The Design Files Talks (The Design Files)

In the final episode of our sustainability series, Momentum Energy’s managing director Lisa Chiba helps us understand how Australia will make the transition from fossil fuels to renewables! 

As the managing director of one of Australia’s ‘greenest’ energy retailers, Lisa breaks down some of the challenges facing our energy sector and shares how we can help make a difference — in addition to saving some money on your power bill. 

You can read the full story on this episode here, and visit Momentum Energy's website here to learn more.

Follow us at @thedesignfiles and subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don’t miss a thing. Thank you so much for listening!

Building a successful brand is no mean feat, but lawyer-turned-entrepreneur Alyce Tran knows a thing or two.

After co-founding the wildly popular accessories brand The Daily Edited, she’s since gone on to work for influencer marketing platform LTK and you’ve probably heard of her side hustle, In The Roundhouse — the tableware brand known for its playful plates, cutlery and tablescaping accessories.

In this episode, Alyce shares how In The Roundhouse began in 2018, how her products spark joy in people's everyday lives, and he her best business advice for budding entrepreneurs! 

Read the article featuring the highlights from this interview over at The Design Files here, and shop In The Roundhouse's online store here. You can follow Alyce on Instagram at @alyce_tran.

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 at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

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

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 Bangalow recently to chat about the next chapter in her journey.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

Melbourne interior designer Ruby Shields and her carpenter husband Patrick join us to talk about the five-year renovation of their first home in Mount Evelyn!

The couple bought the house in 2018 (that had been left half-renovated by the previous owner) and have been working on it ever since. They share how this journey inspired Ruby’s to land her dream job at design studio WOWOWA, the struggles of renovating while working full time, and how they styled it with a mix of second-hand and designer furniture.

Take a look inside their wonderful creative house and here, and follow Ruby on Instagram @rubyshields_designs. 

Follow us at @thedesignfiles and subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don’t miss a thing. Thank you so much for listening!

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 Broadsheet Italian cookbook, and Broadsheet Kitchen – a unique new restaurant concept, which launched just this week.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast/

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-jeremy-mcleod/

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

Hello and WELCOME to The Design Files first ever podcast!

TDF Talks is a fortnightly podcast from The Design Files, Australia’s most popular design blog.

You may have heard of (or even attended) our speaker series in Melbourne, TDF Talks. This podcast is an extension of those events, hosted by our founder/editor/boss lady Lucy Feagins, in conversation with trailblazing Australian creatives from the worlds of design, art, craft, architecture, styling, image-making, and more.

First up, we’re thrilled to kick the series off with one of Melbourne’s best known creatives, someone we’ve referred to as ‘the doyenne of Melbourne's creative scene - Beci Orpin.

We are an ENHANCED podcast. So if you listen to TDF TALKS using the Overcast or Pocket Casts apps, you will see images and links in your player while you listen! Alternatively, all the links mentioned can be found at http://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

• You can subscribe to TDF Talks on Apple Podcasts, or Download the episode via Overcast.

Thanks so much for joining us!

Since launching in 2019, Baina has taken the humble towel from a utilitarian textile to a must-have design product with a cult following, including A-list celebrities like  Cindy Crawford and Dakota Fanning.

Even if you don’t know Baina by name, we bet you’ve spotted their checkerboard towels at your local beach, or in some of your favourite bathroom inspo photos. 

In this episode, founders and childhood best friends Bailey Meredith and Anna Fahey share how they used their backgrounds in the fashion industry to elevate the everyday ritual of bathing in their bestselling designs! 

Read the article on this interview over at The Design Files here, and visit Baina's website to shop their collections.

Been wondering how you can save money on your energy bills? In this episode of our sustainability series, chemical engineer turned energy advisor Tim Forcey tells us everything we need to know about improving the efficiency of the average Australian home! 

Tim is the founder of the popular Facebook group My Efficient Electric Home (MEEH) that’s about to welcome its 100,000th member, and he reveals his practical tips for reducing your energy consumption for the benefit of your wallet, health, and the environment.  

You can find a written recap of this episode on our website here and you can find out more about Tim's services here.

Follow us at @thedesignfiles and subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don’t miss a thing. Thank you so much for listening!

Donna Hay is a household name both here and overseas, having edited her self-titled magazine for 17 years, reaching subscribers in 82 countries around the world. Over the past 20 years, she has also authored 27 best-selling cookbooks, selling over six million copies worldwide, and has hosted TV series screened in over 17 countries.
It was such a pleasure to chat with Donna about the incredible rise of her brand over the past 20 years. We learnt that Donna actually isn’t a big goal setter, nor much of a forward-planner... which really surprised us!
In this conversation, Donna shares her thoughts on how it felt to close her magazine last year, after 100 issues and 17 successful years. We discuss the wellness industry, the future of food, and so much more. We really hope you enjoy this conversation!

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast.

