This year, Saturday Indesign once again brought out the best of the Australian architecture and design community as it returned to Melbourne. Richmond, Collingwood and the CBD/South Melbourne each hosted distinct design precincts, with showrooms opening their doors and welcoming visitors – professionals and enthusiasts alike – to talks, installations, food, drink and more.

The Project is a well-established feature of Saturday Indesign. The theme posed to entrants in 2025 was Resonance – Evoking emotion through physical design. Hosts were invite to craft installations that strike a chord through materiality, form or interactive methods – such as sculptural pieces that mimic the flow of music, lighting designs that shift and adapt to mood, or tactile surfaces that encourage touch and exploration. With layered textures, vibrant hues or curated objects, the idea is to facilitate audience experiences of design using all their senses.

With results from the vote in and counted, the winner is none other than V-ZUG through its collaboration with the Whitehouse Institute of Design! Their project took out a strong 62 per cent of the vote and was on show at the sumptuously serence V-ZUG Studio, located at Industry Lanes, Richmond.

The project was a collaborative effort, directed by V-ZUG alongside interior and photography students as well as the support of teachers. Creative direction was given from Whitehouse Head of Education, Daniel Clements, resulting in the reimagining of V-ZUG Studio Melbourne as an immersive design exhibition. The aim was to reflect the brand’s Swiss heritage and commitment to innovation and sustainability with thoughtful spatial design, natural textures and sculptural installations. It was, in a word, all about experiencing design with all senses.

Two pillars underpinned the creative direction and concept of the project: the studio as a destination, and the idea of a multi-sensory journey. On the first point, the V-ZUG Studio was transformed into a destination for the day – a welcoming space to linger, enjoy food and drinks, and relax in the courtyard or within the moody interior. Visitors roamed freely between moments of sensory discovery and moments of connection, making the Studio not just an exhibition, but a place to gather, unwind and be inspired.

As for the multi-sensory aspect, the experience was designed to combine installations that engage sight, sound and scent — abstract expressions that subtly reference V-ZUG’s products while inviting curiosity and exploration.

Related: The full wrap on Saturday Indesign 2025

“Emotions are sparked when all the senses come together,” explain the project team. “This is exactly what the students achieved: creating a space where visitors could explore, interact and connect – not only with art, but with each other. The experience was elevated further through V-ZUG’s signature hospitality, blending design and social connection into one seamless whole.”

The V-ZUG and Whitehouse Institute of Design team added: “Visitors left inspired – not only by the passion and creativity of the Whitehouse students, but also by the hospitality and welcoming atmosphere crafted by the V-ZUG Gourmet Academy team. Together, they created a unique destination: a space where people could hang out, explore and simply enjoy themselves.”

Meanwhile, another project has been recognised with a highly regarded commendation. Cristalo Resonance by Cosentino – pictured below – was a minimalist, sensory-driven art installation using translucent marble and interactive LED lighting to evoke emotional connection.

When two participants placed their hands on opposite ends of the stone, their synchronized stillness unlocked a glowing visual bloom in the centre. With its striking effects, the aim of this project was to symbolise resonance and relational harmony. 

Saturday Indesign is of course about making connections on a fun weekend, but it’s not all about play and partying. Alongside the Design Discussions series, The Project makes up the thoughtful, creative and rigorous end of the design scale during the day. With design professionals, students and visitors spending a varied, stimulating day, V-ZUG and the Whitehouse Institute of Design’s Project winner will have struck chords of design inspiration for so many.

The winning design team concludes: “This project was a unique opportunity to showcase our brand in a way that feels fresh and different, something unexpected, yet still true to who we are. By transforming the V-ZUG Studio into a destination, we create a space that invites visitors to hang out, explore and enjoy themselves. More than an exhibition, it becomes a place of connection, discovery and inspiration.”

Saturday Indesign
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V-ZUG
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