The Australian International Furniture Fair (AIFF) is the most important buying and networking event on the calendar. It’s an opportunity for retailers to see diverse wholesalers gathered under one roof at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Wednesday 17th July – Friday 19th July. Co-located with Decor + Design, in 2024 the event will also host a very special feature – the 2024 Makers Movement, which will be an in situ workshop with talented Makers ‘making’ live at the show.
Artisans are a key component of the furniture industry. We are delighted to showcase award-winning furniture and tapware designers and makers (Sawdust Bureau and Wood Melbourne), a Good Design Award-winning lighting designer (Sarah Tracton), a Master Upholsterer (John Halpin), Glassmakers (HotHaus) and an ingenious 3D printer (Wonder). Find out more about these incredible designers and makers below.
Register to visit now – entry to the exhibition is free but limited to trade visitors.
SAWDUST BUREAU
Sawdust Bureau was founded in 2012 by Irish-born, designer/maker, Bryan Cush. The studio fuses his 15 years of studying and practising Architecture around the globe with his passion for sculptural craft and local indigenous timbers.
Located 10 minutes from the historic gold-mining city of Ballarat, the Sawdust Bureau workshop is nestled amongst the Stringybark’s of the Woowookarung Forest.
With influences from Scandinavian and Japanese craft through to modernist and brutalist architecture, Sawdust Bureau strive for unique design with a distinctly Australian accent.
Beaumaris Coffee Table By Sawdust Bureau
They have collaborated on pieces with Sarrita King (Gurindji Waanyi artist) and John Wardle (AIA Gold Medal winning Architect) with their work widely published and exhibited across Australia.
As part of an ongoing commitment to sustainable practice, Sawdust Bureau founded the Treemaker Initiative; a 1% income pledge towards tree planting and environmental protection projects for furniture makers. More information can be found here. Bryan is also a co-host on the fortnightly ‘The Shop Stool’ woodworking and design podcast – click here to listen on Spotify.
We’re lucky that the talented Bryan Cush will be working from the Makers Movement at the 2024 Green Design Show from Wednesday 17th – Friday 19th July. Drop by to say hello!
WOOD MELBOURNE
Wood Melbourne was founded by carpenter, builder, tinkerer and inventor Oliver MacLatchy.
Oliver Maclatchy loves people but he loves timber more. He loves the way timber looks and feels, its versatility, how it ages with you and tells a story. In Oliver’s world, timber belongs in every room of the home.
Oliver likes to be alone with his timber sometimes to conduct late night experiments and to tinker with reclaimed and recycled timber. During one of these sessions in his workshop in 2013, Oliver invented timber spouts, the likes of which have never been seen before.
Wood Melbourne, much like the material, has grown naturally since that famous night. Wood timber spouts provide a warm, sustainable and natural alternative to traditional spouts. Each individual Wood timber spout is designed and made by hand in Oliver’s workshop in Melbourne.
Tapware By Wood Melbourne
The design studio has now evolved to incorporate minimalist, geometric bath and kitchen fittings in timber, concrete and – of late – resin. Chromablock is a collection minimalist (in shape) but playful (in colour) tap handles in matte poured resign. Oliver will be making Chromablocks at the 2024 Makers Movement. Visit him within the Green Design Show to see him in action!
WONDER 3D PRINTING
Wonder rethink how products are made. Founded by Murphy Dungo, they specialise in manufacturing eco-friendly solutions that minimise environmental impact without compromising on quality or efficiency. Wonder’s 3D printers print using recycled materials to help reduce environmental impact. From prototyping to production, they offer scalable solutions tailored to your needs.
Their filament Polylactic acid, also known as PLA, is a thermoplastic monomer derived from renewable, organic sources such as corn starch or sugar cane. Wonder partner with Australian suppliers to produce rPLA (Recycled Polylactic acid).
End-of-life is also factored into the process. Wonder also collect 3D prints at the end of their life to be processed back into recycled PLA/filaments.