Tyrone Wright, otherwise known at Rone, is a bit of an enigma. This isn't all that surprising, considering the multifaceted creative cut his teeth as a street artist, who are pretty good at keeping quiet behind-the-scenes while their public-facing work does all the talking.

Over the past few years, though, Rone has taken his projects to the next level. After his epic RONE Empire project earlier this year, it doesn’t feel totally accurate to describe him as simply an artist, or a street artist. He’s a brilliantly ambitious and dynamic creative, with a knack for making the impossible happen!

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast.

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/tdftalks-kristinakarlsson-kikkik/

Welcome back to The Design Files’s podcast TDF Talks, and our new 4-part series on renovating!

We kick things off with a chat between our founder and host Lucy Feagins and art director, Annie Portelli — who’s taken on a massive DIY home renovation in the last two years. Annie shares how she and her husband Simon ‘accidentally’ fell into renovating their Melbourne home themselves, the budget mishaps, and what she would do differently if she had her time over again…

They’ve finally moved into the half-renovated property (which looks amazing!) and you can see it in the full story on our website here!

To see more of Annie’s renovation journey, find her on Instagram @annieportelli. You can also see our feature of her beloved first apartment here.

Follow us at @thedesignfiles and subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don’t miss a thing. Thank you so much for listening!

Jefa Greenaway is a Wailwan/Kamilaroi man, and he’s the first architect of an indigenous background to be registered in Victoria. He runs his own practice, Greenaway Architects, where he leads a team of 10 people. he’s also the Co-founder of Indigenous Architecture and Design Victoria (IADV), and he’s an academic and a lecturer at the University of Melbourne.

In this conversation, Jefa discusses the importance of indigenous participation in the Australian architecture and design community, and the great opportunities that exist to incorporate Indigenous wisdom and ideas into the modern Australian built environment.

'We are all connected to the oldest continuing living culture in the world - so why wouldn't we seek to look at the strength and the opportunity that that can bring?’ - Jefa Greenaway.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

Voice actor Sarah Aubrey is a bit of an accidental expert in sustainability, who started posting educational videos on Instagram after being astonished by how much she saved when she got off the gas and turned her draughty old home all-electric. Now with more than 68k followers, she's on a mission to educate others to do the same! 

In this episode, Sarah shares how much she spent retrofitting her house, how she's already earning back the investment, and why she's so passionate about electric vehicles.

Read the article featuring the highlights from this episode here, and follow Sarah at @electrify_this.

Follow us at @thedesignfiles or subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don't miss a thing.

This episode of TDF talks is brought to you by Momentum Energy.

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 Australian Pavilion at the 2013 Venice Biennale, and has been a member of the International Council of the Museum of Modern Art in New York since 1973. And in 2008, she was acknowledged as a Member of the Order of Australia.

Despite these many accolades, many of us know her best as the wife and professional partner of Harry Seidler, and director of architectural firm Seidler and associates – which continues to operate to this day.

It was truly an honour to meet Penelope, and a conversation that I certainly won’t forget! I’m really glad we recorded it for you!

Recorded at a LIVE event at Fisher & Paykel's Experience Centre in Sydney on July 5th, 2019.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

Have you ever lived in a house that just wouldn’t stay warm, or a place that felt like a perpetual sauna in summer? Passive Houses are all about solving these problems before the home is even built, and using as little energy as possible to do so.

In today’s episode, we speak to certified passive house builder and MVH Constructions founder Mark van Haandel who talks us through everything you need to know about this voluntary building standard — which uses 90 per cent less energy than a typical home! 

Read the article featuring the highlights from this episode here, and find out more about MVH Constructions here, and explore the resources on the Passivhaus Association here. 

Follow us at @thedesignfiles or subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don't miss a thing.

This episode of TDF talks is brought to you by Momentum Energy.

Hello and WELCOME to The Design Files podcast!

TDF Talks is a fortnightly podcast from Australia’s most popular design blog, hosted by founder/editor Lucy Feagins in conversation with trailblazing Australian creatives from the worlds of design, art, craft, architecture, styling, image-making, and more.

For our fifth episode, we chat with The Big Group co-founder and Real Housewives of Melbourne star Chyka Keebaugh! She reflects on the incredible growth of this business she founded with her husband 28 years ago, as well as her beautiful new book 'Chyka Home', and life after reality TV.

We are an ENHANCED podcast. So if you listen to TDF TALKS using the Overcast or Pocket Casts apps, you will see images and links in your player while you listen! Alternatively, all the links mentioned can be found at http://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

• You can subscribe to TDF Talks on Apple Podcasts, or Download the episode via Overcast.

Thanks so much for joining us!

Hello and THANKS so much for listening to TDF Talks!

TDF Talks is a fortnightly podcast from Australia’s most popular design blog, hosted by founder/editor Lucy Feagins in conversation with trailblazing Australian creatives from the worlds of design, art, craft, architecture, styling, image-making, and more.

