Soozy Lee is among Australian Design Review’s 30UNDER30 Interior and Product Designers for 2024/2025. Below, we get to know the self-effacing and passionate HDR interior designer, who relishes the sense of camaraderie and teamwork afforded by involvement in design projects and believes in constantly pursuing excellence. 

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

Soozy Lee: When I was about seven or eight, I had one of those sticker books where you could dress up people in different outfits. I would spend hours picking out the cutest combinations, imagining that I was getting ready for a date or a special event. 

Looking back, it’s a little bit cringey, but I realise that was my first taste of design – figuring out how to express personality and style through choices and combinations. It’s funny how something so simple can spark an interest that grows into something more.

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

SL: ‘Factory of the Future’ – a robotics workshop fit-out for WSU Bankstown has been the highlight of my career to date. It’s a highly anticipated and exciting project and once all the equipment is installed, it’s incredible to think it will soon be a world-class immersive addition to the university.

Though it was a smaller project, it was packed with complexity and it kept us on our toes. I appreciated how it tested the importance of collaboration between the design and delivery teams. There were many unexpected learning moments throughout the process and I’ve taken so much from the experience. The teamwork and collaboration we had on this project have definitely set the bar for me moving forward.

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

SL: Yayoi Kusama. Her work resonates with me in a way that is tricky to put into words. 

While there are a lot of buzzwords surrounding her art, what I find the most powerful is how she can take a simple pattern – polka dots – and explore it in many different ways, from colour, size, form and distortion. There is something profound about embracing one pattern and owning it. I bet she never imagined being called the ‘princess of polka dots’.

I’d love to understand her creative process, her inspiration, and get to know her on a personal level. There’s so much to learn from her, in terms of her work and the serendipitous lessons she could offer outside of it.

Her work helps ground me and reminds me not to overthink things. Sometimes simplicity is the best solution, and just because a pattern is the same, the outcome can still be completely unique. 

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

SL: For me, it’s all about understanding the bigger picture. While interiors might seem like a small part of a project, it is where everything truly comes together. I’ve learned that it’s important to ask questions and grasp every aspect. If I don’t understand an engineering term or acronym, by asking a question and seeking clarity, I can make better-informed design decisions that benefit the entire space.

Additionally, seeing a project in its full context helps with spatial planning and understanding how people will move through the space. It’s about creating environments where people enjoy the experience, while ensuring the behind-the-scenes services work efficiently. I strive to ensure these elements come together smoothly and support both the functional needs and the human experience.

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

SL: My initial reaction was shock, and after the shock wore off, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride for having put myself out there. I am incredibly grateful for the recognition. 

At 30, I still consider myself in the early stages of my career with so much ahead of me and many lessons to learn. Being recognised nationally is a true honour and it has fuelled my determination to continue growing and striving for excellence. 

I am excited about the program and the mentoring opportunities it offers. I hope to give back what I learn from this opportunity to the next generation of designers.

Photography supplied.

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.