The Design Files Open House | 2017

INTRODUCING OUR 60+ MAKERS: Meet our line-up of Australia’s most inspiring makers, designers & artists.

EXCLUSIVEINTERVIEWS AND FEATURES: Musings on why we collect, small business tips, how to hustle & more.

A GUIDE TO OUR ‘HOOD: We let you in on our favourite haunts in Collingwood & Fitzroy.

STEPHEN BAKER POSTER INSIDE: An A2 centrefold from our hero artist, just for you!

23rd - 26th November 2017

35 Johnston Street Collingwood 3066

A collaborative event hosted by The Design Files. thedesignfiles.net

#tdfopenhouse

@thedesignfiles

thedesignfilesopenhouse.com

CONTENTS

HELPING HANDS

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EDITOR | Lucy Feagins MANAGING EDITOR | Elle Murrell EDITORIAL ASSISTANT | Sally Tabart

COLLINGWOOD / FITZROY GUIDE

READING LIST

TDF TALKS

Happy Valley’s Chris Crouch shares his top picks for summer reading, from design inspiration to plant guides and cookbooks.

Our brand new speaker series, in conversation with some of Australia’s most inspiring creative minds with all proceeds going to charity.

NEWSPAPER DESIGN & ART DIRECTION | Annie Portelli GRAPHIC DESIGN | Ashley Simonetto

While you’re in Collingwood, why not make a day of it, stopping by some of our favourite eateries, shops and galleries?

SALES & PARTNERSHIPS | Alice Johnson and Chelsea Hall CONTRIBUTORS | Adriana Hanna, Chris Crouch, David Flack, Esther Navarro-Orejon, Fiona Killackey, Karen McCartney and Lisa Marie Corso.

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ESSAY

COCKTAIL RECIPE

ARTIST PROFILE

Whether you’re a hoarder or a hold-out-er, lifestyle editor Karen McCartney will have you reflecting on why we collect.

Dan Murphy’s gives you the cocktail that literally started it all, the ‘Old Fashioned’.

Exit via the home bar!

Our leading artist Stephen Baker takes us through his recent projects, and previews ‘Leisure’, – a body of work created exclusively for TDF Open House.

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ENTERTAINING

SMALL BUSINESS TIPS

SUPPLIER INDEX

Lessons from Lisa Marie Corso on being the dinner party host(ess), with the most(ess).

Our business guru Fiona Killackey outlines the value of the ‘pop-up’ for small businesses.

Highlighters at the ready: a visual introduction to the who and what of TDF Open House 2017.

MAJOR EVENT PARTNERS

M A J O R S U P P LY P A R T N E R S

S U P P O R T E R S + C O L L A B O R ATO R S

PHOTOGRAPHY | Eve Wilson, Caitlin Mills and Amelia Stanwix.

SPECIAL THANKS | Alice Johnson, Alice Oehr, Alistair Birrell of Mr Draper, Ally McNaughton, Annie Portelli, Ashley Simonetto, Beth Haywood, Bridget Amor and the Seven Seeds crew, Cassie Lucas of Firecracker, Chelsea Hall, Chrissie Feagins, Christina Huang, David Signorino at Signorino Tile Gallery, Ed Service, Ariella Gery and Marcus Westbury at Contemporary Arts Precinct, Elle Murrell, Gordon Johnson, Huw Smith, Adam Woodward, Anthony Klein, Jona Gunn and Andy Godber, Helena Inez Abapo, Kelly Larkin, Line Paras, Lucy Oehr, Malika Kirchner, Marni Kornhauser, Mel Stapleton of Cecilia Fox, Mitch Carney, Molly Kent, Natalie Turnbull , Paris Thomson, Jason Tseng, Julian Tay and Belinda Cumming of SIRAP, Pete Brundle and James Sandri of Studio PDA, Phillip Withers and his phenomenal crew, Sally Tabart, Shelby De Fazio, Stephen Baker, The Social Studio, Travis Dean, Kylie Forbes and The Cantilever Interiors team, and Vanessa Bauchop of Miss V.

The Design Files Open House isn’t your typical pop-up.

After a two-year hiatus, there’s something especially exciting about bringing The Design Files Open House back in 2017.

This unique curated event features the work of over 60 of our favourite Australian makers, designers and artists.

After around nine months in development, three months of construction, and a week of bumping in, styling and finessing, TDF Open House opens this week for four days only. The best part?

Almost everything can be purchased on the spot.

We’ve been overwhelmed by the anticipation and enthusiasm for this event – thank you all for visiting, sharing and making this year’s TDF Open House one to remember!

Lucy Feagins Editor, The Design Files

Artwork by Stephen Baker stephenbakerart.com

COLLINGWOOD/FITZROY GUIDE

KIOSK 77 Smith Street, Fitzroy

A mere three-minute walk from TDF HQ, KIOSK is both a godsend and a danger zone. It’s our first port-of-call for gifts, accessories and general payday indulgences. A walk on the rainbow (footpath) and a chat with the effervescent Georgia Perry always brightens our day.

MUD CERAMICS

BURNSIDE

181 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

87A Smith Street, Fitzroy

As longtime fans of Mud Australia we were more than a little starstruck to interview founder Shelley Simpson earlier this year. Now a cult brand with stores from Fitzroy to LA, Mud still make every piece by hand in Sydney.

When you pack as much into your days as we do, having excellent coffee on tap is a necessity.

We’re VERY attached to our local coffee shop, or as we often spruik: ‘REALLY the best coffee in all of Melbourne.’ Stop by for a perfect caffeinated brew, and the ultimate broccoli sandwich!

SPENCER HARRISON MURAL

Cnr Peel & Oxford Street, Collingwood

HAPPY VALLEY BOOK STORE 294 Smith Street, Collingwood

We are indebted to artist Spencer Harrison (and local band Miami Horror), for sprucing up Collingwood’s quaint Peel Street Park. This is the perfect spot for a mid-week ‘mental health break’, in the company of Spencer’s feel-good mural, ‘Dance Your Own Dance’.

