Meaningful connections defined Australian Design Review (ADR)’s 30UNDER30 2025 retreat in Bali, as competition gave way to camaraderie and vulnerability flattened hierarchies between industry-leading mentors and the 2024/2025 cohort of interior and product designers. 

ADR’s 30UNDER30 program reached its annual pinnacle – the high-performance leadership and creativity retreat – at Potato Head, Bali, from Friday 16 May until Monday 19 May.

At once expansive and immersive, the retreat has honed a winning formula for professional growth and networking, facilitated by a mix of candid forums for discussion and informal poolside bonding over one impactful weekend.

However, each year, the retreat hinges on an important variable – its people. The cohort’s positive attitude, honesty and willingness to reach out and connect with like-minded strangers from around the country, as well as mentors and sponsors, is essential to its success.

The 30UNDER30 cohort for 2024/2025 alighted the plane into the heat of Denpasar airport, brimming with all the right energy. Their giddiness on the bus together to Potato Head and gratitude upon arrival at the breathtaking eco-resort – an exemplar of how good design can make you feel – was infectious.

Each with something unique to offer, these 30 values-driven, outward-looking designers occupy different corners of the built environment, from interior and product designers at big and small firms to solo practitioners, a glass designer, an access consultant with a PhD and the founder of the beloved Melbourne social enterprise and community space TERRAIN (to name a few). Their convergence at Potato Head was an opportunity to reflect on their own paths and collectively consider the industry’s road ahead, identifying opportunities for collaboration along the way. 

Williams Burton Leopardi director Sophia Leopardi, who attended the retreat as a mentor, said it best when she called the initiative “a space for genuine exchange”.

“Bringing together 30 boundary-bending creatives – each with their own voice, perspective and path – was a powerful reminder that creativity thrives in connection,” she told ADR at the conclusion of the retreat.

Day one: settling in

The thought of spending three days in another country with more than 30 relative strangers can be a little daunting – and naturally engenders a dose of impostor syndrome for some emerging designers. Day one was thus designed to shake off those nerves and preconceptions.

With official proceedings not kicking off until 3pm, staff treated some of the new arrivals to a behind-the-scenes waste tour. The cohort learned about how Potato Head achieves 97.5 percent zero waste to landfill, repurposing waste on site for building materials, chairs, coasters and other special touches in their guest suites.

The only bout of competition for the weekend came early in the form of a Hard Quiz-style challenge, which fired teams up in pursuit of a prized bundle of Bintang singlets. 

Everybody freshened up for sunset cocktails and dinner by the pool, welcomed by Tegan Donaldson from Neolith, the major sponsor of the 30UNDER30 program.

“Enjoy yourselves,” she reminded the cohort, “you all deserve to be here.”

Day two: deepening industry insights

On Saturday, the 30UNDER30 rolled up their sleeves and dug a little deeper into their professional development. This started with free-flowing round table discussions with the mentors and sponsors, introduced by Miele.

Alongside Leopardi, this year’s mentors included Woods Bagot principal Eva Sue, Richards Stanisich co-founder Kirsten Stanisich and Mim Design founding director and principal Miriam Fanning. Billard Leece Partnership’s executive of strategy and communications Andrea Nixon stood in for Chris Hardy, who was unable to attend the retreat.

Four members of this year’s final 30 – Mariah Burton, Billie Murphy, Soozy Lee and Annie Paxton – were missed. In their absence, Hady Anboussi, Felicia Spadavecchia and David Gan, interior designers who had been strong contenders for the final group, joined the retreat and contributed invaluable enthusiasm and insights.

Accompanying Neolith were sponsors Interface, Miele, Krost and Tongue & Groove.

As they moved around the room, the cohort opened up about shared pain points and filled in the gaps for one another with new perspectives. They asked questions about good business processes, managing client expectations, the increasing pace of work, leadership and work-life balance, and their mentors answered from a place of experience. Suppliers also educated the cohort on new market solutions and innovations.

“It is rare to have the opportunity to ask career-building questions and receive such genuine transparency, guidance and direction from mentors I truly look up to,” 30UNDER30 member Daniella Bassin told ADR. “Equally inspiring was being surrounded by high-achieving, like-minded go-getters in the same phase of life. We were all seeking the same knowledge and shared similar aspirations.” 

