Design Conversations

18 | Robyn Lindsey: Designing across retail, corporate & sustainability

2025-08-12T00:00:00+00:00

Robyn Lindsey is an interior and experience designer with over four decades of practice across retail, corporate, hospitality and residential sectors. She studied Interior Design at RMIT and holds an MBA in Entrepreneurial Studies from Swinburne. From 1990 she spent three decades at Geyer Design, progressing to Director and Partner and serving as Global Strategy and Design Leader overseeing the firm’s expansion into Asia. In 2021 she established her own independent practice. She was recognised with a Lifetime Achievement in the 2020 Architecture and Design Sustainability Awards.

In this conversation Robyn traces her path from a rural childhood through formative experiences at RMIT that shaped how she thinks about space and the built environment. Early roles led her into sustainability work—notably Victoria’s first publicly displayed low‑energy house—and public education, establishing her conviction that design can influence behaviour. She discusses translating brand into experience for clients including East Coast Fashion, Ansett Airlines, Vodafone NZ and major banks, and her later decision to return to hands‑on design through a smaller, values‑aligned practice.

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Photo credit: Richard Glover

17 | Louise Dann: A journey through design, culture & sustainability

2025-04-07T00:00:00+00:00

In this episode of Design Conversations, Geoff chats with Louise Dann, a globally experienced strategic planner and designer, about her remarkable journey through the world of Australian and international design.

Highlights include:

Louise’s upbringing in Beaumaris and her early influences in mid-century modernist architecture
Her education at RMIT and initial work at Geyer, focusing on workplace design
Overseas experience in Europe, the UK, and Asia, working with major clients like Hutchison Whampoa and Swire
Memorable projects, including designing nightclubs in Istanbul and a residence for U2’s Bono and The Edge
Returning to Australia and working on retail and educational projects at Monash University
Louise’s advice for young designers, emphasising curiosity, sustainability, and multidisciplinary collaboration

Key themes:

The importance of protecting architectural heritage
The value of curiosity and lifelong learning in design
Sustainability and circularity in construction and design practices

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16 | Rina Cohen: Interior designer

2024-07-11T00:00:00+00:00

Rina Cohen is an interior designer who has been in practice for more than thirty years, and is an award winning designer specialising in the field of residential design. She is a Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia and winner of the KBDI Certified Designer of the Year in 2023.

In conversation Rina mentions RMIT, Ann Rado, Mick Jörgensen, Jim Sinatra, Multi Grad Program, Meldrum Burroughs & Partners, Caulfield & Krivanek, Robert Caulfield, Southern Cross Newspaper and John Lochhead.

Visit rcidesigns.com to learn more about Rina’s work.

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15 | Colin Wood: Design publisher

2024-06-11T00:00:00+00:00

Colin Wood was the legendary publisher of Design World, a major publication on design issues between 1983–1995. It was a roller coaster ride that was to spawn Design Ink. Currently Colin publishes the Art & Design Education Resource Guide, and the next publication will be the 41st edition.

In the course of this conversation Colin references the Birmingham College of Art & Design, the John Ruskin School of Art, Naum Slutsky, the Bauhaus, David Carter, Tangara Trains, V&A Museum, Mary Quant, Festival of Britain, Norrie Paramor, Abbey Road, the Rolling Stones, Gerard Herbst, Robert Pataki, Kathy Demos, Phil Zmood, Richard Carlson, Design World, Thomas Nelson, Macmillan Australia, Peter Sidwell, All Graphics, ID Magazine, Chee Pearlman, Ian Edgar, Australia Council, Michael Bryce, John Andrews, Philip Cox, Janne Faulkner, Sally Brown, John Button, Design Council, David Terry, Good Design Ticket, Nagoya Design Conference, Domus, Abitare, Eric Speakerman, David Hillman, and Ken Grange.

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14 | Dario Zoureff: Interior & furniture designer

2022-01-14T00:00:00+00:00

Dario Zoureff is a pre-eminent interior and furniture designer, with a memorable catalogue of residential and commercial furniture designed over several decades. He was born in Vienna in the 1930s and came to Australia at the age of nine. He studied interior design at the Royal Melbourne Technical College in the 1950s, and began a sixty-year practice thereafter.

In the course of this conversation Dario references Vienna, Guy, Arthur & Percival Boyd, RMIT, Stephen Crafti, Harold Straughan, Bates Smart McCutcheon, Joan Stewart (nee Grimage) School of Decoration, Jack Crowe, Ted Worsley, Clem Meadmore, Stuart Furniture, Bill & Kiera Le Lievre, Joel’s Auctions, Grant & Mary Featherston, Gordon Mather, Fred Ward, Ron Opie, John Duncan, the Society of Designers for Industry (SDI), Industrial Design Institute of Australia (IDIA), Society of Interior Designers Australia (SIDA), Ron Rosenfeldt, Interior Designers Association of Australia (IDIAA), MAP, Chris Cornell, Raoul Hogg, the McGorren Family, Morwell Hotel, Traralgon Hotel, Rathdowne Hotel, Downtowner, Altona Hotel, Alma Road Synagogue, Ripponlea Synagogue, Conflict Management Centre, Rob Pataki and Michelle Hyams.

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13 | Phillip Zmood: Automotive designer

2021-10-26T00:00:00+00:00

Phillip Zmood studied Industrial Design at RMIT, and began his career with General Motors Corporation in 1965 as a designer. Soon after he became the General Manager of the Mid/Luxury Car Division of Holden/GM International Operations (USA) leading and contributing to future design programs.

