Katherine Luu is among Australian Design Review’s 30UNDER30 Interior and Product Designers for 2024/2025. Below, we explore where her passion for creating interior spaces that evoke strong emotional reactions began, and why, for Luu, the rituals of daily life and the unseen organisational and operational social forces matter in the context of design. 

Australian Design Review: If you could work with any designer, artist or other creative – living or dead – who would it be and why?

Katherine Luu: I would have loved to work alongside someone from an ancient era. Imagine contributing to a grand project, witnessing the ingenuity and determination required to build something enduring without modern technology.

I recently learned that one of the architects of the Forbidden City may have been a Vietnamese man, taken as part of a forced mass migration of labourers. It’s fascinating to think of the hidden influences shaping history.

Beyond construction, I’m intrigued by how pre-modern societies functioned. How did nobles move compared to soldiers or servants? What unseen rules governed status and daily life? More than that, how did people perceive their relationship with the divine, nature and each other?

Architecture is never just about aesthetics. It embodies philosophy, power and belief systems. To witness such a world firsthand, to take part in something so vast and deeply rooted in culture, would have been extraordinary.

ADR: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

KL: In my rare moments of free time, I try to prioritise my time to decompress, either through reading, watching television or just spending some solo time at home. When I’m well-rested, I can approach life with more patience, humour and empathy – all essential traits for navigating work in architecture and design.

One of my favourite ways to unwind is visiting the local grocery store to find ingredients for Vietnamese recipes. Growing up, I took many of these dishes for granted, but it’s so nostalgic and reminds me of home. I’m only one drive away from a delicious meal at home, but it’s been a fun challenge trying to navigate some of these dishes myself.

ADR: What has been a highlight in your career so far?

KL: The most rewarding part of design in architecture and interior design is seeing the joy people experience when they interact with the spaces you’ve created. My background is in educational architecture, and watching kids engage with these spaces with such pure, unfiltered joy is incredibly fulfilling and heartwarming. 

Children are honest in their reactions and emotions, so it can be quite intimidating to see how they respond. Sometimes, they don’t use the spaces in the way you envisioned, but if they experience genuine curiosity and excitement, then it’s a win for me!

ADR: How did it feel to make it into Australian Design Review’s 30UNDER30?

KL: I was travelling overseas at the time and didn’t have access to my emails, when a colleague messaged me: “Did you hear the news?” My mind immediately raced through every possible worst-case scenario. Panic set in for a moment, until I finally saw some other messages come through of congratulations.

Being selected is such a privilege, especially alongside such a talented group. I think, as young women, we’re especially prone to impostor syndrome, so having that recognition from others in the industry really puts things into perspective. Knowing that someone else sees value in your work is both humbling and incredibly motivating.

ADR: Do you remember your first encounter with design?

KL: My first memory of the power of thoughtful design was during an art camp at the Boyd Education Centre. I vividly remember sliding open the doors early in the morning, just as the sun was rising. As the light slowly spilled into the space, it felt almost otherworldly, evoking a profound sense of peace, tranquillity and beauty.

At the time, while I recognised that the space was beautiful, I didn’t fully grasp the thoughtfulness, skill and refinement of it. Only later did I come to appreciate how difficult it is to create something so effortlessly harmonious.

This experience stayed with me, shaping my understanding of architecture’s ability to move people, particularly as a young school girl who was completely unacquainted with design. It was a moment that instilled in me the power of design to evoke strong emotional reactions.

ADR’s 30UNDER30 Interior and Product Designers stream is brought to you by major sponsor Neolith, alongside Krost, Miele, Interface and Tongue & Groove. The program is also supported by practice partners Arent&Pyke, BLP, BVN, Cera Stribley, COX Architecture, GroupGSA, Hassell, HDR, Richards Stanisich, Rothelowman, SJB and Williams Burton Leopardi. To find out more about the final 30, head to the winners page.