The Design Files Talks

Latest Episodes:

TDF Talks with Interior Designer & Educator Jenna Densten Mar 02, 2020

Show notes

In episode 42 of TDF Talks, Lucy has a conversation with interior designer, educator, serial renovator, reality TV star and Mum of two, Jenna Densten.

Jenna is perhaps best known for her stint on The Block alongside her husband Josh... but, that was WAY back in 2011, and Jenna has done so much since then! These days, Jenna runs her design consultancy, Bicker Design, along with Design School, offering accredited courses in Interior Decoration. Recently, she's launched a brand new Online Masterclass!

Lucy sat down with Jenna last month to chat about life after reality TV, the highs and lows of renovating, juggling business ownership with parenthood, and everything in between.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast.

TDF Talks With Textile Designer Cassie Byrnes Feb 13, 2020

Show notes

Cassie Byrnes has got the IT factor. The young designer (and new Mum!) only finished her studies five years ago, but she's already kicked some seriously impressive career goals.

In addition to running her own much-loved fashion label, Variety Hour, Cassie has worked on a number of high profile collaborations and international projects, including with massive US brand Anthropologie, and more recently with Nike, to produce an incredible collection for the recent Australian Open – which was worn by almost EVERY major tennis star at the event, including Serena Williams!

I was keen to chat to Cassie about how this dream collaboration came about, and to learn a little more about how she’s managed to carve out such a stellar career in such a short space of time. Not to mention juggling all of this with her new baby, Charlotte, who is just 4 months old!

For Cassie, success has come from having an insane work ethic, saying yes before she actually knows how to do something, and generally biting off more than she can chew at every opportunity!
Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

TDF Talks with Author & Food Stylist Donna Hay Nov 30, 2019

Show notes

Donna Hay is a household name both here and overseas, having edited her self-titled magazine for 17 years, reaching subscribers in 82 countries around the world. Over the past 20 years, she has also authored 27 best-selling cookbooks, selling over six million copies worldwide, and has hosted TV series screened in over 17 countries.
It was such a pleasure to chat with Donna about the incredible rise of her brand over the past 20 years. We learnt that Donna actually isn’t a big goal setter, nor much of a forward-planner... which really surprised us!
In this conversation, Donna shares her thoughts on how it felt to close her magazine last year, after 100 issues and 17 successful years. We discuss the wellness industry, the future of food, and so much more. We really hope you enjoy this conversation!

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast.

TDF Talks with Singer, Songwriter and Storyteller, Clare Bowditch Nov 07, 2019

Show notes

Clare Bowditch is an ARIA award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, storyteller, educator and mother of three. And this month, she’s added ‘author’ to that impressive list of credentials!

Following on from Ashe Davenport’s insightful interview with Clare for our Family column last week, today the radiant songstress herself makes an appearance on our podcast! She chatted to Lucy about making it in the music biz, keeping the magic alive with her husband and long time collaborator, Marty Brown, and sharing a lifetime of learnings about self-doubt and anxiety, in her brand new book, ‘Your Own Kind Of Girl‘.

I first met Clare Bowditch around 10 years ago, and since then have watched her career continue to rise, and also, adapt and morph over time. In the past decade she’s turned her hand to so many different creative projects… and it seems there’s nothing she isn’t good at! She won a logie for her role Offspring, she spent two years presenting ABC radio, she’s hosted workshops and events for creative people, and now… of course, she’s finally released her first book!

The book, of course, is ‘Your Own Kind Of Girl’, and it’s a memoir of sorts. Clare’s passionate followers will know her as a ‘heart-on-the-sleeve’ sort of person, and that’s very much apparent in this book – and in our podcast conversation! This is a very candid chat about all the things that have led Clare to where she is now, and to the release of this book.

There really is something quite magical about Clare. She has an uncanny knack for making you feel like the centre of the universe when she’s speaking to you. We very much hope some of that magic comes through in this podcast!

