturing experience in his creation of contemporary timber furniture. The visual appeal and intrigue of Vecchio Design’s pieces is created through the manipulation of proportions and geometrical form. Simplicity of form replaces excess or distraction in his designs. Native, exotic and salvaged timbers are primarily used with a focus on sustainability and functionality.

Angela Ferguson began Ferguson Design Studio (FDS) in 2004, after a varied career as a practicing interior designer, lecturer and writer. The team now includes Lisa Dinham (Design Team Leader) and Karen Garrett (ESD Leader). FDS specialises in innovative interior design solutions that are creative, practical and individually tailored. Furniture design has become a facet of FDS after their modular lounge won the 2007 Corporate Culture’s Design Journey competition. The practice’s diverse range of projects have included a museum for Qantas, child care centres and office spaces.

Falinc is the collaboration of Jeanette Fallon and Greg Christgoergl. Their designs combine principles of art, craftsmanship and mass production to create visually stunning yet comfortable and practical pieces. With a degree in Graphic Design and awards including the 2006 Create Award for Illustration, Jeanette Fallon has worked with various design practices internationally before establishing her own. Greg Christgoergl trained in the hand-crafting of automotive coaches and later used his superior technical knowledge to design furniture. Falinc is committed to producing sustainable products, including the Holier Than Thou collection.

Byron George Architect is a small, multidisciplinary practice established in 2007. The practice applies the principles of simple and effective planning, spatial awareness, sustainability and client needs to each project. George’s projects have include the flagship Rokk Ebony hair salon in Toorak Village, a small house in Yarraville, a restaurant in Fitzroy, St Judes Cellars, in collaboration with Cassandra Chilton. Byron is currently working on an apartment building and on a number of smaller projects with the National Trust.

Sonja Duric worked for Artillery London for three years and with business partner Claudette Leeming opened a Melbourne Artillery office in 2006. The practice has since grown to a team of eight designers and undertaken over 50 projects. The philosophy of Artillery is simple: to provide design solutions for clients that respond to their needs, while taking them places they couldn’t imagine. A hands-on approach, incorporating attention to detail, is key to the team’s amazing work ethic, fueled by infectious enthusiasm. Artillery strives to minimise their impact on the environment.

Paper Tiger Products emerged in 2007 following Anthony Dann’s launch of the Paper Tiger Stool and, after winning the 2007 Launch Pad Award for Sustainability, now markets furniture and lighting objects internationally. The products are primarily made from sustainable folded mediums of fibrous textures and feature bold, linear graphics. Dann’s process stems from a craft base favouring local production, but also makes use of 3D computer modeling to achieve complex structural geometry. Clients have included The State of Design Festival, Metlink and Volley Café.