This place is a a book-lover’s Eden; good luck leaving! The range of beautiful tomes by local authors, as well as global bestsellers, is complemented by charming handmade gifts.

Shopkeeper Chris Crouch sure knows his stuff (see his summer reading list on the next page).

THE PLANT SOCIETY

33 Peel Street, Collingwood

When our favourite local tea-stop, Mina no ie, invited The Plant Society to share their beautiful warehouse space, it was a match made in lush, leafy heaven. Jason and Nathan are passionate plant cultivators, a few minutes with them will have your plant children thriving.

LAMINGTON DRIVE

99 - 101 Sackville Street, Collingwood

We’re always in awe of local creative agency The Jacky Winter Group, and a visit to their gallery space never disappoints. Lamington Drive was established back in 2008, but moved to its enviable new digs earlier this year. Stop by to peruse their latest exhibition, or just admire the awesome façade.

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JUNIOR SPACE

65 Smith Street, Fitzroy

Junior Space is a retail store and not-for-profit gallery which plays host to an ever varied program of exhibitions and events. From original art to quirky prints, handcrafted vessels and indie zines, a visit here always uncovers something new.

LIGHTLY

3 Glasshouse Road, Collingwood

Based out of a colourful studio and retail showroom in Collingwood, Lightly designs and manufactures a varied collection of over 100 products for the home, and stocks retailers across Australia and internationally.

Hand Picked

by Adriana Hanna

JO WILSON Contemporary totemic forms that are beautifully restrained and elegant.

SEAN MEILAK As an architect, I’ve been admiring this body of work, which references post modern architecture.

KERRYN LEVY These vessels are incredibly tactile and subtly evoke the Australian landscape, from the colour of the clay to the undulating forms.

READING LIST A summer reading guide curated by our favourite local bookseller, Chris Crouch of Happy Valley.

THE APARTMENT HOUSE

Katelin Butler & Cameron Bruhn

Inspiration on every page, this collection of apartment homes speaks to the current lifestyle, where smaller and closer is the new dream.

DREAMSCAPES Claire Takacs

A great garden is a work of beauty and ‘Dreamscapes’ collects 50 iconic gardens from around the globe in one gorgeous photo book.

OSTRO

Julia Busuttil Nishimura

There’s an art in making great simple food so appealing, and Julia has nailed it in this beautifully designed cookbook.

Change for Good As The Design Files heads into our 10th year, we’re more conscious than ever of the need to give back.

Melbourne’s Asylum Seeker Resource Centre headquarters in Footscray is a buzzing community hub, with an overwhelming sense of optimism, hope and potential.

Together with their army of volunteers, the ASRC provide a free lunch to 300 people every day, food parcels to 200 families each week, as well as free healthcare, employment services, accommodation, legal assistance, women’s empowerment programs and much more to more than 1,500 people every week.

HOMECAMP

Stephanie & Doron Francis

‘Homecamp’ will have you booking your next holiday ASAP. This book will inspire you to rediscover the joys and the rejuvenating power

@happyvalleyshop happyvalleyshop.com

GELATO EIGHT DAYS A WEEK Lisa Valmorbida

Who doesn’t love gelato!?

This book, authored by local gelato gurus Pidapipo, is full of mouthwatering recipes, and it was a masterstroke getting French illustrator

THE NEW AUSTRALIAN GARDEN

Katelin Butler & Cameron Bruhn

This book celebrates 18 landmark gardens that represent what’s happening now in landscape design – perfect for inspiring your own outdoor sanctuary.

At this year’s TDF Open House, we’re asking all our visitors to dig deep, with a gold coin donation (or more if you can spare it!) to support their remarkable work. In addition, 100% of proceeds from our TDF TALKS speaker series will be heading their way.

Please seek out our collection buckets at the event entrance and point-of-sale counters, to make your contribution count!

We’re aiming to raise $15,000 this weekend - let’s do it!

HOW TO HUSTLE Publicity tips for small business, from Esther Navarro-Orejon of The Project Agency.

INVEST IN VISUALS Brand visuals help elevate and propel a brand.

Create a varied suite of images for editorial and marketing output, and continually evolve and update these.

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE Identify your audience for every pitch, and tailor your content and communication accordingly.

RESEARCH AND PLAN Research the publications you hope to be featured in, to understand what an editor is interested in.

Create a timeline to ensure ample lead-time to approach and nurture the pitch.

BE PREPARED Have all your photography and assets ready to go, being able to respond quickly to media requests is an invaluable asset.

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS Personalise communication and ensure there is genuine integrity to the approach. Respect and build on media relationships over time, and always send a personal thankyou! @theprojectagency theprojectagency.com.au

#tdfopenhouse

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KITCHEN

Cantilever Interiors A great kitchen is at the heart of every beautiful home, and the team at Cantilever Interiors are in the business of making great kitchens.

Cantilever Interiors is a Melbourne-based business that has been designing and building handcrafted kitchens for more than a decade.

Working out of their East Brunswick showroom and studio, where everything is made on premises, co-founders Travis Dean and Charlie Wilde have built their reputation on contemporary design and technology, paired with good old-fashioned craftmanship.

Cantilever offer three unique kitchen systems, the K1, K2 and K3. Their kitchen for TDF Open House is a bold, colourful example of their popular K2 system.

‘This premium system combines two-pack paint finishes and timber veneer, stone benchtops and flush finger pull details’, explains Travis. The result is a durable, seamless finish that has endless colour flexibility – perfect for TDF Open House! It’s also got all the trimmings: integrated Miele appliances, stunning Signorino Tile Gallery terrazzo bench top, and Cantilever’s own custom sink and door handles.

