After seven decades of supporting Australian design, Stylecraft continues to empower designers to push the boundaries of modern spaces and create new, human-centric environments.

Embedded into its ethos is the nurturing and development of local design talent, a testament to Stylecraft’s dedication to Australian design and its creative culture. This commitment extends to robust partnerships with local manufacturers, craftsmen, and artisans, reinforcing the value of Australian-made products in terms of premium materials and their pivotal role in bolstering our domestic economy. It also means Stylecraft can offer shorter lead times and bespoke customisation options.

Australian designs for contemporary education environments

Beyond developing and nurturing the Australian design industry, Stylecraft has a particular commitment to education, specialising design-led solutions that enhance contemporary education environments with a view to nurturing the country’s up and coming generations of talent.

Stylecraft’s approach to educational furniture addresses all those components essential to high-performing scholastic design. From the accessories and storage solutions that support everyday learning and teaching; to flexible furniture options that support new and emerging modes of flexible, collaborative engagement; ergonomic equipment that puts the emphasis on focus and productivity; to comfortable, adjustable, lightweight furniture for popular, high-use break-out areas.

We take you through all the latest solutions that support the main functions of teaching and learning in busy, future-focused education spaces.

Accessories to support productive learning

Accessories and storage solutions such as lockers, writable surfaces and personalisation options play a crucial role in creating organised, individual and engaging educational environments. Tom Skeehan offers two key innovations in this area.

1. HIVE Creative by Tom Skeehan

Canberra-based SKEEHAN Studio specialises in bespoke commercial furniture, lighting, and product design, emphasising close collaboration with local manufacturers and artisans for quality production and sustainable material sourcing in Australia.

HIVE Creative provides a comprehensive mobile workspace, featuring a large whiteboard, universal VESA TV mount, and integrated power station. 

2. HIVE Traveller by Tom Skeehan

HIVE Traveller’s modular pegboard system can be completely customised to suit all manner of teaching and learning settings. It also accommodates industry-standard mounts like VESA and provides a range of accessories such as whiteboards, pin-boards, storage options, hooks and CMS freedom power.

Furniture with collaboration at its core

Engineering collaborative spaces requires flexible seating arrangements, modularity and integrated technology to facilitate group engagement. Here are three solutions to meet diverse collaborative needs.

1. Adapt Curve by Ross Gardam

Ross Gardam, headquartered in Melbourne, focuses on producing quality, original, and accessible Australian-made designs. A particular stand-out from Gardam’s studio is the Adapt modular lounge and accessory series designed to support the changing needs of students and teachers as they continue to engage in an increasingly flexible manner. 

The Adapt Curve offers versatile modules capable of instantly creating flexible break-out, collaborating, and teaching spaces, bringing a sense of softness and familiarity to any space.

2. Walter Table by SKEEHAN Studio.

This table comes in various heights, made from folded sheet aluminium which can be powdercoated, and table tops in American Ash (natural or black stain), American Oak or Walnut. Notably the table tops can accommodate power and data modules, making it suitable for meeting or breakout zones.

The inspiration behind the Walter Table’s design is educational in itself, referencing the three pillars of the National Triangle in Tom Skeehan’s hometown of Canberra: Parliament House, the Defence Headquarters, and City Hill. Here Skeehan refers to Walter Burley Griffin’s belief that the three aspects of a strong democracy are the people, the government, and a free market.

3. Met Stool by Stylecraft

Packed with personality, the Met Stool embodies the essence of fun, creating comfortable and collaborative educational spaces.

In celebration of 70 years, Stylecraft has introduced seven new colours in the Met Stool range, reflecting seven decades of style. The new range includes hues of walnut, blush, lilac, white, grey, bold blue, and bole green.

Furniture to help you focus

Focus and concentration areas demand ergonomic personal equipment such as chairs and desks, and options for privacy to reduce distraction and support better focus. These two solutions answer the demand.

1. Avion Pod by Keith Melbourne

Keith Melbourne’s adaptable modular furniture collections are very well suited to education settings. His Avion Pod presents a sophisticated line of individual workspaces that are compact yet functional, designed to prioritise user needs. These pods feature an upholstered seat, spacious worktable, shelf, and integrated power with wireless charging options, accompanied by a bespoke wall light.

2. M33 Task Chair by Stylecraft

The M33 task chair offers a synchro mechanism, tension control, seat slide adjustment, and a height-adjustable mesh back. Adjustable arms are optional, and the seat upholstery can be in black house fabric or a fabric/leather of your choice.

Furniture for breakout spaces

Breakout areas benefit from comfortable seating, adjustable lighting and flexible, lightweight furniture for relaxation and discussion. The following three designs are a great starting point for designing stand-out breakouts.

1. Bauhaus Seating System by Helen Kontouris

Helen Kontouris is the founder of LEN furniture, and has been a leading figure in Australian design for over 15 years. Her Bauhaus Seating System for LEN features a compact, quilted design with various seating configurations, allowing versatile arrangements and increased comfort within agile educational spaces.

2. Softscape Stools by Helen Kontouris

These organically shaped Softscape Stools can be upholstered in fabric or leather – the perfect complement to waiting or breakout spaces.

3. Nave Modular by Tom Skeehan

Scaled to suit a variety of agile spaces this collection comprises a series of ottomans in two sizes together with a 60-degree corner ottoman, all available with or without rear bolster cushion. Expanding the variety of configurations available is a unique tear-shaped and D-end ottoman. Ottomans can be upholstered in fabric or leather to your specifications, each featuring the characteristic Nave upholstery detail.

Stylecraft

stylecraft.com.au

We think you might also like this story on Ross Gardam’s latest designs at Stylecraft.