For our sixth episode, we chat to Lucy Folk – the founder and creative director behind cult jewellery and fashion label, Lucy Folk! Now operating a global business with 25 staff and 44 stockists worldwide, Lucy opens up about the incredible growth of her Melbourne-born brand, her new life in Paris, and, how Beyoncé ended up wearing her earrings!

• We are an ENHANCED podcast. So if you listen to TDF TALKS using the Overcast or Pocket Casts apps, you will see images and links in your player while you listen! Alternatively, all the links mentioned can be found at http://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

Thanks so much for joining us!

When furniture makers Al and Imogen Roberts found themselves priced out of Torquay’s real estate market, they decided to buy a block of land and build their sustainable dream home. 

Al is a former carpenter and Imo is a designer with a background in digital marketing, and it’s taken them almost three years to create their timber-lined family home from the ground up! They reveal the challenges of this ambitious project, the hidden costs that come with new builds, and why they decided to start from scratch rather than renovate. 

See their (almost) finished home in the full story here, and follow them on Instagram at @al_and_imo or @the_good_day_house for more updates. 

Follow us at @thedesignfiles and subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don’t miss a thing. Thank you so much for listening! 

See more about Ngarrimili here: https://www.ngarrimili.org.au/. 

See more about Strong Brother Strong Sister here: https://www.strongbrotherstrongsister.com/.

Read our 'Family' story with Cormach, Coco, Waari and Winnie here: https://thedesignfiles.net/2020/08/family-cormache-evans-coco-eke/

This episode was brought to you by Nelson Alexander Real Estate. See more about them here:  https://www.nelsonalexander.com.au/

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, Ostro, in 2013, with a focus on sharing beautiful, yet uncomplicated food, with simple ingredients. Julia caught the attention of a few publishers – and in 2017, her first book, entitled Ostro was released. It’s received accolades both here and abroad, with Jamie Oliver calling it ‘A Truly brilliant first book!’.

I caught up with her recently to talk all about her rise to foodie fame as well as book two, which is currently in-the-works – she had so much wisdom to share!!

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/2018/09/tdftalks-juliabusuttilnishimura-ostro

The magazine industry around the world, but particularly in Australia, is a notoriously hard market to succeed in. So when someone has created not one, but TWO successful publications, you know it's about more than just a bit of good fortune.

Lou Bannister is one-half of the brains behind Frankie magazine, and more recently, Lunch Lady magazine, an indie darling beloved by parents all over! In this episode of TDF Talks, Lucy chats with Lou about following her intuition, building community, and having integrity at the heart of every decision.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast.

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 aesthetic.

We caught up at Kara's idyllic shack on Stradbroke Island to chat about her meandering career path, the incredible growth of her business, and what’s coming next.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

Find out more about YSG Studio here: https://ysg.studio/

See Yasmine's excellent Bondi apartment here: https://thedesignfiles.net/2021/09/homes-yasmine-ghoniem-bondi/

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 Mercedes me Store Melbourne, it comes with a little language warning!

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

In the final episode of our four-part renovating series, serial renovators and The Block favourites Josh and Jenna Densten talk about the incredible transformation of their 1800s heritage homestead in regional Victoria! They reveal the challenges of restoring a run-down property (which they found on Facebook Marketplace!), how their family has found living in a shed during the renovation, and the hidden costs they uncovered in the process.

After almost two years it's finally coming together, and you can take a look inside their finished rooms of their charming country home in this article here!

Keep up with Josh and Jenna on Instagram at @joshandjenna, and find more on their business Plan Proofing here!

Follow us at @thedesignfiles and subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don’t miss a thing. Thank you so much for listening!

Hello and WELCOME to The Design Files podcast!

TDF Talks is a fortnightly podcast from Australia’s most popular design blog, hosted by our founder/editor Lucy Feagins, in conversation with trailblazing Australian creatives from the worlds of design, art, craft, architecture, styling, image-making, and more.

For our fourth episode, we share our chat legendary interior designer David Flack. He's filming with us in Milan at the Milan Furniture Fair this week (!!), and so we thought it was the perfect time to share his uber inspiring TDF Talk, recorded live at The Design Files Open House 2017.

We are an ENHANCED podcast. So if you listen to TDF TALKS using the Overcast or Pocket Casts apps, you will see images and links in your player while you listen! Alternatively, all the links mentioned can be found at http://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

• You can subscribe to TDF Talks on Apple Podcasts, or Download the episode via Overcast.

Thanks so much for joining us!

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 have the opportunity to chat with Tony earlier this month, and capture this inspiring podcast conversation!

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

Louise Olsen is a true icon of the Australian design industry. Not only is she the daughter of legendary artist John Olsen, but she is also the co-founder of Dinosaur Designs and a formidable artist in her own right. 

In this conversation with host Lucy Feagins, Louise talks about her creative upbringing with two painter parents, the humble beginnings of Dinosaur Designs, and the ways she’s seen the industry shift in the last few decades.

