Trent Jansen shares his collaborative philosophy and passion for culturally connected design, speaking to the importance of storytelling, heritage and co-creation in his practice and award-winning project.

The latest SpeakingOut! episode, hosted by Jan Henderson, features Trent Jansen, an accomplished Australian designer known for creating evocative, culturally rich objects. This conversation, proudly supported by Designer Rugs – partner of The Influencer category at the 2025 INDE.Awards – dives into Jansen’s career, design values and his recent award-winning collaboration.

Jansen is celebrated for his thoughtful approach to design, focusing on culture, heritage and sustainable storytelling through objects. His work alongside Errol Evans and Tanya Singer on Kurunpa Kunpu (Strong Spirit), a collection of culturally significant pieces, earned The Influencer category win at the 2024 INDE.Awards – a category reserved for projects that lead with culture, innovation and positive impact.

A Creative Childhood Rooted in Making

Jansen’s creative journey was shaped early on by his upbringing. While his family had no professional design background – with a mother who worked in aged care and a father who was a diesel mechanic – his mother’s love for making things inspired him and his brothers to get hands-on from a young age.

A charming family story reveals how Jansen’s mother, while pregnant, made endless macramé wall hangings, and the umbilical cord was amusingly “knotted” around his neck – a playful nod to her craft. Originally aspiring to be an architect, then a graphic designer, it wasn’t until university that Jansen discovered object design – a discipline that immediately felt natural to him. “There’s something about that scale that works well for me,” he reflects.

The Story Behind Kurunpa Kumpu

A major focus of the interview was Kurunpa Kumpu (Strong Spirit) – an ambitious cross-cultural collaboration between Jansen, Errol Evans, and Tanya Singer from South Australia’s remote Railway Bore community.

The project took three years to complete, overcoming the challenges of distance, remoteness, and the complications of the pandemic. Jansen describes collaboration as a “sliding scale” between all parties, delegating and co-creating, to achieve their shared vision. 

With no preconceived ideas, Jansen camped in Evans and Singer’s front yard, spending weeks together experimenting, sharing stories and making. The result was a rich, deeply personal collection of objects – each piece reflecting cultural narratives and collective craftsmanship.

Impacting Design Through Cultural Collaboration

Jansen’s work exemplifies how design can be a bridge between cultures, histories and contemporary practice. His approach advocates for culturally responsive and sustainable design processes – something increasingly essential within the industry.

By positioning storytelling and genuine co-creation at the centre of his projects, Jansen is helping to reshape how design is understood and valued within both local and global contexts. His collaborations give voice to communities and ensure cultural authenticity is honoured, creating work with meaning beyond aesthetics.

A big thank you to Trent Jansen for sharing his insights and to Designer Rugs for supporting the 2025 INDE.Awards The Influencer category. To hear the full conversation and dive deeper into Jansen’s world of culturally connected design, watch the complete interview here. 

Entries to the 2025 INDE.Awards are now closed. Stay tuned for this year’s shortlist announcement on the 12th June 2025.