30UNDER30’s Siena Crestani on teaching and other creative outlets outside design

Siena Crestani is one of Australian Design Review’s 30UNDER30 Interior and Product Designers for 2024/2025. In this Q&A, we learn more about her teenage inclinations to design using Minecraft, her innovative collaborations focused on sustainability and the rewarding challenges involved in teaching emerging designers.

Teaching first-year Interior Architecture at University of Technology Sydney has been a career highlight for Siena Crestani. Photo: UTS

Australian Design Review: Do you remember your first encounter with design?

Siena Crestani: From a young age, I was constantly drawing and creating. Although oddly enough, I recall one formative experience during my early teens when I became absorbed in Minecraft’s creative mode.

I would spend hours meticulously designing and building houses and landscapes within the virtual world. At some point, I had a thought that perhaps I could channel this into a career when I grew older.

Material Shout Out Collaboration. Photo: Monica Colla

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

SC: Teaching first-year Interior Architecture at University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has been a true highlight in my career. I’ve loved the different challenges it brings and the new skills I’ve had to hone – quite different from my other work in that I feel that I’m using a completely different part of my brain when teaching.

Seeing students’ projects evolve and their creativity grow is super fulfilling and inspiring and has made me feel more creative in my own practice.

GPT Design Suites, BVN. Image: supplied

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

SC: I love spending my free time in nature – swimming in the ocean and hiking whenever I can. When I’m not outdoors, I enjoy going to music events and festivals with friends, playing soccer and taking pole-dancing classes.

Pole dancing is a fantastic creative outlet for me in a very different way, and it has also enhanced my body and spatial awareness due to the skill and precision the sport requires.

Material Shout Out collaboration. Image: supplied

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

SC: When I’m in a creative rut, I exercise! Sweating it all out helps me re-centre and ground myself, giving my brain the space it needs to feel creative again.

After exercising, I find I can draw inspiration from my everyday life once more – whether that’s reading, looking through different artworks, or (of course) scrolling Pinterest!

GPT Design Suites, BVN. Image: supplied

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

SC: I believe design is all about people – shaping spaces that truly support those who occupy them. With that in mind, I don’t think we can genuinely design for people without designing for our future, and first prioritising environmentally responsible design solutions.

I want to continue learning about ways to reduce environmental impact in design, as well as sharing knowledge and spotlighting and collaborating with manufacturers who are actively working toward sustainable and innovative materials and products.

Material Shout Out collaboration. Photo: Monica Colla

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

SC: It felt amazing to make it into 30UNDER30. As someone very early in my career, I felt humbled and so excited upon finding out the news. I’m really looking forward to learning from this year’s mentors and the rest of the cohort.

Left to right: Rachel Santos, Margot Lapalus, Nina Matyas and Siena Crestani toast at the 30UNDER30 retreat in Bali in May 2025. Photo: Amazing Bali Events

Lead image by Amazing Bali Events.

ADR’s 30UNDER30 Interior and Product Designers stream is brought to you by major sponsor Neolith, alongside sponsors Krost, Miele, Interface and Tongue & Groove.