Design Conversations: Recent Episodes
Geoff Fitzpatrick
Design Conversations is a podcast series aimed at recording an oral history of designers and design practices in Australia, from the twentieth century to the present day.
Each episode is a one-on-one conversation with an eminent design practitioner, in which they detail and elaborate on their careers. The series strives to cover most of the design disciplines currently practiced, and examine the motivation, inspiration and hard work that brought recognition.
Don Goodwin played a significant design role as an Associate Director of the Conran Design Group in London in the sixties, and then in Australia with Carl Nielsen, and later as Principal of Goodwin Design. Additionally, he became National President of the Design Institute of Australia and was recognised with a Life Fellowship.
See the full show notes for more details.
Robert Miller Smith has been a major contributor to the design profession in Australia and internationally, both in the field of visual communications and design education. From the London College of Printing, to Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, to University of South Australia and then to Swinburne University, he has had an extraordinary career and shares those experiences along the way.
See the full show notes for more details.
An influential figure in the field of furniture design and manufacture, Roger began his career in London in the sixties, as assistant to the renowned English designer Robin Day. He trained at RMIT in Interior Design and did post graduate studies at the London College of Furniture, before returning to Australia.
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One of the most influential figures in Australian design, Kathy Demos has been responsible for steering the course of design in Australia, and internationally, by her skilled direction of major programmes, events and consultancies for the past few decades.
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Ted Worsley was a student in Australia’s inaugural Industrial Design course commencing in 1947. The Industrial Design Diploma at Melbourne Technical College (now RMIT University) was also attended by Clem Meadmore, later to become an internationally renowned sculptor.
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A renowned leader in the field of furniture manufacture and design, Ian Howard was the Founder and Managing Director of Aristoc Furniture in mid century Melbourne; he then established Herman Miller Australia, and finally Co Design, the preeminent commercial furniture company in Australia in the 1970s. Ian established design activity at the centre of his enterprises, with the hiring of designers such as Grant Featherston and Fred Lowen.
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A major artist and graphic designer, David Lancashire is still working in his practice, which spans signage/way-finding, graphic design, illustration, landscape design and mentoring. Lancashire’s career began in the UK where he received an exceptional grounding in illustration and commercial art before launching his almost sixty-year career in Australia.
See the full show notes for more details.
A renowned leader in the field of furniture manufacture and design, Ian Howard was the Founder and Managing Director of Aristoc Furniture in mid-century Melbourne; he then established Herman Miller Australia, and finally Co Design, the preeminent commercial furniture company in Australia in the 1970s. Ian established design activity at the centre of his enterprises, with the hiring of designers such as Grant Featherston and Fred Lowen.
See the full show notes for more details.
A contemporary artist and graphic designer, a poet and prose writer, Max Robinson had a sixty-plus year career in the UK and Australia. Renowned for his design work on numerous record covers for World Record Club and his contribution on the decimal currency council with Gordon Andrews and Harry Williamson, Max was also the designer of Australia’s first ten-dollar note.
See the full show notes for more details.