For the fifth year of what has swiftly become the primary annual mentorship and creative pathways program for emerging professional designers and architects, Australian design brand King Living has come on board as a co-major partner. Australian Design Review talks to the brand’s head of design, Chris Cooke about King Living’s decision to support the program.

Australian Design Review: King Living‘s co-major partnership of ADR‘s 30UNDER30 program marks a significant commitment to nurturing emerging design talent. What prompted the brand to get involved this year?

Chris Cooke: At King Living, we’ve always believed great design begins with curiosity. As we look ahead to celebrating 50 years of King Living next year, it’s a timely reminder that since David King and his mother founded the business in 1977, our philosophy has never been about designing furniture for its own sake, but about solving real problems through thoughtful innovation. That mindset continues to shape everything we do today.

The best design doesn’t stand still; it evolves alongside the people who live with it. I think the same can be said for designers themselves. Every designer’s journey is influenced by people who challenge their thinking, share their knowledge or open new opportunities. Investing in emerging talent isn’t simply about giving back, it’s about helping ensure our industry continues to evolve for the next 50 years.

What really resonates about 30UNDER30 is its focus on connection, collaboration and the exchange of ideas. It’s creating a community of future design leaders, and we’re proud to contribute to that journey. Australian design has an incredibly exciting future, and programs like this create the conditions for creativity, innovation and leadership to flourish.

Given your own background mentoring design talent, both at Bentley Motors and now within King Living’s in-house studio, how does your personal philosophy on mentorship align with what the 30UNDER30 program sets out to achieve?

I’ve been fortunate throughout my career to work alongside incredibly talented people, and one thing I’ve learned is that the best mentorship is never one-directional.

Experience certainly has value, but equally, fresh perspectives have the power to challenge assumptions and inspire new ways of thinking. I learn just as much from younger designers as they may learn from me, and I think that’s where real innovation happens.

For me, mentorship is about creating an environment where people feel confident enough to ask questions, test ideas and discover their own design voice rather than trying to follow someone else’s. Every designer approaches problems differently, and that’s something to celebrate.

That philosophy aligns perfectly with what 30UNDER30 represents. Bringing together ambitious designers from different disciplines encourages conversations that may not otherwise happen, and it’s often those conversations that spark the most meaningful ideas and lifelong professional relationships.

The furniture and product design industries are grappling with questions around craftsmanship, sustainability and longevity as younger designers enter the field. What do you hope this cohort of 30UNDER30 participants will take away from their exposure to King Living?

I hope they come away with the understanding that great design is ultimately about responsibility.

It’s easy to focus on aesthetics, but truly successful design balances beauty with purpose, craftsmanship and longevity. Every decision a designer makes – from materials and engineering through to how a product adapts over time – has an impact on both the people who use it and the world around us.

At King Living, we believe the most sustainable products are the ones people genuinely want to keep. Longevity isn’t just about engineering something that lasts physically; it’s about creating designs that remain relevant emotionally and functionally throughout different stages of life. Products that can adapt, evolve and continue to earn their place in the home for years, sometimes decades.

For us, timeless design isn’t about resisting change; it’s about creating something with enough integrity, flexibility and purpose that it continues to feel relevant as people’s lives evolve. I’d love participants to see that innovation doesn’t always mean reinventing something completely new. Often, it’s about asking better questions, refining the details and continually improving how people experience everyday life. Those are the innovations that tend to have the greatest and most lasting impact.

Beyond the obvious brand visibility, what tangible benefits do you see this partnership delivering, both for the young designers involved and for King Living as a business?

For the participants, I think the greatest value lies in the relationships they build.

Early in your career, having the opportunity to connect with peers, mentors and industry leaders can genuinely shape the direction of your professional journey. Those conversations often become the catalyst for new ideas, collaborations and lifelong networks.

For King Living, the partnership is equally rewarding. It allows us to engage with the next generation of creative thinkers, gain fresh perspectives and stay connected to the conversations shaping the future of design.

The most innovative ideas rarely happen in isolation. They emerge when people with different experiences and disciplines come together, challenge one another and remain curious. If this partnership helps strengthen those connections across Australia’s design community, while encouraging the next generation to think boldly and design with purpose, then everyone benefits.

Having transitioned from an automotive design background into furniture and lifestyle design yourself, what advice would you give to the emerging designers in this year’s cohort about navigating career pivots or unconventional paths into the industry?

Don’t feel constrained by the idea that your career must follow a perfectly linear path. Some of the most valuable experiences come from stepping into unfamiliar territory.

When I moved from automotive design into furniture, I realised the fundamentals hadn’t changed. Whether you’re designing a car or a sofa, you’re thinking about craftsmanship, engineering, materials, user experience and how people interact with an object over time. Those principles translate across industries more than people often realise.

Some of the most exciting innovation happens where different disciplines intersect. The broader your experiences, the richer your perspective becomes.

I’d also encourage young designers not to chase trends. Trends can be useful cultural signals, but they shouldn’t become the objective. The most enduring designs come from understanding people – their behaviours, their needs and how those needs might evolve over time. If you can solve those problems thoughtfully, your work is far more likely to stand the test of time.

Above all, stay curious. Keep asking questions, keep learning and don’t be afraid to challenge conventional thinking. Design is constantly evolving, and the people who make the greatest contribution are often those who remain open to new ideas throughout their entire careers.

Most importantly, never lose sight of the people you’re designing for. The role of a designer isn’t simply to create something new – it’s to create something meaningful enough that people choose to keep it. To me, that’s where great design begins, and it’s ultimately what gives it lasting value.

For more information visit the King Living website.

Applications for Australian Design Review‘s 30UNDER30 cohort for 2026/2027 open at 8am on Monday 31 August 2026. Check the website for details.