The inbuilt flexibility of Cantilever’s kitchen systems makes them adaptable to any scale or setting. ‘We approached this opportunity like every project – gathering the details of the space, and working with the appliance specifications to develop the best layout,’ explains Travis. ‘Developing the palette in collaboration with The Design Files introduced some new colours, and inspired the use of terrazzo benchtops, a first for Cantilever!’

After a big few months of designing and building, Travis and his team are looking forward to revealing their kitchen at TDF Open House. ‘We find people love to interact with our displays, kitchens are like furniture, they must be used to be truly appreciated!’ Travis says. ‘We hope everyone feels at ease getting in there and opening all the drawers and cupboards.’

For Travis and his team, this project has offered a welcome opportunity to connect with the community and share their work with a new audience. ‘Creative practices can be isolating, your interaction is often limited within your industry – The Design Files busts that open, connecting people across the country’, Travis says. ‘Through this project, we hope to meet more people who, like us, value Australia’s unique aesthetic, and locally made, thoughtful design’.

Discover the K2 Kitchen and laundry Cantilever Interiors at TDF Open House.

by

@cantileverinteriors cantileverinteriors.com

GARDEN

Phillip Withers Landscape Design Phillip Withers Landscape Design is an awardwinning young design firm, creating unique outdoor spaces for both commercial and residential clients across Australia.

Graduating from RMIT with a Diploma in Arts, Phillip Withers went on to undertake a Diploma in Landscape Design and Sustainability at Swinburne University before launching his landscaping business.

Now at the helm of a small, dedicated team, Phillip aims to create functional, inspiring outdoor spaces. ‘We strive to create spaces which encourage the user to walk outside,’ Phillip explains. ‘The challenge is creating something that’s timeless and useful. Sometimes the best results are the most simple and natural.’

Entitled ‘Mountains’, the garden Phillip has created for Open House is an oasis brimming with colour and texture, as well as sculptural sandstone elements by Den Holm.

Visitors are invited to move through the garden, relax on the recycled timber decking and explore the living habitat.

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@phillip_withers phillipwithers.com

SPEAKER SERIES

This year at TDF Open House, we’ve added something new...

Conversations with inspiring minds from the worlds of art, architecture, styling, small business, social enterprise and more.

100% of proceeds from TDF TALKS will be donated to our friends at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.

Sam Davy

Tim Ross

David Flack

Stephen Baker

Fiona Killackey

The Graphic Designer and PARK Social Soccer Co. Co-founder talks starting a design-led social enterprise.

Architecture enthusiast and author Tim Ross on rekindling appreciation for Australian architecture.

Interior Designer David Flack on setting up a successful creative studio.

Artist Stephen Baker on balancing commercial work with fine art practice.

Business Coach Fiona Killackey on 5 ways to improve your small business this week.

Thursday 23rd November 12:00pm - 12:45pm

Thursday 23rd November 1:00pm - 1:45pm

Friday 24th November 12:00pm - 12:45pm

Friday 24th November 1:00pm - 1:45pm

Jeremy Wortsman

Loretta Bolotin

Natalie Turnbull

Sean Fennessy

Monique Woodward

The Jacky Winter Group Creative Director on making creative work financially viable, and building culture and community around your business.

Free to Feed Co-founder Loretta Bolotin on the challenges and successes of launching her inspiring social enterprise, and creating long-term impact.

Charting her trajectory from sculpture student to successful stylist and art director, Nat takes you through creating a signature look.

Renowned photographer Sean Fennessy shares valuable insights on navigating a freelance career behind the lens.

The architect and WOWOWA Co-founder on the not-forprofit Nightingale Housing model – a communityfocussed approach to property development.

Saturday 25th November 1:00pm - 1:45pm

Saturday 25th November 3:00pm - 3:45pm

Sunday 26th November 11:00am - 11:45am

Book your spot: thedesignfilesopenhouse.com/tdf-talks/

Sunday 26th November 1:00pm - 1:45pm

Saturday 25th November 11:00am - 11:45am

Sunday 26th November 3:00pm - 3:45pm

#tdfopenhouse

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Introducing Bilgola

by Adam Goodrum for NAU. NAU is a contemporary design brand offering furniture, lighting and accessories by a collective of Australia’s most spirited designers.

From twentieth century design classics to the icons of tomorrow.

Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Auckland www.cultdesign.com.au info@cultdesign.com.au 1300 768 626

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10/10/2017 11:31

E S S AY

On Collecting -

KAREN MCCARTNEY

I would never lay claim to the term collector.

To me that is someone who plans and curates, considers, budgets and stalks potential purchases to pad out a hole in a collection that has shape, parameters, and maybe even an end goal. I am more of your ad hoc collector – following instinct and attraction, and rarely giving thought to how the new piece will integrate with the old.

If I had to narrow my field of interest it would be objects in ceramic and chairs – you can never have too many of either. I have more chairs than they have functions…. and come to that, some are not all that functional. A recent purchase – an ancient Papua New Guinean chair, bought from the online auction of the effects of famous Australian costume designer Norma Moriceau, looks too fragile to sit in, while a contemporary piece called the Well Proven chair by James Shaw and Marjan Van Aubel, with its volcanic back, is more sculpture than seat.

Writing this piece has encouraged me to look back to see if there is any vestige of a collecting thread that holds the pieces together, and it is clear that each represents a time of life rather than the conscious desire to build a collection.

When it comes to ceramics the pattern of acquiring has been the same. When we moved here in 1998 from the UK, I learnt about Gwyn Hanssen Pigott (we ran a story on her in an early issue of Marie Claire Lifestyle, which remains one of my all-time favourites), the subtle beauty of Kirsten Coelho, Keiko Matsui and the ancient references of Alana Wilson. They all, regardless of age or provenance, behave like a family. In recent times, I have taken to buying vintage ceramics from the 1960s and 1970s, which are less beautiful and more characterful, bordering on the misshapen. What they say about me God only knows, but I think it has something to do with evolving taste, learning as you go and stretching the terms of what excites you.