Tamara DiMattina is passionate about promoting low-waste, sustainable living. So much so, that she actually hasn’t bought anything new for more than 20 years — aside from food and the occasional personal hygiene essentials. Instead, she’s been shopping for her clothing, shoes, furniture, and (literally) everything else, second hand! 

In this episode, Tamara shares how she founded the annual Buy Nothing New Month, The New Joneses, and her journey to change people's attitudes about excessive consumerism.

Learn more about Tamara's work in the full story on The Design Files here, and head to The New Jones website to watch their free episodes on sustainability.

Follow us at @thedesignfiles or subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don't miss a thing.

This episode of TDF talks is brought to you by Momentum Energy.

Pip Newell was still at university when she accidentally started Curated Spaces after re-selling some dining chairs to a local Facebook group with great success. While she was getting by on a mish-mash of nannying and hospitality jobs on the side of a photography degree, the online world had quietly heralded a new age for vintage furniture. With a natural flair for styling and a sincere joy for hunting the internet for new finds, Pip would go on to completely redefine the vintage furniture selling space with the power of social media.

Now, her platform is a nation-wide dealership with over 120,000 followers (including Ariana Grande!) and a network of sellers all around the country. In this episode, Pip talks with TDF’s managing editor (and her old housemate!) Sally Tabart about the past, present and future of the Curated Spaces universe.

Hello and WELCOME to The Design Files podcast!

TDF Talks is a fortnightly podcast from Australia’s most popular design blog, hosted by our founder/editor Lucy Feagins, in conversation with trailblazing Australian creatives from the worlds of design, art, craft, architecture, styling, image-making, and more.

For our third episode, we chat to one of Melbourne’s best known and most successful fashion designers. In a career spanning almost 20 years, Lisa Gorman has been at the helm of the Gorman brand. She launched the business in 1999 and now the company has 39 stores across Australia and New Zealand.

We are an ENHANCED podcast. So if you listen to TDF TALKS using the Overcast or Pocket Casts apps, you will see images and links in your player while you listen! Alternatively, all the links mentioned can be found at http://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

• You can subscribe to TDF Talks on Apple Podcasts, or Download the episode via Overcast.

Thanks so much for joining us!

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-stylist-podcast

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 juggle.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

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 runs, and why she's doing social media her way.

This podcast episode is live NOW!

Download Overcast for bonus pictures and links, or find them at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast/.

Jenna Holmes wears many hats. Despite having been both a photographer, a PE teacher and an Uber driver in previous lives, right now, her career revolves around plants... and pasta! As the co-founder of plant styling business Plant Mama, and Pasta Mama pasta club, Jenna is a prolific, and impossibly versatile creative.

Both Jenna's businesses live on one colourful website, which she built herself, using Squarespace. In this podcast conversation, Jenna talks candidly about her experience of building not one but two successful businesses online - her energy is infectious!

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 into freelance creative work.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast/

Grace Dlabik is the founder of BE. ONE Creative (a creative agency) and BE. Collective - two hubs in the BE. ecosystem that exists to empower and platform creatives of colour. As well as being a creative director, community leader, mentor and advocate, Grace is also a mother. She and her son Elijah have a formidable partnership, and their relationship has been the guiding force in her life for nearly two decades. Elijah is a wheelchair user and in the 18 years of his life, they have never lived in a home that suits his accessibility needs.

Her fight for greater awareness and action around Australia’s accessible housing crisis has gathered momentum, speed and legions of people in the past year, and has now made its way to the Victorian parliament.

In this episode, Lucy talks to Grace about building a creative community, being vulnerable in the public eye and tackling the country’s accessible housing crisis.

EPISODE LINKS:

Grace, Morganne + Elijah's 'Family' story on The Design Files

Grace's public call-out for a house that meets Elijah's accessibility needs

'Safe Passage to Reclaim and Revive the Memory of Concealed Culture' at the Sydney Biennale, 2020

Courtney Adamo has renovated houses before, but nothing compared to the process of designing and building her family’s beach home. She shares the highs and lows of the design and build process — plus what she'd do differently if building a house again.
See images of the home and read the interview highlights here.

Follow Courtney at @courtneyadamo

Follow us at @thedesignfiles or subscribe to our weekly newsletter

This episode of TDF talks is brought to you by Koala. Head to Koala to check out their full range of Australian-designed furniture at down-to-earth prices!
 

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 as host of Creative Mornings' Melbourne Chapter, he charts building community around his businesses, expanding to the US, and what he's focussing on next!

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

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 to launching The Design Files in 2008, juggling business and motherhood, and everything in-between.

Ken Done is one of Australia's most well-known artists, and an absolute creative icon in this country.

Last week Ken was in Melbourne as a judge for the TDF Design Awards (where he gave a particularly memorable speech!), and the morning after Lucy visited him in his suite at the Adelphi Hotel in Flinders Lane to record this podcast. In their conversation Ken reflects on his long career, how art in Australia has evolved, and what he's learned about the business of being an artist.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast.

In this episode of our renovating series, we chat with Sydney-based interior designer Jono Fleming to hear about how he recently transformed a 1980s suburban home using budget-friendly hacks at every turn!

