Palamont Rotor: Norman Johnson

In just ten years Palamont Rotor has shifted from a purely functional mindset, to a highly entrepreneurial position where the business has partnered with Australian designers to launch its own products directly to market.

Interview by Ewan McEoin

Lucelux: Rohan Nicol

In 2009, Wagga Wagga based designer Rohan Nicol launched Lucelux – a new design enterprise established through an alliance with local manufacturer Precision Signs. Rohan spoke to the ADU about the benefits to be gained from partnerships between designers and local manufacturers.

Interview by Ewan McEoin

Top3 by design: Terri Winter

Top3 by design founder Terri Winter spoke to the ADU about the key things Australian designers should know about design wholesaling, and what it takes to play well with retailers.

Interview by Madeleine Hinchy

Compact Desk: Stefan Kahn

Compact Desk founder Stefan Kahn believes that the time and energy spent on the design of a business is as fundamental to its success as the strength of the product it produces. Stefan spoke to ADU about the importance of business planning.

Interview by Heidi Dokulil

Helen Kontouris Design: Helen Kontouris

Helen Kontouris works with a number of local and international manufacturers and juggles her commitments within her own studio. Here Helen talks about client management and learning from a couple of failed starts in business.

Interview by Madeleine Hinchy

Third Drawer Down: Abi Crompton

Third Drawer Down’s Abi Crompton spoke to the ADU about the three streams of her business, dealing with copycats and how she has remained true to core values set out at the beginning.

Interview by Madeleine Hinchy

KeepCup: Abigail Forsyth

When siblings Abigail and Jamie Forsyth began their first business – a takeaway food store and catering service, Bluebag, in Melbourne’s CBD – they say customers were reluctant to drink coffee from takeaway paper cups. A decade later the Forsyth’s have launched KeepCup, a new business and product they hope will inspire baristas and consumers to bin a bad habit once and for all.

Here Abigail talks about the ups and downs of running a sustainable start-up in Australia, and the importance of staying true to the big idea.

Bird Textiles: Rachel Bending

Bird Textiles is a design business committed to the uncompromising standards of social and ecological sustainability. Its founder, textile designer and creative entrepreneur Rachel Bending, speaks to the ADU about passion, perseverance and the ‘hats’ you need to wear to run a successful design business.

Native: Rob Young

Australian design business Native is an example of what happens when creative people with a sound idea join forces. The business is a collaboration between designer/ manufacturer Rob Young, and designer, Dhiren Bhagwandas, and anchored by socially and environmentally sustainable products.

ADU caught up with Rob Young to discuss his thoughts on the new generation of Australian design brands that are shaping the meaning of creative entrepreneur.