As Assistant Chief Designer for GMH Australia from 1967–1969, Phillip was a key contributor to the contemporary HQ Series of vehicles. From 1969–1981 he was Chief Designer in both Australia and Germany, and was responsible for the UC/LX, Australia’s first hatchback, along with several other models, including the Anscona 500 rally model for Europe. Phillip was Executive in Charge of Design from 1986–1995, during which period Holden Design Australia became one of the most cost effective automotive design units in the world.

In the course of our conversation Phillip references the HD Holden, HK series, Torana, Joe Schyman, Leo Bruno, Detroit, Rear Wheel Drive Buick, Opal Germany, Commodore, Gary Millards. Chinese Show Car, GM Team Coordinator, Shanghai, Chinese Communist Party’s 58th Anniversary.

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12 | Mary Featherston AM: Interior & furniture designer, early childhood environmental designer

2021-09-14T00:00:00+00:00

Mary Featherston, together with her husband Grant, have been seminal figures in Australian Design, delivering high-profile projects over decades in mid-century Australia. Mary has been celebrated in the field of children’s early-learning environments, working with schools, childcare centres and museums, and she continues as a consultant and advocate in this sphere.

In the conversation, Mary talks about fellow designers, products and companies such as Atel, Ikea, Aristoc Industries, Danish Deluxe, Grant Featherston, Jimmy Haughton James, Ted Worsley, Ron Rosenfeldt, John James, Bill & Kiera Le Lievre, Jack Crow, Mockeridge, Daley & Mitchell, The Expo Chair, Robin Boyd, Neville Ashkenazy, George Krall, Bernie Joyce, Don Chapman, Ann Rado, Erwin Rado, MIFF, John Duncan, Ron Opie, Derek Wrigley, Shirley Krall, Gallery A, Stuart Furniture, Forum, Southern Cross, Bruce Anderson, Eric Westbrook, NGV, Colin Barrie, Cold Cure Foam Moulding, Winsome McCaughey, Museum Victoria, Everybody Exhibition ’85, Peter Corlette, School of Reggio Emilia, Dandenong High School, Camberwell High School, Bialik College, Roger Putnam, Innerspace, Royal Children’s Hospital, George Russell, the School of Painting and Decorating.

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11 | Jeffrey Newman: Industrial Design Council of Australia

2021-09-13T00:00:00+00:00

Jeffrey Newman is an industrial designer, who trained in the fourth intake of students for the Industrial Design Diploma at RMIT in the mid 1950s. Jeff established his initial freelance design practice immediately after graduation, and later, following a period at Thorn Electrical, he eventually accepted a position in Myer Store Planning under Don Ward.

His passion for good design and its promotion led him to join the Industrial Design Council of Australia, and he would become its State Director in both South Australia and New South Wales. He was intimately involved in the Prince Phillip Design Awards and wrote on design issues and broadcast about design on Radio Australia. He also had a successful career in retail design with Witchery and worked with the Australian Council for the Arts. A passionate advocate for Australian design, he worked creatively and tirelessly to promote the profession throughout mid-century Australia.

In this conversation Jeff speaks about the town of Moe, Scotch College, RMIT, David Terry, Pat Heffernan, Thorn Electrical, Robin Boyd, Myer Store Planning, Chadstone, Don Ward, Colin Barrie, Brigadier Durrant, Beth Robinson, Rundle Street, Sir Paul Hasluck, Don Dunstan, Witchery, Flinders University, Nixon in China, Australian Council for the Arts, UK Design Council, Ted Worsley, Gas & Fuel Buildings, Stuart Devlin, Arthur Leyden, Richard Carlson, Robert Pataki, Stephen Bailey, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip Prize, Alex Stitt, Phillip Adams, Radio Australia, Digby Hughes and Calvin Coolidge.

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10 | David Terry: Industrial Design Council of Australia & industrial designer

2021-08-24T00:00:00+00:00

David Terry trained in Industrial Design at RMIT, and then under architect Don Ward at Myer, where he made major contributions to the development of Myer Chadstone and then to Farmers in Sydney. David was engaged by the Industrial Design Council of Australia for several years and eventually became a State Director.

In this conversation David references Derek Wrigley, Fred Ward, Sir Essington Lewis, Melbourne Grammar, John Brack, Barry Humphries, Bert Bertles, Alan Warren, Don Ward, Jeff Newman, Colin Barrie, Brigadier Richard Durrants, Ross Honin, Churchill Fellowships, Kenji Ekuan, Yoshio Nitimoto, Dunhill Awards, Richard Latham, Michael Robbins, HRH Prince Phillip, Buckingham Palace, Trevor Wilson, Jackson Wayne Advertising, Ian McPhee, Good Design Awards, Claude Forrell, Premier’s Design Awards, Trevor Ling, Jony Ive, Arthur Robinson, Dieter Rams and Braun.

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9 | Don Goodwin: Conran design director

2021-02-03T00:00:00+00:00

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.

During our conversation Don refers to AWA, Jackson Wayne Advertising, Laurie Brown, John Stephenson, Rodney Fitch, Sir Terence Conran, Mothercare, Ryman Office Group, Burton Group, Stafford Cliff, Ron Baker, Colin Fulcher, The Who, Festival of Britain, Octopus Books, Carl & Judy Nielsen, East End Windows of Sydney Opera House, David Wood, John Bannenberg, Adam Laws, Ron Rosenfeldt, David Davenport, Ted Healy, Harry Spinks, David Forbes, Michael Bryce, ISCID Conference Dublin, John Spatchcock, John Holt, John Redmond, Peter Lisseman, Kenji Ekuan, and Marco Zanusso.

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