When a partnership ticks all the boxes, it’s time to take it to another level. Australian Design Review (ADR) talks to Laufen‘s sales and marketing manager Dianna Hanna, about the company’s sponsorship of ADR’s 30UNDER30 program.

For over 130 years, the Swiss sanitary ware manufacturer has been creating products of exceptional quality.

The brand has also had a long association with Niche, producer of IDEA (the Interior Design Excellence Awards). Now it has also come on board as a sponsor of another of Niche’s flagship programs, Australian Design Review’s 30UNDER30, major sponsor Neolith.

Here Laufen’s sales and marketing manager, Dianna Hanna, talks with ADR about this move and explains how the expansion of the partnership was a such a logical development.

ADR: What was it that drew you to the becoming involved with 30UNDER30?

Dianna Hanna: Laufen has always believed in supporting design culture, not just promoting products. Our long-standing relationship with Niche Media is built on shared values around quality, originality and thought leadership. What drew us to the 30UNDER30 program specifically was its focus on emerging talent – designers who are shaping the future of the industry. After four years of seeing the impact of the program, it felt like a natural evolution for Laufen to become more actively involved and contribute in a more meaning way.

For us, it is about investing in the next generation, building genuine relationships with future leaders and staying connected to the evolving design conversation – not just observing from the sidelines.

ADR: How does the program’s goal of uncovering the future leaders of the A+D industry and giving them the opportunity to learn from mentors, other industry professionals and their peer group align with Laufen’s objectives in this space?

It aligns closely, as is evident with our collaboration with designers and architects on all our ranges. Laufen has always worked in partnership with architects and designers; therefore, supporting future leaders feels like a natural extension of that relationship. The focus of 30UNDER30 on mentorship, learning and peer connection reflects the same values we hold as a brand.

For us, it is about building long-term relationships with the people who will shape the built environment in years to come. Being involved at this stage allows us to contribute meaningfully to the design community, while staying connected to new ideas, emerging practices and the next generation of industry leaders.

ADR: In 2026, for the first time, 30UNDER30 will see a cross-discipline approach, with interior designers, architects and other built environment professionals all in the mix and attending the Bali retreat together. What difference do you think that this may make to the outcome?

DH: I think it can make a really positive difference. The built environment is inherently collaborative, yet, early in their careers many professionals don’t always have many opportunities to be so. Bringing everyone together in a setting like the Bali retreat creates space for open conversations, shared experiences and different ways of thinking and perspectives.

Bringing disciplines together early encourages broader thinking, stronger collaboration and a more holistic approach to design – all of which are essential to the future of the built environment.

ADR: Why do you think it’s so important to offer this kind of opportunity to younger design professionals? What do you think they can get out of the experience?

DH: Early in your career, opportunities like this can be incredibly valuable. Having access to mentors, peers and different perspectives helps build confidence and clarity.

Programs like 30UNDER30 provide younger professionals with the chance to step back from the daily pressures and be guided by people who have already navigated similar paths.

I believe what they get out of it goes beyond technical knowledge. It is about building relationships, gaining insights and feeling part of a broader community. Those connections and shared experiences tend to stay with people for a long time and can shape how they collaborate and lead.

ADR: As a sponsor, what do you also hope to get out of the experience? 

For me, it is about learning and connections as much as it is about support. Spending time with emerging designers gives insight into how the next generation is thinking – what inspires them, what challenges they are facing daily and ultimately the shift in priorities.

Essentially, I hope to come away feeling more connected to the design community and inspired by the ideas and conversations that come out of this experience.

ADR: What do you think are the common aims and ideals that 30UNDER30 and Laufen share? 

DH: At the heart of both 30UNDER30 and Laufen is a shared belief in the value of experience, learning and long-term thinking. Both are grounded in the idea that exposure – to people, places and ideas – plays a significant role in shaping confident and thoughtful designers.

That is very much reflected in initiatives like our study tour in April – our third one – to Laufen’s European factories as well as Salone del Mobile. These experiences offer insight into how design is developed, manufactured and discussed at a global level. In many ways, this aligns closely with what 30UNDER30 represents: curiosity, collaboration and a commitment to the future of the built environment.

ADR: Are you looking forward to speaking with the 30UNDER30 cohort and understanding their thoughts, ideas and aspirations? 

DH: Very much so. Speaking with the 30UNDER30 cohort is an opportunity to listen and learn. Understanding their ideas, motivations and aspirations gives valuable insight into how the next generation is approaching practice and the challenges they see ahead.

Those conversations help keep our thinking relevant, grounded and spark new perspectives. It’s an exchange we genuinely value and one that continues to inform how we engage with the wider A&D community.

ADR: What else do you personally find exciting about the prospect of the Bali retreat?

DH: What excites me most about the Bali retreat is the chance to step away from the usual work environment and have more open and reflective conversations. Being in a different setting creates space for ideas to surface in a more natural way, without the pressures of day-to-day practice.

It is also an opportunity to see how the cohort interacts across disciplines – how they exhange ideas, challenge each other and form connections. Those are the moments that people remember and carry forward long after the retreat ends.

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