Lachlan Mackay is among Australian Design Review’s 30UNDER30 Interior and Product Designers for 2024/2025. Below, we get to know the founder of Space-man Studio, who shares his collaborative, open-minded design ethos – one that allows design to transcend the object. 

Australian Design Review: How would you describe your work?

Lachlan Mackay: My work can be pretty broad in general, going from personal work to work through my studio, Space-man Studio. In an individual sense, I love to design products or pieces that are well thought out in terms of functionality, longevity and adaptability for multiple uses. I lean into a soft brutalist style, but then if I was to look at Space-man Studio, the work can be so much broader than that. 

My individual style isn’t relevant. I take on the idea of the client and work towards innovative and unique solutions that will fit in with their brand and their vision. Through developing a great understanding of who they are, I’m able to act as an extension of them, bringing something of their very own to life through collaboration, empathy, and a great understanding of the design issues they are trying to solve and why.

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

LM: I always find these questions so hard! There are so many amazing creatives, so much to learn, and many I forget when trying to pull together an answer. But if I could work with any designer, I would say either Raymond Loewy or Virgil Abloh, and both for the same reason.

Throughout their careers, they weren’t limited to just one area of design and worked across multiple disciplines — architecture, fashion, product and branding. They were both collaborators and visionaries with a deep understanding of people who still stayed true to themselves.

ADR: What do you do to kickstart your creativity when you’re in a rut?

LM: Deadlines are usually a pretty motivating factor to help get something out there, but of course, not all designs are made equal. To really break down those walls and get into that creative flow-state, I think that you need to have fun with it, regardless of whether the outcome is super achievable or not. 

Open-mindedness and designing with no constraints will usually bring some creativity, along with windows of potential innovation that you are able to apply the necessary constraints to and achieve something remarkable! For me, it’s about going from structured design to design through feelings and then back again with what I’ve found when I’ve let my mind wander.

ADR: What guiding values drive you and what kind of impact do you hope to make through your work?

LM: What drives me to do what I do would have to be that I don’t really know anything else. This has always been the path for me, whether I knew it or not at the time. Ultimately, designing products and assisting in collaborations on projects, no matter the field, is what excites me, and it’s where I know my skills are strongest and most useful.

It’s in these environments I feel most at home and most fulfilled. I believe my work shows this if you look closely enough as I believe I can empathetically take on the essence of a brand, client or desired outcome and design for exactly that. I hope that with this, I can make a big impact in others’ lives, helping them realise their ideas and bring them from paper to reality.

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

LM: Years ago, a friend of mine joked that I would be in the 30UNDER30 one year and we kind of laughed it off, not thinking about it again. Fast forward to now, having been selected and recognised as a part of the 2024-25 cohort of the 30UNDER30 program seems wild and truly motivating to be listed with so many amazing designers and creative talents. 

I still can’t quite believe it. While I’m used to doing a lot more behind the scenes, it feels incredible to be recognised for my efforts and design vision, which cements that I am on the right path and really do have a lot to give to the Australian design scene.

ADR’s 30UNDER30 Interior and Product Designers stream is brought to you by major sponsor Neolith, alongside 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.