With a decade-long career in magazines, styling and design, Jono shares how Bunnings engaged him to renovate every room of the dated house, working with ONLY products from the hardware store, and how you can elevate these off-the-shelf pieces with some creative solutions.

The completed home is so impressive, and you can see it in the full story on our website here! For more design inspiration, follow Jono on Instagram here.

Follow us at @thedesignfiles  and subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don’t miss a thing. Thank you so much for listening!

Tantri Mustika originally trained as a hairdresser, and spent a decade cutting hair, before she accidentally discovered ceramics. That was just four years ago! Like so many creative start-ups in the Instagram age, Tantri’s brand was launched with a simple website and online store. Fast forward to today, and Tantri is one of Melbourne’s most successful ceramicists, with a loyal following of collectors Australia-wide, and her very own dream studio + retail store.

In this podcast conversation, we chat with Tantri about how she built her brand online, the importance of seizing opportunities before you REALLY know what you're doing, and what she's learned about the business of craft and design.

This episode is supported by Squarespace.

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://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

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 between making art and designing products, the importance of processing information before acting impulsively, and why she’s intent on staying small.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/2018/09/tdftalks-rachel-castle/

Hello and Welcome to TDF Talks – a fortnightly podcast from Australia’s most popular design blog, The Design Files.

TDF Talks is hosted by our founder/editor/boss lady Lucy Feagins, in conversation with trailblazing Australian creatives from the worlds of design, art, craft, architecture, styling, image-making, and more.

For our second episode, we are very excited to chat to Rob Adams, the Director of City Design at City of Melbourne. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Rob has been the driving force behind the look, the feel, and countless cultural aspects of Melbourne. This chat highlights just how ambition and ideas from creative, forward-thinking people can really shape a city – It'll have you looking at Melbourne in a whole new way!

We are an ENHANCED podcast. So if you listen to TDF TALKS using the Overcast or Pocket Casts apps, you will see images and links in your player while you listen!

• Links mentioned in each podcast can be found at Thedesignfiles.net/podcast

• Subscribe to TDF Talks on Apple Podcasts or Download the episode via Overcast

Thanks so much for joining us!

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 woman and a mother working in design in the 1960s, and her ongoing passion for designing innovative learning spaces for children.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

Kemi Nekvapil is an ICF-accredited life coach, a brilliant speaker, and also a 'Dare to Lead' facilitator – spreading constructive ideas on leadership and vulnerability across Australia.

Lucy recently sat down with Kemi in her Brunswick East home, to talk about how a disempowered childhood in foster care led to life coaching (and what that actually is!) and to garner some of her brilliant advice on leadership, and how to create a life well-lived!

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast.

Elle has been in the Australian fashion industry for over thirty years, moving from Cherry Lane to Myer and Sportsgirl before her landing her current job. She's been shaping fashion (and you!) in ways you probably didn't even realise.

SO, what is involved in transitioning one of the biggest retailers in the country towards ambitious new sustainability standards? And how exactly DO you guide a whole team through a global pandemic? Elle answers all these questions and more in this excellent conversation.

Could Melbourne become a self-sufficient city powered by its own energy by 2030? Environmental engineering consultancy Finding Infinity’s ambitious project 'A New Normal' is hoping to turn this vision into a reality, and the organisation's Will Young joins us in this episode to share how! 

Will explains the innovative architectural and building projects that are already underway, how much it will cost, and how these 'pilot' projects could be applied across the city to electrify our buildings, reuse water, and transition to renewable energy.

You can find a written recap of this episode on our website here and you can find out more about A New Normal here.

Follow us at @thedesignfiles and subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don’t miss a thing. Thank you so much for listening!

We're back with more renovating stories, and today's episode is all about how TDF Talks host Lucy Feagins and her husband Gordy Johnson transformed their family's Blairgowrie beach shack! 

Using Lucy's project management skills and Gordy's expertise as a cabinet maker, the couple took a hands-on approach to updating their circa-1970s property, which they ended up refurbishing inside and out. They speak to producer Christina Karras about the biggest costs, challenges, and how they navigated working together as a married couple to create their idyllic coastal retreat.

See the before and after photos of their charming blue beach house in this article here! You can also book a stay to visit their holiday home here, and follow Lucy on Instagram at @lucy.feagins.

Follow us at @thedesignfiles and subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don’t miss a thing. Thank you so much for listening!

We’re back with a new renovating episode! Lucy Feagins sits down with Georgia Frances King and Mete Erdogan who are currently renovating a 1970s brick veneer home in Melbourne’s north. Despite having no renovating experience, they’ve been able to revive the home mostly through DIY updates and some advice from the original owner’s family!

Georgia and Mete share what renovations they’ve done so far, what they’ve learned from YouTube tutorials alone, and how much it’s all cost. See images of the home and read the interview highlights here. Follow their renovation journey at @shagmanor. 