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast

TDF Talks With Lou Bannister, Co-Founder & Editor of Lunch Lady Oct 24, 2019

Show notes

The magazine industry around the world, but particularly in Australia, is a notoriously hard market to succeed in. So when someone has created not one, but TWO successful publications, you know it's about more than just a bit of good fortune.

Lou Bannister is one-half of the brains behind Frankie magazine, and more recently, Lunch Lady magazine, an indie darling beloved by parents all over! In this episode of TDF Talks, Lucy chats with Lou about following her intuition, building community, and having integrity at the heart of every decision.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast.

TDF Talks with Street Artist, Rone. Oct 14, 2019

Show notes

Tyrone Wright, otherwise known at Rone, is a bit of an enigma. This isn't all that surprising, considering the multifaceted creative cut his teeth as a street artist, who are pretty good at keeping quiet behind-the-scenes while their public-facing work does all the talking.

Over the past few years, though, Rone has taken his projects to the next level. After his epic RONE Empire project earlier this year, it doesn’t feel totally accurate to describe him as simply an artist, or a street artist. He’s a brilliantly ambitious and dynamic creative, with a knack for making the impossible happen!

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast.

TDF Talks with Iconic Australian Artist Ken Done Sep 26, 2019

Show notes

Ken Done is one of Australia's most well-known artists, and an absolute creative icon in this country.

Last week Ken was in Melbourne as a judge for the TDF Design Awards (where he gave a particularly memorable speech!), and the morning after Lucy visited him in his suite at the Adelphi Hotel in Flinders Lane to record this podcast. In their conversation Ken reflects on his long career, how art in Australia has evolved, and what he's learned about the business of being an artist.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast.

TDF Talks With Life Coach + Author Kemi Nekvapil Sep 12, 2019

Show notes

Kemi Nekvapil is an ICF-accredited life coach, a brilliant speaker, and also a 'Dare to Lead' facilitator – spreading constructive ideas on leadership and vulnerability across Australia.

Lucy recently sat down with Kemi in her Brunswick East home, to talk about how a disempowered childhood in foster care led to life coaching (and what that actually is!) and to garner some of her brilliant advice on leadership, and how to create a life well-lived!

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast.

TDF Talks With Sasha Titchkosky, Co-Founder Of Koskela Aug 29, 2019

Show notes

Sasha Titchkosky is the co-founder of Australian-made furniture, lighting and homewares brand Koskela, which she launched with her husband Russell Koskela, in 2000.
Koskela aren’t your typical furniture company. This is a business with a strong moral compass, and a vision to offer intelligent design, with a low impact on the environment, and a positive impact on humanity.
This month, Koskela celebrates ten incredible years of social impact work with Indigenous communities across Australia. The perfect time to chat with Sasha, about Koskela’s unique approach to doing business, with purpose!

Notes + Links

You can learn more about Koskela and their social impact projects here.

You can also follow them on Instagram at @koskela_

Sasha offers some brilliant advice for other Australian companies looking to embed social purpose into their business, in this story we prepared earlier!

This is the 34th episode of our TDF Talks Podcast – thanks so much for listening! You can browse all or revisit any episode here.

TDF Talks With Architect, IADV Co-founder, + University Of Melbourne Academic Jefa Greenaway Aug 16, 2019

Show notes

Jefa Greenaway is a Wailwan/Kamilaroi man, and he’s the first architect of an indigenous background to be registered in Victoria. He runs his own practice, Greenaway Architects, where he leads a team of 10 people. he’s also the Co-founder of Indigenous Architecture and Design Victoria (IADV), and he’s an academic and a lecturer at the University of Melbourne.

In this conversation, Jefa discusses the importance of indigenous participation in the Australian architecture and design community, and the great opportunities that exist to incorporate Indigenous wisdom and ideas into the modern Australian built environment.

'We are all connected to the oldest continuing living culture in the world - so why wouldn't we seek to look at the strength and the opportunity that that can bring?’ - Jefa Greenaway.

Find links and other show notes at https://thedesignfiles.net/podcast