On Thursday 28 August, the Australian design community converged at ForestOne’s Melbourne showroom for the second annual IDEA Emerging Designer of the Year presentation event. 

In front of a buzzing crowd of architects, interior designers and supporters of the industry, eight shortlisted studios presented their nominated projects while sharing their heartfelt stories of early self-doubt, growth and passion for what they do. 

ForestOne’s flagship showroom in the heart of Abbotsford, Melbourne, was once again host to this cosy event, welcoming upwards of 75 people who faced the wintry night to support their local cohort. As the sponsor of the IDEA 2025 Emerging Designer of the Year category, ForestOne greeted the event’s guests with drinks and canapes as they mingled about the sophisticated grandeur of the showroom in collective anticipation of the night to come.

Finding their seats, each one replete with a pristine copy of the latest inside magazine, the crowd settled in for the presentations.

ForestOne group decorative manager Darryl Ball first took the stage with a welcome message, thanking IDEA and all its talented participants.

Next up was IDEA general manager Jillian Hood, who highlighted the impact of the event in the industry, thanking Overall Sponsor Miele and category sponsors Cult, Crafted Hardwoods, Designer Rugs, ForestOne, MillerKnoll, Laufen and Zenith for their dedication and commitment to the cause.

IDEA brand manager Alvin Wu excitedly took the mic to lay out the process: each studio had exactly eight minutes to present their project, express their studio’s brand ethos and share insights on their future. 

Studio Pulp

Studio Pulp director and architect Ben Selke led the charge with a calm confidence, expressing his studio’s passion for crafting spaces that are both textured and playful. Presenting the studio’s Church Point residence, he underscored the project’s palette inspired by sandstone, eucalyptus and coastal dusk.

Co:Aika

Sophie Harris from Co:Aika then presented their project in the hospitality category: The Joey, a reimagining of the Barrenjoey Boatshed that Wan said is “inseparable to its landscape, a unicorn offering that thrives from day to night”.

In Addition

The In Addition team unveiled the studio’s retail nomination for luggage brand July at Chadstone, casting the project in a mood of nostalgia, sophistication and adventure. “The colour palette nods to a luxury flight experience,” the team noted, evoking the glamour of travel.

J. AR Office

At the halfway point of the presentations, J. AR Office founding architect Jared Webb started his presentation with a wry joke, “I’m from Brisbane…I know,” garnering a sympathetic laugh from the crowd. He then shared his project in the hospitality category, a Hong Kong-inspired restaurant called Central. “At the core of what we do is to create moments of curiosity,” he said, ending with his studio’s promise to “make small moves that have bigger repercussions”.

Invited to stand up and re-engage with the bar and food offerings, the crowd took an intermission and a chance to gather in discussion about the projects and the event thus far. But soon enough, the remaining presenters, fighting nerves and the chance to run out the door, geared up for round two.

Keep Studio

Standing first was brother and sister duo William and Nikki Davey of Keep Studio, regarding their nomination in the residential single category, The Treehouse. “It’s a super steep and a really tricky sit,” Nikki Davey shared. “The kitchen is a humble balance of recycled timber, giving it local quirk and character.”

Studio Co & Co

Up next was Studio Co & Co, whose IDEA Hospitality-nominated project, Elio’s Place, was also inside magazine’s front cover recipient. Creative director Ineke Hutter took the podium, with her studio colleagues capturing Insta moments while cheering her on. Hutter said about the project, “This isn’t just a restaurant, it’s a story told through space.”

Manifold

The penultimate studio, Manifold – also nominated in the IDEA Residential Single category for Gruyere Farm – manifested as Lachlan Cooper and Morgan Novy. They also presented the studio’s project nominated in the retail category for Mane by Stable. “At the heart of what we do is to honour the way people live, use and inhabit the spaces they occupy,” he said.

Without Studio

Rounding out the evening of intelligence, intrigue and imagination was Without Studio’s co-founder and designer Mel Hasic, who presented two projects: Antinous, in the IDEA Workplace Under 1000sqm category and Brie Leon Flagship, in the Retail category. Hasic said of Antinous, “We channelled the warmth of a residential space and leaned into a restrained palette.”

With presentations culminating in a cacophony of applause, the cohort raised their bodies and champagne flutes to finish the evening off with banter, burgers and a pregnant anticipation for who would take the coveted award of IDEA 2025 Emerging Designer of the Year.

IDEA 2025 jury member Melissa Leung, associate director at Fraser & Partners, said it was inspiring to hear from all the shortlisted emerging designers. “The calibre of work presented was exceptional, reflecting a deep understanding of client briefs and individual requirements,” she said. Leung noted that collaboration emerged as a common thread, highlighting what a fantastic industry we are fortunate to be part of.

The road to the IDEA gala

The IDEA jury will now convene to decide on the winner of Emerging Designer of the Year, as well as all the other IDEA categories, which will be revealed at the IDEA gala in Sydney on 28 November. 

In the meantime, we look forward to welcoming the A&D community to our next event – the IDEA Designer of the Year presentation at the Cult Brisbane showroom on Thursday 18 September. Register to attend here.

IDEA 2025 is brought to you by Overall Sponsor Miele, alongside category sponsors Crafted Hardwoods, Cult, Designer Rugs, ForestOne, MillerKnoll,  Laufen and Zenith.

Photography by Scott Gick.