A stand out feature of Indesign 53 is our ‘New on the Block’ photo feature. We hand picked inspiring individuals whom we recognised to be on the rise in their particular design discipline.   We are pleased to collaborate here with Indesign Magazine to bring you more from the fresh faces we introduced you to in Indesign 53.

Your top 3 influences.

1.     Colleagues past and present who have been generous with sharing their time and expertise.
2.     My other half who is a Developer – almost daily he challenges my positions and opinions about the built environment and design.
3.     Travel. Experiencing different places and ways of living. I wish I could do more of it but sadly I’m not a Gypsy.

The moment you knew you wanted to work in design/architecture/planning industry.

The moment I discovered that Urban Design was ‘a thing’!  I’d drifted away from architecture, dabbled in strategic planning and landscape architecture and then transport planning in London. I finally discovered the MUDD course back home at the University of New South Wales and it all made sense.

Favourite local landmark/building.

Look, it’s got to be the Sydney Opera House. It’s crazy and perfect.

Favourite material.

The humble brick.

Favourite international landmark/building.

European hill towns are my weakness.I could happily spend the rest of my days walking the lanes of Vernazza, Monterosso and the other higgledy piggeldy villages of the Cinque Terra, Italy, or winding my way around Hora in Patmos, Greece.

Biggest career moment.

Working on CLOUSTON Associates (shortlisted) entry for the Canberra Arboretum International design competition. It required innovative thinking and was such an inspiring big picture project. I love visiting the site and watching it transform.

Dream project to work on (real or imaginary).

Cockatoo Island!

Dream person to collaborate with.

Kevin McCloud of course.

Favourite decade of design.

1960s.

Favourite chair.

Not cool, but I love those homemade timber Adirondack chairs that feature on old holiday house verandahs.

#1 concern for the design industry in the coming decade.

Waste! Homewares, clothes and electronics cost less than they ever have but they just don’t last. As a result we all produce extraordinary amounts of waste. The design industry has an important role to play in promoting the durability and extending the life cycle of products. It’ll probably cost us all more money and would require education of the consumer, but I think some extra pain at the cash register is justified in the long run.

Which items in the workplace can you not live without?

My A4 manila folder which is stuffed full of reference materials and interesting tidbits I come across.

The most unusual/interesting thing about the way you work.

I take way too many notes in meetings. I think it helps me focus!

CLOUSTON Associates

clouston.com.au