Follow us at @thedesignfiles or subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

This episode of TDF talks is brought to you by Koala. Head to Koala to check out their full range of Australian-designed furniture at down-to-earth prices!

Australia's most popular design blog, The Design Files, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and boy have times changed!

In keeping up with our readers' habits, we've launched our first podcast, hosted by founder/editor/boss lady Lucy Feagins!

You may have heard of (or even attended) our speaker series, TDF Talks. This podcast is an extension of those events, featuring conversations with trailblazing Australian creatives from the worlds of design, art, craft, architecture, styling, image-making, and more.

Here, we share snippets from our first two episodes, starring celebrated designer/illustrator/artist Beci Orpin, and City of Melbourne's long-running Director of City Design, Rob Adams, respectively.

• Links mentioned in each podcast can be found at Thedesignfiles.net/podcast

• Subscribe to TDF Talks on Apple Podcasts or Download the episode via Overcast

Thanks so much for listening!

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 mentors who have inspired him along the way, the creation of his own impossibly beautiful garden at Stonefields, and his new book.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

Gina Lasker is one of Melbourne's most talented independent florists, with an intuitive, layered and textural approach to floral installation. She's worked in the floral game for more than a decade, assisting a number of established florists in both Melbourne and Sydney, before opening her own floral studio, Georgie Boy, in 2015.

Georgie Boy initially launched with a portfolio website, built using Squarespace. But earlier this year, when lockdown restrictions seriously affected Gina's business, she turned to the website building platform again, this time to create an online store for a flower subscription service, which turned out to be an unexpectedly successful side hustle!

In our latest podcast episode, we chat with Gina about her career journey, and the pivot project that re-energised her floristry business in 2020.

Kelly Thompson has done it all - from fashion photography and artist management to commercial illustration and keynote event speaking, she’s been running her one-woman small business for pretty much her entire creative career.

But in the last year, Kelly has settled into a part of the industry that really feels like home. Her online store of handcrafted treasures, Makers' Mrkt, has grown from a small but productive online store to a fully fledged marketplace in the last twelve months . Setting up a small biz in the middle of a pandemic turned out to be a blessing in disguise!

In this episode of TDF Talks, Kelly talks to managing editor Sally Tabart about levelling up, knowing when to change direction, and finding her feet in a sometimes cut-throat game. She’s the best!

Shop Makers' Mrkt here: https://makersmrkt.com/

Learn more about Kelly's freelancing work here: https://kellythompsoncreative.com/

Visit the BuildHer Collective website here. 

Book a free 20-minute consult here.

Read our 2018 profile on Rebeka and Kribashini (when BuildHer Collective was just in her infancy!) here.

This episode of TDF Talks is brought to you by Fujifilm instax, whose new Link WIDE instant printer allows you to print photos directly from your smartphone. Find out more here.

We’ve been big fans of Sydney-based brand ELLISON STUDIOS. since it launched in 2017.Now, it has a cult following after dominating the internet with retro-inspired designs like a coffee-coloured velvet sofa created in collaboration with Pantone, and the viral Huggy Armchair. 

In this episode, ELLISON STUDIOS. CEO and co-founder Leigh McKeown shares the origin story behind the brand, and how they found international success without ever opening a retail store.

Read the article featuring the highlights from this interview over at The Design Files here, and shop ELLISON STUDIOS. full collection online here. 

Sasha Titchkosky is the co-founder of Australian-made furniture, lighting and homewares brand Koskela, which she launched with her husband Russell Koskela, in 2000.
Koskela aren’t your typical furniture company. This is a business with a strong moral compass, and a vision to offer intelligent design, with a low impact on the environment, and a positive impact on humanity.
This month, Koskela celebrates ten incredible years of social impact work with Indigenous communities across Australia. The perfect time to chat with Sasha, about Koskela’s unique approach to doing business, with purpose!

Notes + Links

You can learn more about Koskela and their social impact projects here.

You can also follow them on Instagram at @koskela_

Sasha offers some brilliant advice for other Australian companies looking to embed social purpose into their business, in this story we prepared earlier!

This is the 34th episode of our TDF Talks Podcast – thanks so much for listening! You can browse all or revisit any episode here.

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

Today we chat with Leigh Ellwood, an interior designer behind some of the most special homes we've ever featured on TDF. Having completed 10 personal renovation projects in the last 24 years, safe to say she knows a thing or two about renovating! 

But what we really love about Leigh is her magic creative touch that turns each property into a warm, perfectly styled home, with lived-in interiors. Leigh shares some words of wisdom on how she finds the right tradespeople, the right properties, and her intuitive approach to designing spaces with a good ‘feeling’ about them.

To see what we mean, take a look at Leigh’s amazing apartment in South Yarra’s iconic Beverley Hills complex and her dreamy beach house on the Great Ocean Road in this story here!

You can follow Leigh on Instagram @leigh_ellwood. 

Follow us at @thedesignfiles and subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don’t miss a thing. Thank you so much for listening! 