Collecting is about creating your own personal field of interest, and not just following what is served up in the swirl of images that come our way. Interesting people care about something, learn and grow, and it is that knowledge that creates niche areas of expertise. The act of acquiring is, to some people I know, the thing that matters most – the chasing down of something special, the sense that they are ahead of the curve in terms of what will become valuable, or simply for the love of that unique piece that they don’t want to get away.

There is much talk about collectors being motivated by a desire to leave a legacy, and I don’t have much truck with that idea. I have seen too many auctions of pretty phenomenal collections that go to highest bidder scattered to the winds. My advice is to follow your heart, educate yourself, enjoy the process and the pieces that result from your endeavour. The most fascinating story of collecting is that of Alan and Pat Firth, a senior probation officer and a secretary who lived in a bungalow in Leeds, England and gathered, over 40 years, a pottery collection, which included pieces

by Hans Coper, that rivalled that of the V&A Museum. Mr. Wood the ceramic expert who first visited the house after the death of the owners said: ‘I now had some inkling as to what Howard Carter might have experienced when he peered into Tutankhamen’s tomb for the first time.’

Now that is a legacy.

@mccartneyk editd.com.au

Artwork by Claire Johnson @clairepony #tdfopenhouse

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Top Three Gins for 2017

ADELAIDE HILLS DISTILLERY 78 DEGREES ESTATE Produced in small batches and vapour-infused with botanicals, this is a complex and savoury gin with citrus, floral notes and spicy undertones.

RECIPE

THE WEST WINDS THE SABRE GIN An Australian expression of a traditional gin, incorporating strong undercurrents of citrus and twelve spices. The perfect gin for a Negroni.

FOUR PILLARS RARE DRY GIN This spicy, truly modern local gin captures the essence of contemporary Australian heritage.

G I V E AWAY

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WIN! Share your ultimate cocktail creation with #OpenHouseCocktails for your chance to win the amazing Tait drinks trolley featured at The Design Files Open House, plus a $250 Dan Murphy’s gift card to kick start your new home bar.

For entry details visit danmurphys.com.au/guides/open-house-cocktails

Old Fashioned Developed in the 19th Century, the Old Fashioned fits its name - the original mixed drink was the first in the history of cocktails.

The word cocktail was first used to describe a potent concoction of spirits, bitters, water and sugar. This pioneering cocktail is traditionally served in a short, round glass known as an Old Fashioned glass, after the beverage itself.

Ingredients 60ml bourbon 2 dashes of water 10ml of sugar syrup 2 dashes of bitters Orange peel twist Ice

Method Add bourbon, sugar, water and bitters to an Old Fashioned glass. Stir to combine/dissolve.

Add ice and stir again. Garnish with an orange peel twist.

Want more cocktail tips, trends and recipes?

Check out the Dan Murphy’s Cocktail Discovery Guide – find it at TDF Open House, in-store at Dan Murphy’s or online.

ADVERTISING FEATURE 2|

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New & Noteworthy Suppliers

CLAUDIA LAU A prodigious young Melbourne maker creating the most distinctiive ceramics we’ve seen this year.

JANE MCKENZIE A Sydney artist whose ceramic sculptures are informed by her background in architecture.

TAMMY KANAT A Melbourne textile artist creating distinctive circular wall hangings using wool, silk and mohair.

ARTIST PROFILE

Stephen Baker A self-taught studio artist with a formal background in design, Melbourne’s Stephen Baker is an ambitious and focussed creative. He’s also impressively prolific - this year alone has seen him complete large-scale murals across the country, as well as various private commissions.

Was there a particular concept that inspired this body of work?

Over recent years I’ve been interested in how a space or environment can be shaped to change the way one feels emotionally. I’ve, for the most part, always painted works that are of an ‘escapist’ nature, depictions of a ‘better life’, you could say, with a slight hint of irony.

Earlier this year we invited Stephen to create a major body of work for TDF Open House – a collection of 10 original paintings he has entitled ‘Leisure’. Featuring predominantly female figures within highly considered environments, this body of work hints at themes of aspiration and escapism.

What are you most looking forward to about releasing this art into the world?

I’m excited to see these works within the space to be honest, I think that’ll be the big thing for me. It’s nothing like any other showing before, so there’s something new and fresh about this, I feel.

Recognisable for their striking geometric shapes and meticulous clean lines, Stephen’s impossibly precise paintings have gathered an immense following in recent years. We recently caught up with the artist in his Collingwood studio.

You’re also part of our TDF TALKS series at the event, where you’ll be talking with Lucy about balancing commercial work with fine art practice. What do you think is key to succeeding at this balancing act?

I’ve always found that keeping a clear separation between the two is what works best. At this stage in my career I’m lucky enough to be a bit selective, and only take on projects dedicated to my art practice. But it has taken quite a few years before I felt I could do this.

What have you been up to over the past 12 months?

I’ve worked on some interesting projects, including a few larger-scale mural works. I created a large vinyl wall piece for the Claremont Quarter shopping precinct in Perth, as well as mural for the pool area at Aloft Hotel, also in Perth, which features a fun animation overlay at night.

Most recently, I had the pleasure of completing a mural in Camberwell, with a design focused on stall trading at the Sunday markets. Other than this, there have been quite a few commissioned pieces thrown in, cover art and design for The Smith Street Band, and prep work for a show in March 2018 at The Meat Markets in North Melbourne.

How would you summarise your current aesthetic?

Emotive, bold, and considered.

Can you tell us about the paintings that you’ve created for TDF Open House?

This collection of works has been created specifically for this event. Thematically, I wanted to mirror some of the ideas presented at the event, creating works that reflect a stylised, considered environment. This body of work has taken up most of my time over the past four months, I feel everything else has been put on hold, which isn’t a bad thing.