With three 3D printers in operation on the 2024 Makers Movement, Murphy Dungo will be showing visitors how the products come to life. He will also be giving a Floor Talk and demonstration on Wednesday 17th July
HOTHAUS
Laurel and Amanda share a common passion; glass blowing. It is what has brought them together and it is what founded their beautiful hot glass studio located in Heidelberg West in 2019 – HotHaus.
Independently, they both trained as glass associates, undertaking the glass training program at JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design in Adelaide. Having been both trained at the Jam, both have production glass blowing training, exceptional work ethics and a nurtured passion for the material of glass.
Both artists have worked in numerous glass studios on home turf and internationally. 
Together as their work grew it became harder and harder to find the space and time on the glass to push their individual practices further. The travel time between studios was exhausting and the restraints of working in private studios was growing. Out of both necessity and that drive to create, HotHaus was founded.
HotHaus is the accumulation of everything both artists wanted in a studio space. Colour, light and greenery paired with excellent equipment and the space to thrive. A place where you can be excited to come to work, a place where we can create, make, showcase our works and welcome clients into the space proudly. Essentially Laurel and Amanda are creating their dream studio and are delighted to see this dream come to fruition.
HotHaus abides by three guiding principles; Good Design. Good Glass. Good Times. Visit the Makers Movement at the Green Design Show to chat about all three with Laurel and Amanda!
SARAH TRACTON & DR IAN WATKINS
Sarah Tracton at work in her studio.
Sarah Tracton is a multidisciplinary fine artist and bespoke lighting designer. A graduate of the National Art School, she has built a reputation for using innovative ceramic techniques to create bespoke handcrafted lighting that is an intersection of fine art, craft and functional design. With the help of her technical partner Dr Ian Watkins, Sarah fuses innovative cordless technologies with traditional craft processes to create lighting that emits exquisitely luminous and ethereal outcomes when paired with LEDs.
In the final year of her BFA, Sarah refined a technique of building architectural porcelain slabs from pouring wet porcelain slip onto a smooth plaster surface. Her distinctive iridescent colouring creates a marbled chromatic panorama akin to landscape topography. Her creative process involves pairing traditional clay crafting techniques with the finest grade porcelains plus high-end design, manufacturing & fabrication for bespoke architectural lighting applications. She uses Kintsugi golden repair technique, in line with the ethos of circular economy in combating wastage.
Sarah is a Good Design Award Winner, recipient of Creators Fund awarded by Creative Victoria and twice finalist for Australia’s Next Top Designer. She exhibits as part of Launchpad’s emerging designer showcase at ICFF Manhattan in New York City, May 19 – 21, 2024 as part of Design Wanted.
JOHN HALPIN UPHOLSTERY
Visitors to the Makers Movement are in for a treat – a demonstration from a Master Upholsterer! For over 35 years, John Edward Halpin Upholstery & Soft Furnishings has been dedicated to exceptional craftsmanship. Originally established in Suffolk, UK, their legacy is evident in prestigious projects like the refurbishment of Harrods Tea Rooms in London.
John (left) believes that upholstery is more than just fabric; it’s about skilful restoration, thoughtful design, and ensuring each piece provides lasting comfort and support. His studio carefully assess every item, ensuring proper padding, support and evenly balancing weight distribution. This deep knowledge and skill of upholstery and soft furnishings has breathed new life into homes and businesses across the globe.
Now based on Sydney’s Upper North Shore, they offer a range of services, including bespoke upholstery, reupholstery, and restoration using sustainable practices, alongside stunning soft furnishings. John and his partner Liza will be refurbishing furniture during the show. Liza is also a skilled curtain maker and will be practising her craft for the show.
You don’t want to miss this! Visit the Makers Movement within the inaugural Green Design Show at Decor + Design, co-located with The Australian International Furniture Fair (AIFF) at Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Wednesday 17th July – Friday 19th July 2024. Register to visit now – entry to the exhibition is free but limited to trade visitors.