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 links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/2018/07/tdf-talks-mercedes-joost-baker-podcast/

Landscape architects Joel Barker and Hannah Pannell are the husband-and-wife team behind See Design Studio who built their beautiful Perth family home on the smallest possible footprint — in order to save most of their block for the garden of their dreams. The resulting house is just 110-square-metres, and it's one of the most energy-efficient properties we’ve ever featured!

Hear why building small goes hand in hand with sustainability and affordability, and how they achieved an incredible NatHERS rating of 9.3 out of 10. See images of the home and highlights from the interview here. Follow Joel and Hannah's landscape design practice here.

Follow us at @thedesignfiles or subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don't miss a thing.

This episode of TDF talks is brought to you by Koala. Head to Koala to check out their full range of Australian-designed furniture at down-to-earth prices!

From podcasting to interior design, editing the ‘Style’ section of Inside Out to food styling in the Italian Alps (!), Jono has worked in nearly every corner of the interiors biz. Or so he thought. When the pandemic hit last year and he was thinking of ways to pivot, he launched his own affordable art business to sell the vintage-inspired prints. Now with Palette by Jono Fleming added to his repertoire, the super stylist seems like an unstoppable force in the interiors world!

In this super fun chat, Jono shares everything about the grit, the glamour and the grind of building a creative career.

https://palettebyjonofleming.com/
https://thedesignfiles.net/2021/06/a-visit-to-the-blue-mountains-with-jono-fleming-and-ford-puma/

We kick off our new mini-series on sustainability with this episode featuring Jeremy McLeod, founder of Breathe Architecture and one of the driving forces behind Nightingale Housing! He joins Lucy to speak about Australia's housing crisis and how sustainability and affordability can coexist, with the help of thoughtful design.

Hear his expert tips for getting into the property market, the importance of designing houses for people instead of profit, and so much more. 

Take a look at one the amazing Nightingale apartments here, and in our recap of this episode here. You can also find out more Goodbye Gas, who Jeremy recommends for electrifying your home here!

Follow us at @thedesignfiles and subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don’t miss a thing. Thank you so much for listening!

Award winning interior designer Mim Fanning shares her journey, from solo design consultant, to Founder and Principal at Mim Design, her award-winning design studio.

Mim Fanning launched her business 20 years ago, and over time, Mim Design has expanded to become one of Australia’s leading interior design studios. Recognised nationally and internationally, the studio’s diverse portfolio spans hospitality, residential and commercial interiors, always favouring timeless design over fleeting trends.

In addition to being a talented designer, Mim is also a remarkable businesswoman, who now leads a team of 29 staff. In this conversation, Mim shares her journey, from solo design consultant, to Founder and Principal Designer of one of Australia’s leading design firms.

This TDF Talks episode is supported by Lexus, proud principal partner of the Lexus Melbourne Cup.

Find links and other show notes at  https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast/

Hello and THANKS so much for listening to TDF Talks!

TDF Talks is a fortnightly podcast from Australia’s most popular design blog, hosted by founder/editor Lucy Feagins in conversation with trailblazing Australian creatives from the worlds of design, art, craft, architecture, styling, image-making, and more.

For our seventh episode, we chat with stylist and interior designer Simone Haag! The self-made creative talks seizing every opportunity, learning from the best, and why she would never apply for an advertised job!

• We are an ENHANCED podcast. So if you listen to TDF TALKS using the Overcast or Pocket Casts apps, you will see images and links in your player while you listen! Alternatively, all the links mentioned can be found at http://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

Thanks so much for joining us!

In episode 42 of TDF Talks, Lucy has a conversation with interior designer, educator, serial renovator, reality TV star and Mum of two, Jenna Densten.

Jenna is perhaps best known for her stint on The Block alongside her husband Josh... but, that was WAY back in 2011, and Jenna has done so much since then! These days, Jenna runs her design consultancy, Bicker Design, along with Design School, offering accredited courses in Interior Decoration. Recently, she's launched a brand new Online Masterclass!

Lucy sat down with Jenna last month to chat about life after reality TV, the highs and lows of renovating, juggling business ownership with parenthood, and everything in between.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast.

Interior designer and TV presenter Sibella Court is an expert at creating spaces that feel like they have a storied past, and her Bundeena family home is the perfect example. It took a five-year renovation to bring the interiors to life (designed around the character of an imagined sailor!), using salvaged materials and vintage treasures that fill the house with character! 

Hear how the project evolved into her own 'experimental design lab', along with her tips and tricks for creating eclectic interiors. See photos of this unique abode in the full story on The Design Files here, and follow Sibella for more on Instagram here.

Follow us at @thedesignfiles or subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don't miss a thing.

This episode of TDF talks is brought to you by Koala. Head to Koala to check out their full range of Australian-designed furniture at down-to-earth prices.

Clare Bowditch is an ARIA award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, storyteller, educator and mother of three. And this month, she’s added ‘author’ to that impressive list of credentials!