What’s something people would be surprised to know about Stephen Baker the artist?

My first design job out of university was in the Adult Industry.

What are you looking forward to next?

For the next few months, I’ll be concentrating on a show I’m developing for midMarch at The Meat Markets in North Melbourne. I’m hoping to expand on my repertoire by adding some sculptural works. It’s quite a large space so it’s going to be exciting to be putting something together on that scale. @b_a_k_e_s__b_a_k_e_s stephenbakerart.com

#tdfopenhouse

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‘An Introduction’ by Stephen Baker, 2017

@b_a_k_e_s__b_a_k_e_s

www.stephenbakerart.com

@thedesignfiles

www.thedesignfiles.net

#tdfopenhouse

Hand Picked

by David Flack

ELLA BENDRUPS I love the mix of perfect/imperfect with Ella’s piece. It has the right proportions and functionality too.

DEN HOLM Architectural, tactile and full of personality – I love Den Holm’s original creations.

ZHU OMHU This is a piece that becomes the hero object of your room – beautifully curvaceous and sculpted.

CERAMICS

SCULPTURE

Jo Wilson is a Melbourne-based artist who works with reclaimed Australian native hardwood to create her unique turned timber objects and furniture.

A balance between decorative and functional, Jo’s practice is inspired by a childhood growing up amongst the industrial landscape of her father’s injection moulding factory. Through her work, she also expresses her deep interest in addressing environmental concerns and promoting sustainability. @jowilson15 jowilson.net

FURNITURE

Oh Hey Grace!

As ceramicist Grace Brown was developing her range for TDF Open House, she became enthralled by architect Ricardo Bofill’s dreamy ‘La Muralla Roja’ housing project – Google away, you won’t be impervious either!

‘The labyrinth-like buildings, geometric stairwells, sharp lines, vivid colours and winding thoroughfares and archways – all of these elements have inspired my work and design style,’ Grace muses.

Cult Status Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, Cult have renewed their commitment to Australian design.

Known for their ever-evolving collection of international designer furniture, in recent years, Cult has invested significantly in local design. NAU is their latest offering – a remarkable in-house collection of furniture and lighting by a host of revered Australian designers, including Adam Goodrum and Adam Cornish. @cultdesignau cultdesign.com.au

glaze as well as the organic texture of the clay for allowing her ‘forms to speak for themselves’.

Whilst TDF Open House isn’t quite as expansive as Bofill’s iconic dwelling (!), Grace is intrigued to see her creations within this new and inspiring context. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing the range and all the silhouettes together within the space,’ She says. ‘It’s just so valuable to be able to share my work alongside so many other amazing artists and designers who I respect and admire.’ @ohheygrace ohheygrace.com.au

Fuelled by this unforgettable inspiration, the Northcote-based creative has used mid-fire white raku clay, and combined wheel throwing and hand building techniques to fashion a suite of functional, yet distinctively sculptural wares. ‘They are energetic and lively, paying homage to the Bauhaus and Memphis design movements, through contrasting curves and playful forms, with rigid sharp lines,’ tells Grace.

While they bear a semblance to vessels created for the ceramicist’s break-out group exhibition at Lamington Drive earlier in the year, the 28-year-old feels her output is starting to become more modular. ‘This range is clean, crisp and heavily focused on sculptural form rather than the pattern and print of my past work,’ she explains, crediting the natural white #tdfopenhouse

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Christmas Gift Guide

FOR MUM Amy Leeworthy’s one-of-a-kind ceramic vessels channel 1970’s styling, in the best possible way.

NEW TO THE SCENE

FOR DAD Erin Malloy’s chopping boards and wooden utensils strike the perfect balance of form and function.

FOR HER Mirador’s painterly printed silk scarves are on every TDF team-member’s christmas wishlist!

ART MEETS DESIGN

Meet the Maquettes Tantri Mustika

Tantri Mustika’s foray into ceramics began with finding a pottery wheel in hard rubbish. ‘It was right at the point that my whole family was trying to convince me that a career in art would be a bad idea,’ she reflects, ‘this made me realise that I had to keep going!’

Trained as a hairdresser, and after almost a decade cutting hair, Tantri was ready for a new creative outlet when she accidentally ‘found clay’.

Contemporary with slightly retro feel, Tantri’s work totally fit the brief for our TDF Open House event, and more than holds it own amongst a house filled with work by some of Australia’s more established makers and designers. ‘I can’t wait to see how my work translates within the space,’ she says.

Although relatively new to her craft, Tantri has recently taken the leap and left her day job to pursue ceramics full-time.

‘I guess the main thing is to keep going with a forward momentum,’ she says.

We’re all rooting for you, Tantri! @tantrimustikaceramics www.tantrimustikaceramics.com

Melbourne artist Maddie Sharrock creates concrete sculptural works that are evocative of ancient relics, yet distinctively contemporary.

Can you tell us about your exclusive range for TDF Open House?

Over the last few years, I’ve developed a technique of layering coloured concrete. My new work references ancient motifs and symbols within modern sculptural forms. More recently, I’ve used an unconventional process of sculpting using CAD software linked to CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines to create polystyrene moulds.

For TDF Open House, I’ve made a series of maquettes, small-scale sculptures that continue on with the themes explored in my earlier work. The three shapes are titled ‘Horsey’, ‘Budgie’ and ‘Percy’ – sculptures representing the head of a horse, bird and person respectively.

The three-head series references the Moai heads on Easter Island.

No doubt my heroes from the Modernist era, sculptors Barbara Hepworth and Constantin Brancusi, would have also found inspiration in the scale, weight and balance of these relics. I’ve drawn my colour palette from the wild West Coast of Tasmania, a landscape I fell in love with duing my recent residency.

