Best of Products, People & Brands.   2024 Archive Edition

From bangin’ furniture to glorious lighting collections, 2024’s product design landscape has been shaped by both global influences and local innovation. At the heart of it all, Milan Design Week continued its reign as design’s greatest stage, where the world’s most compelling creative voices converge.

Australian designers made their presence felt, with notable collections from Thomas Maxam Studio’s innovative Bricks lighting, Articolo’s debut furniture range, and Ellison Studios’ concept showroom hybrid in Sydney. A growing global recognition of Australian talent reflects a maturing design industry that is increasingly confident in its unique perspective and craftsmanship.

The international scene delivered too, with studios like Los Objetos Decorativos creating evocative collections that blend ceramics and glass, proving that functional objects can be powerful vehicles for emotion.

What’s particularly exciting this year is the growing intersection between art and functionality. From Muller Van Severen’s architecturally inspired furniture at Antwerp’s Tim Van Laere Gallery to sculptural lighting that commands attention through composition and colour, we’re witnessing a beautiful blur between the functional and the collectible.

Settle in for a deep dive into the year’s most compelling products, people and brands—where innovation meets artistry, and the ordinary is transformed with a side of extra.

See All Yellowtrace 2024 Archives Here.

Explore our archives through the years: 2023 Archive / 2022 Archive / 2021 Archive / 2020 Archive / 2019 Archive / 2018 Archive / 2017 Archive / 2016 Archive / 2015 Archive / 2014 Archive / 2013 Archive / 2012 Archive / 2011 Archive / 2010 Archive.

Studio Kuhlmann’s Lucid Dreams Pays Homage to the Fleeting Refuge of a Midday Nap.

Studio Kuhlmann’s debut solo exhibition paid homage to the fleeting refuge of a midday nap—a momentary escape from the demands of reality into the realm of unconsciousness. Held at St Vincent’s Gallery, the exhibition displayed the…

History & Craft: Aurum Cabinets by Peca Studio & Karla Vázquez.

Mexican architects Karla Vázquez of KV and Caterina Moretti of Peca Studio have collaborated on a spectacular series of cabinets. With different dimensions but all the same height, the pieces feel strikingly cohesive. Made out of…

High Hopes: BMDO’s Debut Solo Exhibition in Melbourne.

BMDO presented High Hopes, a new collection of functional objects at Melbourne’s favourite esoteric gallery—and frequenter of our pages—Oigall Projects. A creative dialogue between Melbourne-based Fletcher Barns and Los Angeles-based…

Milan Unpacked: Exploring the Heart of Design Week with Dana Tomić Hughes.

Explore the charm and complexity of Milan Design Week through Dana Tomic Hughes’ comprehensive report, Milan Unpacked 2024 in partnership with Space. Focusing on installations, experiences, heritage brands, fashion houses, group shows…

Muller Van Severen Redefine the Boundaries of Art and Function with Architecturally Inspired Objects.

Muller Van Severen’s solo exhibition ‘Frames’ features over 30 unique works that challenge the boundaries between sculpture and functional objects. Starting from a single plate, each piece is transformed through cutting and folding…

RF Studio’s Stone Tables Tell a Story of Peru’s Ancient Geological Heritage.

In an outstanding fusion of ancient technique and contemporary design, RF Studio’s Mapa de Suelos transforms Peruvian stone into functional art pieces. Each table, crafted through traditional stoneworking methods, represents a geological narrative…

Rive Roshan’s Australian Show Colours our Perception with Hope, Optimism & Empathy.

In Rive Roshan’s debut Australian solo exhibition, the Amsterdam-based design studio showcases a new series of mesmerising functional art objects and shifting wall pieces. Partners in life and work, Ruben de la Rive Box and Golnar Roshan…

Between Art and Furniture: Sentada Chair by Pedro Paulø-Venzon.

Brazilian designer Pedro Paulo Venzon returns with the Sentada Chair, a sleek design handcrafted out of raw steel. Toeing the line between art and furniture, the chair pushes the limits of functionality with an impossibly thin frame and…

This Collection of Ceramic Lamps and Glass Objects Serves a Big Dose of Collective Visual Memory.

This collection of ceramic lamps and glass objects by Los Objetos Decorativos combine materiality, colour and form to create something utterly unique. Ornamental details nod to fashion and tailoring while the brand happily embraces error…

Lighting Up Sydney: Nook Collections Opens Doors to its First Showroom in Surry Hills.

Australian lighting retailer Nook Collections has opened its first showroom in a historic building on Cleveland Street in Sydney’s Surry Hills. The space plays with personality within a muted palette, creating harmony between product and…

Olivia Cognet’s Ceramic Pieces Mix Modern Brutalism with Sensual Femininity.

After spending six years in Los Angeles learning to model clay, Olivia Cognet has returned to her native South of France to pursue her work as a ceramic artist. Continuing to develop panoramic murals, sculpture–lamps, mirrors and vases…

Ross Gardam Takes Over a Brutalist Space to Present Latest Editions & Luminaires Collection.

Melbourne-based industrial designer Ross Gardam takes over a brutalist space ‘under construction’ to present the studio’s latest editioned pieces and new collection of luminaires. The pieces adorn the distressed concrete architecture…

Local Materials Shine in Thomas Maxam’s Expanded Lighting Collection.

