Qualifications
2021 PhD, RMIT University, titled Surface Encounter.
2010 Graduate Certificate, Teaching and Learning, RMIT University
2005 Bachelor of Design (Interior Design) (First Class Honours) RMIT University
1999 Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art Painting), (Honours) RMIT University
Pedagogical approach
My design studios and specialisations engage with material-led processes, together with theoretical and philosophical concepts. Students in my classes are encouraged to theorise, experiment, work responsively, converse, question, explore and iterate. My teaching approach, much like my spatial practice approach, aims to be responsive, experimental and open-ended. Having an interdisciplinary practice informs my approach to teaching and the concerns and concepts explored in the curriculum I produce. This approach is instrumental in informing my creative research practice, and conversely, my creative research practice informs my teaching. I consider each of my studios as projects in which we can experiment with ideas, theories, techniques, and approaches related to my research, creative interests, and practice.
In my approach to interior design education, I consider Interiors and Interiority as situations that are relational, temporal and material arrangements in the dynamic relationship with the milieu, with forces of time and materiality. I have often collaborated with other practitioners in my teaching projects to explore and examine my research-practice and conceptual thinking concerning other disciplinary perspectives. Over the years, I have taught with practitioners from Landscape Architecture, Photography, Art, Lighting Design, Curation and Exhibition Design, as well as leading projects affiliated with industry partners and organizations that have civic and community concerns.
Research and supervisor interests
Exhibition, curation, display
Interiorities and interiorization
Process-based practices
Assemblage theory
Materialities
Ephemeralities, energies
Interdisciplinarity practices
Diagramming
Sculptural processes
Expanded painting and drawing
Site responsiveness
Bodies, movement, choreographic processes
Summary of academic history
2021 - present Program Manager, Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours)
2020 - 2020 Research Strategies Coordinator,
2018 - 2021 Final Year Coordinator,
2017 - 2023 Tutor, Research Strategies
2014 - 2022 Tutor, Final Year Major Project
2012 - 2020 Tutor, Design Studio and Specialisations
2012 - 2017 Second and Third Year Coordinator
2008 - 2011 Communications Coordinator
2008 - 2011 Tutor, First Year Design Studio and Communications
2008 - 2011 First Year Coordinator
2007 - 2008 Sessional Tutor, 1st, 2nd and 3rd year
Industry experience
Worked in editorial styling and interior styling
Exhibition design and curation
Interior design across commercial contexts; hospitality, education, retail and residential.
Designed, led and taught a series of 2nd- and 3rd-year design studios over six years affiliated with industry partners and organizations such as Wyndham City Council, The CCP, Testing Grounds, NGV, and The Australian National Veterans Arts Museum.
Awards
Recognition of Category P5: Innovation in Curricula, Learning & Teaching. School of Architecture & Design, Higher Education RMIT University, 2011
Recognition of Category P3: The First Year Experience. School of Architecture & Design, Higher Education RMIT University, 2011
Recognition of Participation: RMIT Peer Partnerships in the School of Architecture & Design, Higher Education, RMIT University, 2012.
List of research outputs, creative works, conferences, projects
2023
Light Encounter
A presentation-performance and event. 20th May. In collaboration with Leslie Eastman. Presented by Town Hall Gallery at the Hawthorn Arts Centre as part of the NGV Melbourne Design Week 2023.
Projections and disruptions: drawing practices of interiors and landscapes.
An exhibition brings together a community of academics/design practitioners who use projection-based drawing and diagram processes to guide and enact their analysis and ideation of spatial relations. These works range from analogue constructions on paper to digital and multimedia projections and will focus on the intersection of landscape and interior spatialites. From 25th - 27th Mar. In collaboration with James Carey, Maud Cassaignau, Ying-Lan Dann, Leslie Eastman, Anthony Fryatt, Bridget Keane, Roger Kemp, Alice Lewis, Liz Lambrou, Jen Lynch, Katrina Simon. Presented at Cardwell Cellars + Mayfield Gallery as part of the NGV Melbourne Design Week 2023.
