In a culture driven by speed and excess, these Australian designers and makers are embracing the beauty of slow, intentional creation. Featured at Melbourne Design Week, these highlights show the strength of locally made furniture and objects.
The precariousness of supply chains was tested during the pandemic, and through it a thriving community of Australian design and manufacturing found its voice. Now, as the global economy and international trade wobble, there has never been a better time to argue the value of locally designed and locally made furniture and objects.
Not only is there an obvious benefit for sustainability and reducing embodied carbon, but it signals a reinvigoration of the ingenuity and robustness of the Australian design and creative sectors. Perusing this year’s events and exhibitions at Melbourne Design Week uncovers a plethora of homegrown talent—from new brand launches to manufacturing tours—all of which highlight the handmade, and the local.
Photography by Lillie Thompson
Knotte launches with a bold commitment to local design and manufacturing, presenting three modular seating collections by emerging and established Australian designers. Art directed by Oigåll Projects, the installation champions functionality, craftsmanship and community.
Photography by Martina Gemmola
A dinner, an exhibition, a sensory experience. Curated by HotHaus Glass Studio and hosted by Pincho Disco, D (E S) I (G) N E (D) brings together local makers across ceramics, glass and floristry to celebrate slow, intentional design. It’s a love letter to craftsmanship, shared over a table.
Knotte for Melbourne Design Week 2025 | Photography by Lillie Thompson
Photography by Eve Wilson
A new collection by Nitsou x Mo and Bishop Master Finishes, Escultura reimagines what sustainable furniture can be—sculptural, durable and Melbourne-made. Crafted from Victorian-manufactured hemp board and finished by hand in richly pigmented lime render and micro-cement, each piece is equal parts form and function.
Photography by Claire Armstrong
Locki Humphrey transforms invasive prickly pear waste into a leather alternative in this solo show exploring circular design. With modular furniture designed for longevity and repair, Oxide celebrates local making and low-impact production.
The Ayva Bistro table and Sia chair by Tom Fereday | Photography by Anson Smart
In a striking warehouse setting, Nau Design pairs its new Tom Fereday–designed furniture collection with Artedomus stone slabs. It makes for a tactile dialogue between furniture and material, celebrating Australian craftsmanship and the quiet drama of natural stone.
The NGV Australian Design Collection | Photography by Tim Carrafa
At NGV-Australia, five designers explore the raw power of materiality—transforming waste, working under heat, and pushing the limits of industrial craft. Together, they offer a compelling case for process and experimentation.
Photography courtesy of Beci Orpin
Softer Studio and Beci Orpin blur the boundaries between digital and handmade. Their collaborative show features wood and textile-based furniture that playfully merges iconography of MS-DOS graphics with embroidery, colour and craft. A joyful expression of contrast and repetition.
Photography courtesy of Touching Space
Furniture and lighting become monuments in this contemplative exhibition, calling us back to what matters— community, care and connection to place. Designed as modern-day totems, each piece is a prompt to pause and reflect.