Her Design, Her Story

Shona McElroy is the founder and creative force behind SMAC Studio, a Sydney based interior design studio.

Shona has built a reputation for creating interiors that feel considered, characterful and beautifully layered. Her work has a wonderful confidence and clarity, balancing colour, materiality, texture and form with an appreciation for the details that ultimately make a space feel like home.

In our conversation, we go back to the beginning of Shona’s creative journey, exploring the experiences that shaped her approach to design and the story behind establishing SMAC Studio.

We also talk about working with clients, where she finds inspiration, and her love of creative collaboration.

With more than four decades in the industry, Nicole’s career is nothing short of remarkable. She began at Vogue straight out of university, at a time when the profession of fashion styling was still in its infancy, and went on to become Fashion Director of Australian Elle, Fashion Director of CLEO and Senior Fashion Editor-at-Large at Madison.

Along the way, Nicole has helped shape some of the most memorable images and careers in Australian fashion and entertainment, including extensive work with Kylie Minogue, as well as Toni Collette, Naomi Watts, Naomi Campbell and INXS.

One of the most fascinating elements to Nicole is the eye behind all of that work. Her approach is about storytelling, polish and creating an entire visual world - not simply putting an outfit together.

We discuss all the aspects of an extraordinary career: the changing face of fashion, the art of styling, creativity, motherhood, and what it takes to maintain an instinctive eye for style over four remarkable decades.

Kathryn Robson is a Director and co-founder of Melbourne based architectural practice Robson Rak.

After beginning her career in London, Kathryn moved to Melbourne and went on to establish her own practice before joining forces with her husband, Chris Rak. Together, they have created an extraordinary body of work, particularly within Melbourne’s heritage homes, balancing the past with contemporary life through thoughtful planning, natural materials and meticulous craftsmanship.

As Kathryn celebrates 20 years in practice and the release of her book, Permanent Residence, we discuss her journey, creative process and the enduring philosophy behind her work.

In conversation with Louise Bastiras, Jordan Fleming and Ruby Shields.

The panel explore the idea of “Designing Legacy – What are we leaving behind?”
The conversation was inspired by reflecting on four key design weeks that have unfolded so far this year — Milan, Melbourne, New York and Copenhagen — and the broader questions they have raised around what endures, what we leave behind, how we design for the future, and who design ultimately serves?

Jillian Dinkel is the founder and creative director of Jillian Dinkel Designs.

Originally from America, Jillian spent almost two decades in fashion, including as an editor at Vogue in New York, before making the brave decision to retrain in interior design.

Today, she is renowned for her work with period and heritage homes, particularly Sydney’s beautiful terraces, where she masterfully balances old and new -preserving the details, character and imperfections that give a home its soul, while making it feel relevant to contemporary life.

Jillian is drawn to history and storytelling; she uncovers a buildings history and creates the next chapter.

In this episode, Jillian touches on fashion, interiors, heritage, creativity and the journey between them -and the art of creating a home that feels both timeless and entirely personal.