Thomas Maxam Studio has expanded their Bricks lighting collection, introducing new pieces that build on their successful debut at Melbourne Design Week 2022. The range transforms the familiar suburban brick into refined lighting elements…

Milan Unpacked, Volumes 2&3: Group Shows, Materials, Products, Brands & Australian Designers.

Dana Tomic Hughes explores the charm and complexity of Milan Design Week via the three-part treasure trove of insight and visual inspiration from the world’s biggest design event. Milan Unpacked 2024, in partnership with…

Elevating the Mundane: Flaming Stars Ceramic Lamps by Natascha Madeiski.

For her latest table lamp collection, Natascha Madeiski appropriates existing objects to create something entirely new. The multidisciplinary designer borrows mundane, everyday objects——things like a modelling balloon, a plastic…

A Disruptive Dance of Light and Shadow: La~De~Da Pendant by Nightworks.

Nightworks Studio has unveiled a striking pendant light that dances between sculptural art and functional illumination. This latest addition to New Zealand company’s award-winning collection brings a playfulness to architectural spaces…

A Family Legacy Reimagined: Max Copolov’s RT Lamp Series.

Rich design heritage and Max Copolov’s great-grandfather’s architectural legacy serves as the foundation for his RT Lamp Series. The Melbourne-made collection offers an accessible entry point into high-end lighting proving once again…

Lost Profile’s Refreshed Melbourne Showroom offers a Peek into the Singular World of Oliver Wilcox.

Lost Profile’s Melbourne showroom and working studio hybrid offers a peek into the creative process behind the brand—and the unique and singular world with Oliver Wilcox at its helm. Laid out much like a home, the showroom is filled…

Known Work’s Debut Collection is an Ode to Gathering.

New York’s Parts and Labor Design have branched out into collectible furniture with their new venture Known Work. An ode to gathering and conversation, co-founders Jeremy Levitt and Danu Kennedy were inspired by the idea of a home as an…

A Nod to Scarpa: Abatellis Chair by Forme Studio.

A new occasional chair for any occasion, the Abatellis is the latest from Monica Alba Colla and Ben Feher, the duo behind emerging Sydney-based design studio Forme. Working with local craftspeople in Sydney, the handmade solid timber chair…

Milan Unpacked: Exploring the Heart of Design Week with Dana Tomić Hughes.

Explore the charm and complexity of Milan Design Week through Dana Tomic Hughes’ comprehensive report, Milan Unpacked 2024 in partnership with Space. Focusing on installations, experiences, heritage brands, fashion houses, group shows…

From URL to IRL: ELLISON STUDIOS. Debuts THE RENTAL Inside a Sydney Design Icon.

ELLISON STUDIOS. has taken a bold leap from the digital realm to the physical world with THE RENTAL. Occupying an entire floor of Sydney’s historic Edwards & Co Building, this immersive concept space brings the studio’s curated Instagram…

Haute Elegance: Articolo Home Debuts at Milan Design Week.

We have a soft spot for the Australian brand Articolo Studios who’s trajectory we’ve followed with keen interested over the last few years. Needless to say, we were thrilled to witness the brand’s proud expansion into the furniture…

Alias Celebrates its 45th Anniversary with a New Collections Unveiled at Salone del Mobile.

To mark its 45th anniversary, Italian company Alias explores its founding philosophy of ‘Something Else’, which defines its multifaceted DNA, combining functionality and creative experimentation. For Salone del Mobile last April, Alias…

From Caracas to Compasso d’Oro: Gio Ponti’s D.154.2 Armchair’s Extraordinary Journey.

Gio Ponti’s iconic Darmchair has been awarded the prestigious Compasso d’Oro Career Award, cementing its place in Italian design history. Originally created in 1954 for Villa Planchart in Caracas, this elegant piece showcases…

Meet Niels Diffrient, The Design Maverick Who Redefined the Act of Sitting.

Design icon alert! Niels Diffrient—the godfather of ergonomics—didn’t just create chairs, he revolutionised our relationship with sitting. His groundbreaking approach to ergonomics culminated in the Freedom chair for Humanscale, challenging industry giants…

Beni Rugs Take a Wild Trip to Flamingo Estate.

Moroccan rug brand Beni has collaborated with Flamingo Estate on a playful collection of rugs designed by Richard Christiansen. The palette takes its cues from the colours, flora, fauna, architecture and details of Flamingo Estate’s lush…

Armadillo Launches a Collection of Future Classics.

Australian-born global rug brand Armadillo continues growing its thoughtful collection with perfectly pitched designs that feel special but not too precious, elevated but not out of reach—it’s just about how most of us want our lives to…

Elevating Everyday Pleasures: Armadillo Unveils Meadow and Willow Collection.

Have you ever wanted to pack up the luxury of a hotel and bring it home with you? Armadillo’s latest collection of handcrafted rugs looks to do just that, bringing a sophisticated play to our home. Living rooms become spaces for leisure…

See All Yellowtrace 2024 Archives Here.

Explore our archives through the years: 2023 Archive / 2022 Archive / 2021 Archive / 2020 Archive / 2019 Archive / 2018 Archive / 2017 Archive / 2016 Archive / 2015 Archive / 2014 Archive / 2013 Archive / 2012 Archive / 2011 Archive / 2010 Archive.