‘I think the thing that really sucked me into ceramics was the idea of permanence,’ the maker explains. ‘A well-made piece of pottery can last generations, which is very different to a haircut that grows out in a matter of weeks.’

Was there a particular moment that inspired this style of work?

The concept for this new work came from a trip to New York during which I became fascinated with sculptural works in the city’s famous galleries (comparing old and new), as well as the Art Deco reliefs in the downtown Financial District.

Now working out of her sunny studio in Preston, Tantri uses ‘pretty non-traditional techniques’ to create her work, mostly building pieces by hand rather than throwing them on a wheel.

Why are you excited about being involved in this pop-up?

Its clichéd but true: one thing always leads to another. I suspect that being involved in TDF Open House could lead to many ‘anothers’.

This has been my experience working with the team in the past.

You could never tell that the range of playful, terazzo-inspired ceramics is Tantri’s very first collection. With sweet product names like the ‘Cheers Big Ears’ and ‘Pot Belly’ vases, the light-hearted and colourful assembly of ceramic vases, pots and planters have a uniquely joyful quality. ‘My most recent body of work is an exploration of the never-ending range of colours and shapes found in terrazzo flooring,’ she explains.

Plus, working all year in a workshop is quite isolating – so summer events like these are a great opportunity to meet and crosspollinate with other creatives.

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It’s a thrill to see the community get around Australian art, craft and design; and as a creative, it gives you great hope for your own future and what you can achieve in Australia.

@maddiesharrock maddiesharrock.com

FOR HIM Sydney designer Henry Wilson’s weighty brass ‘vide poche’ vessels are the perfect bedside clutter-catcher.

FOR KIDS Such Great Heights create timeless, handcrafted childrens’ toys, like this new A-frame dolls house.

FOR ALL PARK Social Soccer Co. donates one of their fun, graphic soccer balls to a child in need, for every one sold.

FOR YOU Coloured glassware is the table trend of summer 2017.

We love Maison Balzac’s perfect translucent palette.

E N T E RTA I N I N G

Hostess with the mostess -

LISA MARIE CORSO I don’t go to the gym but have excellent biceps. My secret? I cook for people a lot. Playing host over the years has led to muscular development that I didn’t even know was possible, because preparing for a dinner party is just one big work out.

Arriving at the grocery store, this list becomes my spiritual guide. I strictly buy only what’s on it, following a shameful period of coming home with baby vegetables and exotic fruits with names I couldn’t pronounce.

A gym circuit is all about interval training, and so is cooking for a group of people: once it’s all done you feel great, but before you get to the finish line you need to sweat it out. This is why when I start prepping for a dinner party I like to think of my second favourite ‘O word’, after Oprah, and get Organised.

I never use a shopping trolley, instead carrying everything from the shop to my car to my apartment. This is a great time to work on upper arm strength without even knowing you’re doing it. I thought about investing in one of those tartan shopping carts but I’m still grieving over an incident where I witnessed a stranger’s cart get caught on a tram track at the Queen Victoria Market. No oranges were spared that day.

Step one is writing a shopping list. Immediately after I write it, I take a photo of it. Nine out of 10 lists never make it out of the house, and I like to reserve my pre-dinner party tears for onion cutting, not supermarket meltdowns.

Back at home, I start chopping, sautéing and roasting, depending on the meal. Once the cooking is underway I must confront my number one domestic nemesis – the mop – and give the house a quick spruce. I know I’ve a done a good

job cleaning the floor when I feel a burn run up my hamstring.

Now that the house is clean and food is almost done, I think about ambience. I’ll make a playlist, trim flowers, set the table and flick the downlight switches until I’m happy with a lighting configuration that encourages my guests to openly gorge without shame. I call this the warm down interval.

It’s about this time that the doorbell rings. Drinks are served on arrival, and dinner is dished helpyourself-style on the table. I begin the night’s festivities by carving up a Maggie Beer verjuice soaked roast chicken with my sleeves rolled up and biceps pulsating. It’s show time. @lisamariecorso lisamariecorso.com

#tdfopenhouse

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SMALL BUSINESS TIPS

POP UP! -

FIONA KILLACKEY Is a pop-up event right for your brand? If you’re looking to grow your audience, increase brand awareness, understand what customers want, fire up your creative juices and have a bit of fun along the way, then, YES. It’s definitely worth considering for your 2018 marketing plan.

Being a part of a pop-up event is one the best ways to meet a whole bunch of awesome people in real life, while simultaneously gaining invaluable insight into what consumers want (and don’t want – #awks) from your business. Whether it’s being part of a collaborative event like TDF Open House, or creating your very own pop-up store, testing the market in a safe, relatively cost-effective way can provide insight to future-proof your business – on and offline.

‘For us, hosting a pop-up store with Hotel Hotel was a great way for our brand to reach a wider audience and gain new customers,’ says Phoebe Munro of Pan After, who created a one-day pop-up store within Canberra’s Hotel Hotel this past October. ‘It was also great to see our products in a different environment.

Working and collaborating with other creative businesses is definitely inspiring.’

Need a little more convincing? Here’s five reasons why pop-up events are great for small business, and something every small retail operator should consider. @mydailybuisnesscoach fionakillackey.com

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Collect Feedback

Up the Urgency

Test for Less

Get Creative

Reach New Customers

One of the best reasons to get involved in a pop-up event, is to see how people engage with your product #IRL. Watch their faces as they pick up items, listen to their comments as they peruse your collections and understand the way they interact with your brand.

Are people all touching the same thing? Are they asking common questions (which you can then find a place to answer online and via social media)? Hosting a pop-up or collaborating on one allows you to see reactions, gauge interest and experiment with brand information to entice, engage and convert customers. This is invaluable in creating cut-through content and marketing campaigns.