The mentors got something out of it too.

“It was a privilege to be in conversation with [the 30UNDER30] and to see the way they showed up for themselves and each other,” Leopardi said. 

Sue added: “The collective energy made for an enriching experience for everyone, including the mentors!” 

Nixon followed up the round tables with an interactive presentation on the interplay of brand with product and design, introduced by Krost. Having worked in different capacities in creative industries encompassing architecture, branding and graphic design, Nixon helped the cohort connect the dots between their vision, purpose and strategy. 

“I do believe that when you’ve got clarity, it gives you more creative power,” she said.

After a few hours to digest these lessons by the pool, exploring Seminyak or filming special projects with ADR, the cohort reconvened at Potato Head for an Indonesian meal, gearing up for day three.

Day three: reflection 

Day three took place inside nightclub-turned-classroom Klymax – where a few members of the cohort had been dancing just hours earlier. Tegan Wallis of Griffith Consulting eased us into the last official morning of sessions with the illuminating ‘Future of Leadership’ workshop, introduced by Interface. The meditation teacher, leadership coach and Ayurvedic practitioner shared tangible tips for sustainable high performance, which went deeper than typical platitudes around self-care.

A final panel led by Andy Sutherland from Tongue & Groove brought out parting words of wisdom from our mentors, who shared insights on how they protect their time, deal with egos in the workplace, empower teams, face major challenges like redundancies and take risks.

“Once you’ve taken a big risk – and all of you, if you haven’t already, will – you’ll find that it will become easier and easier each time,” Fanning said. “…They don’t necessarily become risks, they become part of your business and who you are.” 

Elizabeth Distefano from Interface observed how “refreshing” it was to sit opposite a panel of five women in leadership, noting the confronting contrast in statistics between the high percentage of women in interior design and the comparatively low percentage in leadership roles. “As individuals driving change, what are you doing to try and promote women in leadership, particularly in the architecture and design industry?” she asked.

Leopardi discussed implementing flexibility at Williams Burton Leopardi, regardless of family planning choices. Meanwhile, Nixon and Sue stressed the need to actively assist employees with workplace reintegration, making career continuity and leadership possible after parenthood.

Stanisich and Fanning wrapped up the panel with a call to action. They shared information about the advocacy work they had been doing with the Design Institute of Australia for better recognition of the interior design profession.

“You’re all the future of design, so it’s in everybody’s hands,” Fanning said. 

With much to absorb, the cohort left the last session to go and enjoy more free time together, taking part in yoga classes, run clubs and jamu-making workshops. They wrapped up the final night on a high and headed out to town to celebrate with new and old friends.

Day four: farewell

Endings can be bittersweet, but it was heart-warming to see the cohort savouring their last morning in the pool together – floating, giggling and recovering under the sun before flying back to Australia.

Soon enough, heartfelt messages began flooding the WhatsApp group chat.

“Feeling very grateful for all the meaningful and thought-provoking conversations across the weekend. Looking forward to following along everyone’s professional journeys in the years to come!” Sara Threadgold wrote.

Margot Lapalus and Nina Matyas signed off with a selfie:

“What an amazing weekend,” they wrote. “Getting to know everyone has been inspiring, fulfilling and life-changing.”

Faheem Nasser and Mia Edge from Miele said it was an “absolute pleasure and joy to be involved in such a well-curated event”. Krost Business Furniture director Gareth Krost similarly relished the “beautifully organic” few days spent meeting and engaging with the next generation of interior and product designers.

30UNDER30 member Vincent Tsang told ADR the retreat left him “rejuvenated, inspired and optimistic” for his future. “We are left with friendships and connections that will serve us and the industry for the rest of our careers,” he said.

“I only wish is that it was for longer because the time went too quickly,” Lachlan Mackay added. “I am feeling more focused, more supported and more sure than ever.” 

View the gallery from the weekend:

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

Australian Design Review is also grateful to our 30UNDER30 practice partners Arent&Pyke, BLP, BVN, Cera Stribley, COX Architecture, GroupGSA, Hassell, HDR, Richards Stanisich, Rothelowman, SJB and Williams Burton Leopardi for helping us foster the future of Australian design.