MudTalks 05—Co-design and Collaboration: The Challenges and Opportunities

Karen McCartney is best known for her work in the world of interiors, architecture and design. She was editor of both Marie Claire Lifestyle and launch editor of Inside Out, a magazine she ran for ten years. In tandem, Karen has written several architecture and interior design books (Iconic Australian Houses, Superhouse, Perfect Imperfect), which she translated into successful exhibitions shown at the Museum of Sydney and Nishi Gallery, Canberra. She is the architecture editor of Belle Magazine and is the director of Edit’d, a brand advisory business for architects, interior designers and retail. In addition, she plays a strategic Editorial Advisory role at est living with a particular focus on their quarterly magazine.

Shelley Simpson is the Founder and Creative Director of Mud Australia – makers of timeless porcelain homewares and lighting since 1994 and now sold globally through a network of dedicated stores and wholesale accounts. Shelley has personally designed every Mud Australia piece in the range and developed the bespoke colour palette and production processes that mark the company’s point of difference. Shelley still spends the majority of her time in the Sydney studio, working closely with production.

Intrigued by how people interact with the objects and furniture within their spaces, Zachary Hanna looks to create pieces with an unexpected or functional element, aiming for this addition to make the design intriguing and endearing. This aim, coupled with an interest in manufacturing methods and how to apply them, drives his design process. After graduating from the University of Technology Sydney, Hanna worked for numerous design consultancies while starting his own studio, going on to show work locally and internationally, while winning numerous awards in the process.