The Australian Design Centre is Sydney’s leading exhibition and advocacy centre for design and crafts. In 2011 they invited me to propose an exhibition that showcased emerging and new product designers.
I curated In Good Company, an exhibition that explored the hidden networks of people and skilled work that bring great design into being.
By showcasing the manufacturers, retailers, supporters, staff and friendships that surround designers, the exhibition aimed to demystify the world of products, and invite the audience to uncover the real magic that we rarely see. 20 designers – emerging and established – were asked to contribute works, displayed as a dinner party setting, waiting to be used. Key collaborators were exhibition designer, Emma Warfield, photographer, Nick De Lorenzo.
The opening night event had record attendance. A new generation of designers – and their often invisible partners – were able to showcase their work and build relationships with the Australian Design Centre.
The works were arranged to reflect their utility and beauty: the ultimate dining experience. All pieces were loaned on condition that they could be used for events, and we partnered with Black Star Pastry chef Chris Thé who cooked in the gallery for a series of Design Dinners.
Photos Copyright Australian Design Centre.