2021
Manifest: future interior provocations
A poster project and event. 19th March - 16th April. In collaboration with Ying-Lan Dann, Siobhan McCarthy and Sam Safe. Presented by the National Gallery of Victoria as part of Melbourne Design Week 2021.
2020
First-class final project
IE: Studio. Issue #5 ‘The First’. With Roger Kemp, Anthony Fryatt, Phoebe Whitman
Digital projections & artworks
The Light Practice, Yoga Studio. Ongoing commission
2019
Learning Lines - a roundtable discussion
Invited to participate. Convened by Associate Dean of Interior Design, Suzie Attiwill, Naarm/Melbourne
Conversations of light
M Pavilion. 20th January. Panel conversation and workshop with Pip McCully (Studio Wonder), Blaire Smith (Blaire Smith Architecture), David Poulton (David Poulton Designs) and Phoebe Whitman. Convened by Giselle Laming (Studio Wonder)
Future Interior
An exhibition experiment on past, present, future research in relation to the discipline of interior design.
Invited to be part of an exhibition, Melbourne Design Week 2019. Curated by Suzie Attiwill, Professor of Interior Design, RMIT.
2017
On teaching art and design conversation
Invited to participate in a round-table discussion. Lesson 8 - David Thomas exhibition. 20th September, RMIT Design Hub.
2015
To note; notation across disciplines
Contribution to the annotations and photographs in Perimeter Edition, Naarm/Melbourne
Beginning in Incompleteness; works in formation
RMIT Project Space Spare Room. Site responsive intervention and symposium. A group show with Louisa King, Saskia Schut, James Carey, and Phoebe Whitman. Catalogue text by Phip Murray.
To note: notation across disciplines
Invited workshop participant. Curated by Hannah Mathews. A workshop presented at RMIT Design Hub, Melbourne involved 25 practitioners working in and across sound, dance, visual art and design and architecture.
2014
Thisness
Group exhibition. 'SE#001'. Bus Projects, Naarm/Melbourne.
Surface encounter
A paper presented at the SITUATION — a symposium and exhibition. Convened and arranged by RMIT Interior Design, in partnership with IDEA (Interior Design/Interior Architecture Educators Association) SITUATION symposium. RMIT Design Hub, 23rd July 23 – 3rd August.
2013
Manorisms
Site-specific intervention titled 'This Is Your Light Source' as part of a group exhibition. Curated by Rosie Scott, with James Carey and Louisa King. Cromwell Manor, Melbourne. Exhibition. 18th October - 2nd November.
Researching surface
Professional Practice Advanced Seminar Program, School of Art, RMIT University - presented a paper on my PhD research project.
What makes a great black and white photograph?
Invited to present a lecture at The Centre for Contemporary Photography, Fitzroy, Salon Show Program on the topic of 'What makes a great black and white photograph?'
Interior design: a creative practice - contemporary and future interior pedagogy
Invited lecture. Co-written with Roger Kemp. Presented at the Interior Federation of Interior Architects/Designers Global Interior Educators, Open Forum. The University of NSW, 3-4 October
2011
9 to 5 program of talks
Invited panellist as part of the State of Design Festival: Troika interview. The Wheeler Centre
In the pines
Poster series curated by The Projects We Do Together (Millie Cattlin and Joseph Norster). Fracture Gallery, Federation Square, Melbourne. Exhibition 10th December - 10th January.
2010
Writing around the kitchen table: critical spatial writing practices
An invited participant and round-table discussion with Jane Rendell.
Symposium organised by Hélène Frichot; Supported by Geoplaced Knowledges, DRI, RMIT University; School of Architecture and Design, RMIT University; SARU, Monash University; Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Building, University of Melbourne. Title of my paper 'Surface as site encounter'
2009
Critical spatial practice symposium
Invited workshop participant with Jane Rendell. Convened by Linda Marie Walker and John Barbour. Art, Architecture and Design, University of South Australia, Liverpool Gallery, Adelaide, 10–12 September