Wavell Heights House. Photography by Scott Burrows

• How did you come to be an Interior Designer? What first drew you to the practice?

I have always been interested in Architecture, Design and Art. As a small child I knew that I wanted to become a Designer. When I was four years old I inherited three giant bags of Lego from my uncle. It ignited my passion for playing with space, form and texture, and I don’t think I ever looked back. When I was at University I read Christopher Alexander’s “A Pattern Language”. It changed the way I looked at design and I’ve been referring to it ever since. It focussed my efforts to create spaces with meaning.

Offices for a Queensland Government Statutory Body. Photography by Alicia Taylor

• What inspires you? How does this work into your design?

Creating space that will positively influence human interaction and experience is what drives me. Understanding why space is used and then attuning design responses to those needs makes the process meaningful to me and my clients. Creating the right brief is the key to good design and that requires listening, collaborating, empathising and then innovating. The best results are those that actively involve the client or user in solving the problem at hand.

Offices for a Queensland Government Statutory Body. Photography by Alicia Taylor

• What have the highlights of your career been?

Probably the most exciting and challenging project I have worked on in the last few years is the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital. It has already won an International Future Health Project award in the 2013 International Academy for Design and Health Academy Awards. Our team is incredibly proud of the facility and the benefits that it will bring to the Queensland Community.

To be honest, every project great or small brings its own rewards and some of the most special moments I have had are really about personal relationships with my clients and their appreciation of the results that we come up with. Each design journey is its own experience and working as a team to create great spaces is thoroughly enjoyable. I see my career as a progression; each new project builds and solidifies my experience which I can then share with my colleagues and clients. It gets better and better every time!

University of Queensland Goddard Rooftop Workplace. Photography by Christopher Frederick-Jones

• What excites you most about being appointed president of the DIA Queensland Chapter and a National Director of the DIA?

I am passionate about accreditation for all areas of design, which I hope to advocate for in this role. I am an accredited designer and hope to raise awareness of the importance of accreditation for the benefit of our profession. I am also excited to advocate for recognition of design, explore IP and create a dialogue between practitioners, government and the rest of private industry.

University of Queensland Goddard Rooftop Workplace. Photography by Christopher Frederick-Jones

• In what way do you see the profession of design change in the future? Are these good or bad?

IP is incredibly important. Understanding that protection of IP creates room for innovation in design is critical. We must not use replicas!

• What is the most exciting or significant development for the interior design industry currently?

Technology – the rise of three dimensional printing and modular design construction is going to change the way we design and construct buildings and objects. I believe that it is going to have real benefits for innovation and quality in design.

ACU Seminary. Photography by Scott Burrows

• What do you hope to achieve in the coming months?

Our vision at the DIA Queensland branch is to raise awareness and increase the profile of the design profession within the community. We want to establish Queensland as an epicentre of design innovation and creativity where the contribution of leading Queensland designers is recognised.
We want to increase membership engagement over the next few months by focussing on quality events that bring tangible benefits for members and get everyone on board with the accreditation process!

Yvonne Rantzen
Role/title: DIA National Director
Co-President DIAQ
Senior Associate/Head of Interiors CGRAMW