Studies show when people have too much choice, they tend not to act (Google ‘The Jam Experiment’ by Sheena Lyengar). They also show that when you instill a sense of urgency in people, they often react… quickly. Ever bought something as it was only reduced for ‘the next 24 hours’ or participated in an End-of-Financial-Year sale?

Urgency impacts intention.

Creating a pop-up allows you to up the urgency factor for your brand, drawing in an engaged audience that knows this event is short-term only. Brands like MAC and Gorman used the urgency tactic earlier this year to drive short-term in-store sales (with Lipstick Day and Love is Love activities, respectively).

Considering opening a bricksand-mortar store or at a new location? A pop-up event allows you to test what works for a fraction of the cost of a permanent store. Whether you’re testing an upcoming product or how people interact with your product, doing so within the restricted time frame of a pop-up is cost-effective solution that can result in information to support future business investments. In their early years, US glasses company Warby Parker took a ‘Class Trip’ – a pop-up within an old school bus that enabled them to test engagement and style preferences in many cities.

This also drove awareness, social engagement, and user-generated content (Insta-shares galore).

Changing up the fit-out of your retail store can be costly, especially if you’re not exactly sure of what you want to create or what most attracts your audience. Hosting a pop-up event allows you to get creative with fit-out, design, visual merchandising and stock (especially if you plan to collaborate). For online brands, a pop-up is a chance to test if the site merchandising you’re doing is the best way to group or categorise collections.

You might even decide to call attention to your online store within your pop-up by creating a ‘Trending Online’ area that you can change depending on what’s selling online (Google ‘Birchbox Soho Store Top 10 Boxes’).

The ultimate goal with any pop-up experience is to increase brand awareness and drive sales. One of the quickest ways to do this is by expanding your customer base. A pop-up event, if supported well through press activity, social media and email marketing, attracts new audiences who may not know about your brand.

Depending on its location and time of year, you might engage with tourists, people visiting from interstate or those who don’t tend to do most of their shopping online.

The creativity in your designs can create media buzz that translates to an increase in web traffic, social mentions and foot traffic to your popup event.

#tdfopenhouse

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SUPPLIERS

ABBY SEYMOUR Meticulously crafted jewellery and homewares made in Melbourne using ceramics and precious metals.

ANEAU Modern textiles celebrating traditional techniques and social enterprise in deveoping countries.

AMY LEEWORTHY Potter, artist and designer Amy Leeworthy makes work in tonal terracotta hues, with a distinctly 70’s feel.

ANNA VARENDORFF A Melbourne-based artist known for her striking brass vases, sculptures and jewellery.

ARMADILLO & CO High quality handmade rugs supporting traditional skills and enterprise in developing countries.

A showcase of over 60 Australian makers, designers and artists, all under one roof.

KIRSTEN PERRY Handcrafted functional vessels which embrace the Japanese concept of Wabisabi, imperfection, and serendipity.

LIGHTLY An extensive range of contemporary homewares and functional objects, designed in Melbourne.

LOUISE KYRIAKOU Charming, stylised handcrafted ceramic faces, vessels and wall decorations.

MADDIE SHARROCK Unique cement sculptures in marbled, muted, natural colours, akin to relics of the future.

MAIIKE Seriously cute soft toys, made in Melbourne from carefully sourced secondhand knits.

NICOLETTE JOHNSON The Brisbane-based ceramic artist offers a contemporary take on ancient forms.

OH HEY GRACE Minimal, yet distinctively sculptural, playful ceramic vessels, inspired by the Bauhaus and Memphis design movements.

PAN AFTER Mother and daughter team Mandy and Phoebe Munro focus on handcrafted, fair trade products sourced from around the world.

PARK SOCIAL SOCCER CO. A Social enterprise based in Melbourne and New York.

For every one of their bright, graphic soccer balls sold, they donatebanother to a child in need.

PETA ARMSTRONG The Barwon Heads-based maker creates functional ceramic objects with a contemporary yet distinctly rustic, earthy aesthetic.

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SUPPLIERS

BONNIE AND NEIL This small Brunswick-based studio creates beautiful handcrafted textiles and home furnishings.

CAPRA Husband-and-wife duo, Tom Wilson and Bianca Lambert create unique plant vessels and vibrant home furnishings.

CLAUDIA LAU With impeccable design instincts, young Melbourne ceramicist Claudia Lau makes simple yet stunning kitchen wares.

DEN HOLM Stonemason Steve Clark (aka Den Holm) is a maker of art and furniture that is simultaneously classic and contemporary.

DOUGLAS & BEC This New Zealand-based father-and-daughter duo, design and make lighting and furniture in elegant, linear forms.

ELECTRIC CONFETTI Melbourne-based Natalie Jarvis specialises in a range of fun, contemporary neon lights, reimagined as artwork for the home or workspace.

ELLA BENDRUPS An emerging Melbourne maker who creates many of her pieces using the traditional Japanese ‘kurinuki’ clay carving technique.

ERIN MALLOY Handcrafted chopping boards and timber utensils created entirely using salvaged, chemical-free wood.

GHOST WARES Melbourne-based Matthew Vrettas and Stephanie Yap of Ghost Wares create timeless, minimalist ceramics with distinctive silhouettes.

HAPPY VALLEY Our favourite local book seller, Chris Crouch of Happy Valley, has curated our Open House book selection.

HENRY WILSON A selection of timeless, sculptural objects and lighting in solid bronze by Sydney designer Henry Wilson.

HOLLY MACDONALD Wonderfully wonky, organic ceramic forms, handcrafted and handglazed in Sydney.

JANE MCKENZIE With a background in architecture, Sydney ceramicist Jane McKenzie explores bold geometric forms.

JO WILSON Melbourne-made sculptural turned timber objects, inspired by industry and sustainability.

KATIA CARLETTI Rustic, textured ceramic tableware and vessels, made by hand in Adelaide.