Following on from Ashe Davenport’s insightful interview with Clare for our Family column last week, today the radiant songstress herself makes an appearance on our podcast! She chatted to Lucy about making it in the music biz, keeping the magic alive with her husband and long time collaborator, Marty Brown, and sharing a lifetime of learnings about self-doubt and anxiety, in her brand new book, ‘Your Own Kind Of Girl‘.

I first met Clare Bowditch around 10 years ago, and since then have watched her career continue to rise, and also, adapt and morph over time. In the past decade she’s turned her hand to so many different creative projects… and it seems there’s nothing she isn’t good at! She won a logie for her role Offspring, she spent two years presenting ABC radio, she’s hosted workshops and events for creative people, and now… of course, she’s finally released her first book!

The book, of course, is ‘Your Own Kind Of Girl’, and it’s a memoir of sorts. Clare’s passionate followers will know her as a ‘heart-on-the-sleeve’ sort of person, and that’s very much apparent in this book – and in our podcast conversation! This is a very candid chat about all the things that have led Clare to where she is now, and to the release of this book.

There really is something quite magical about Clare. She has an uncanny knack for making you feel like the centre of the universe when she’s speaking to you. We very much hope some of that magic comes through in this podcast!

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

Saul Griffith is a visionary engineer, scientist, author, and inventor with a plan to fight climate change. The Rewiring Australia founder says the key to urgently reducing Australia’s emissions is by turning everything electric — from our homes to our cars, and entire suburbs — and embracing renewable energy.

We speak to Saul in this episode about how Australia could successfully get off fossil fuels and save the average household money. 

Read the article featuring the highlights from this episode here, and follow Saul's personal Instagram here. Plus, find out more about his project Electrify 2515 here.

Follow us at @thedesignfiles or subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don't miss a thing.

This episode of TDF talks is brought to you by Momentum Energy.

Lauren Li's approach to accessible interior design  makes her trend guides and interiors pieces some of the most popular stories on The Design Files, so if you hang out for her monthly column you'll love this in-depth conversation between Lauren and host, Lucy Feagins!

Before she was the founder of Sisällä Interior Design studio, Lauren worked in big commercial interior design firms locally and overseas, acquiring the skills and knowledge (and some deft software skills!) that formed the foundations to set up her own small business. Here, she talks about her creative career, the secrets to creating a personal interior specific to you, and her predictions for future trends.

Alongside her design and columnist skills, sign-ups for Lauren's new project - an online community and learning hub for designers named The Design Society - are open now! 

LINKS:

Keep an eye on Lauren's monthly interior design column at thedesignfiles.net/interiors

Sign up for The Design School here.

Learn more about Sisalla Interior Design Studio here.

Read more about Sarah Ellison studio and shop the collections here.

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 enthusiast and advocate, before opening our eyes to why even 'ugly' buildings are worth saving!

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/2018/08/tdf-talks-mercedes-me-design-tim-ross

There's something special about Bobby Clark. Originally from a small town in Scotland, Bobby arrived in Melbourne ten years ago - and swiftly immersed herself in Melbourne's vibrant creative scene.

With the optimism and dogged determination of a new immigrant, Bobby worked unbelievably hard at a huge array of creative jobs (from house painter, to wedding photographer!) before she launched her own solo art practice in 2016, with nothing but an Instagram account, and a Squarespace website.

In the years that have passed since then, Bobby has built a loyal following of fans and collectors across the globe, and she's learnt a great deal about the business of being an artist. She shares a little of that wisdom with us, via this very entertaining podcast episode!

Cassie Byrnes has got the IT factor. The young designer (and new Mum!) only finished her studies five years ago, but she's already kicked some seriously impressive career goals.

In addition to running her own much-loved fashion label, Variety Hour, Cassie has worked on a number of high profile collaborations and international projects, including with massive US brand Anthropologie, and more recently with Nike, to produce an incredible collection for the recent Australian Open – which was worn by almost EVERY major tennis star at the event, including Serena Williams!

I was keen to chat to Cassie about how this dream collaboration came about, and to learn a little more about how she’s managed to carve out such a stellar career in such a short space of time. Not to mention juggling all of this with her new baby, Charlotte, who is just 4 months old!

For Cassie, success has come from having an insane work ethic, saying yes before she actually knows how to do something, and generally biting off more than she can chew at every opportunity!

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

In our final episode for 2023, we speak with lawyers-turned-renovators Julie and Vincent Fodera who are restoring one of Melbourne's oldest mansions, a historic homestead in Caulfield known as Heatherbrae. The private property dates back to 1854 and is bit of a local landmark, which the couple have been the proud custodians of since buying it last year. 

Hear how they're lovingly updating the property, why their renovation journey has gained them 16k Instagram followers, and the importance of preserving magical heritage builds like this one. 

Take a look inside the remarkable abode here, and follow them at @heatherbrae1854 to see their progress! 

Follow us at @thedesignfiles and subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you don’t miss a thing. Thank you so much for listening!