KERRYN LEVY Distinctly curvaceous, sculptural ceramic vessels made by hand in Adelaide.

MAISON BALZAC A collection of perfumed candles, coloured glassware and objects created in Sydney, Australia.

MARK DOUGLASS Melbourne glass designer Mark Douglass creates oneof-a-kind handblown glass lighting and objects.

MILLIGRAM Teaming up with designer Beci Orpin for their debut in-house range, Melbourne stationery purveyors Milligram make fun, functional paper goods and accessories.

MIRADOR Lauren Elise Cassar is the creator of local accessories label, Mirador. Her painterly silk twill scarves are hand printed and stitched in Melbourne.

MR DRAPER Alistair Birrell’s range of high quality, ethically-produced linen wares come in the perfect palette of earthy tones.

RARA STUDIO Inspired by the simple beauty of everyday, Aliça Rose Tibbs makes a delightfully imperfect collection of handpinched ceramic objects.

ROSS GARDAM Melbourne designed and manufactured contemporary furniture and modern feature lighting.

SAGE AND CLARE A vibrant, eclectic range of soft furnshings and homewares, designed in Melbourne and made ethically around the world.

ST ALBANS The Melbourne-based, family owned textiles business has been producing woven blankets in our city since 1951.

@thedesignfiles

#tdfopenhouse

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SUPPLIERS

SOPHIE HARLE Perfectly imperfect ceramic plates, vessels and tableware, thrown on the wheel in Sophie’s Brunswick studio.

STUDIO KYSS Hailing from South Korea, Kenny Yong-soo Son is a Sydney-based object designer and maker.

TAMMY KANAT The Melbourne-based textile artist creates unique woven wall hangings using merino wool, silk and mohair.

TANTRI MUSTIKA Putting a modern spin on traditional terrazzo tiling, Tantri hand builds colourful one-of-a-kind ceramics.

TWENTYONE FIFTEEN Designed and made in Bondi Beach, This label creates charming handmade children’s decor and accessories.

WINGNUT & CO Asuka Mew and Anna MillerYeaman make tableware, vases and planters in their North Melbourne studio.

Their beautifully humble ceramics bear the influence of Asuka’s Japanese roots.

ZHU OHMU Melbourne-based ceramicist Rose Wei creates striking, sculptural decorative vessels, created entirely using coiled clay.

SANDS MADE High quality timber kitchen wares, designed in Melbourne

by Robbie Sands.

SKINNY WOLF Leila Sanderson creates lovingly crafted homewares, soft furnishings and one-of-akind ribbon rosettes with a rich sense of nostalgia.

SOAP CLUB Soap Club makes natural bar soaps, liquid castile soap and essential oil soy candles in their Melbourne studio. Vegan, palm oil free and cruelty free.

SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS Timeless, handcrafted children’s toys and tents, designed in Byron Bay by husband-and-wife team, Ryan O’Connor and Jo Fahy.

SUNDAY GANIM Modern baby Blankets made in Egyptian cotton and knitted locally in Melbourne.

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ART

The Design Files champions original Australian art week in, week out.

Here, we’ve curated a diverse selection of original artwork by 15 of our favourite established and emerging Australian artists.

ANDREA SHAW Torquay-based Andrea Shaw is a multidisciplinary artist whose work draws on relationships between colour, pattern, surface and space.

DAVID NEALE David Neale is a Melbourne artist and jeweler who works with painted steel to create layered collections of organic shapes.

MARK ALSWEILER New Zealand-born, Sydneybased artist Mark Alsweiler creates whimsical figurative sculptures and acrylic-onwood artworks.

@thedesignfiles

BELYNDA HENRY NSW-based painter Belynda Henry creates layered, painterly works, reflecting on memories and inspired by the Australian landscape.

ELIZABETH BARNETT Elizabeth Barnett’s joyful, botanical paintings capture the quiet beauty in ordinary moments. She works from her home and studio in the Macedon Ranges.

RACHEL CASTLE Rachel Castle is an artist, designer and endlessly versatile creative. With an intuitive understanding of colour and form, Rachel works on both paper and canvas, combining bold, graphic shapes with washed out, semitranslucent layers of colour and texture, and re-occuring floral motifs.

BOBBY CLARK Scottish-born artist Bobby Clark explores symmetry, geometry and the balance of negative space in her distinctive works on paper.

FRED FOWLER Fred Fowler is a Melbournebased contemporary artist whose paintings draws on themes of colonisation, immigration, and globalisation.

STEPHEN BAKER Known for his distinctive murals and paintings on canvas and board, the Melbourne-based artist champions a restrained colour palette, pared-back geometric shapes and bold outlines.

CAROLINE WALLS In her ongoing exploration of the female form, artist Caroline Walls creates work that is both soft and striking.

HANNAH NOWLAN VCA graduate Hannah Nowlan is a versatile, prolific young artist who paints abstract forms in rich, earthy palettes.

SEAN MEILAK The Melbourne-based artist creates intriguing sculptures and works on paper, drawing influence from ancient Roman architecture, as well as modern art and design movements.

CLAIRE JOHNSON Port Macquarie-based artist Claire Johnson creates lively illustrative paintings that explore form, shape and structure.

KIATA MASON Kiata Mason is a Sydneybased artist. Her still life paintings depict richly layered rooms, tabletop scenes, and collections of objects that evoke nostalgic memories.

EMMA LIPSCOME Emma Lipscombe is a Perth-based artist who creates striking mixed media works using tesselated timber blocks and distinctive handpainted colour combinations.

#tdfopenhouse

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To celebrate this year’s Open House, Dulux are showcasing five colours selected by Lucy from the Dulux Colour Trends 2018. We invite you to immerse yourself in the uplifting world of colour and discover how to transform the essence and mood of your home.

Explore the Dulux Colour Trends 2018 at www.dulux.com.au/tdfopenhouse

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