Inside Vogue Living’s VL50 Designers of 2026

Each year, Vogue Living’s VL50 list offers a snapshot of Australia’s most influential designers - the studios shaping how we experience homes, hospitality venues and cultural spaces across the country.

The 2026 edition highlights a design community that continues to evolve with remarkable creativity and confidence. From interior design and architecture to landscape and product design, the studios recognised this year are pushing boundaries while maintaining a strong connection to craft, materiality and place.

What makes the 2026 VL50 particularly compelling is the way Australian designers are balancing global ambition with a deeply local sensibility. Projects span international cities and regional landscapes alike, yet many share a common thread: thoughtful design that prioritises atmosphere, wellbeing and lasting beauty.

Why the VL50 Continues to Shape Australian Design

(Image Credit: Vogue Living)

Over the years, the VL50 has become one of the most respected recognitions within the Australian design industry. Rather than simply celebrating successful studios, the list reflects the broader ideas shaping contemporary design.

The designers recognised in 2026 represent a generation redefining how spaces are conceived and experienced. Their work reveals several important shifts taking place across the industry.

Among them:

• A stronger emphasis on wellbeing and emotional connection in design, with designers increasingly considering how lighting, materials and spatial planning influence mood and daily experience.
• Increasing collaboration between architecture, interiors and landscape disciplines, resulting in projects where indoor and outdoor environments feel more seamlessly connected.
• A renewed focus on material authenticity and craftsmanship, with designers celebrating handmade materials, natural textures and thoughtfully designed lighting.
• Expanding international recognition for Australian designer lighting and the studios shaping the country’s design identity on a global stage.

These ideas continue to shape the projects emerging from Australian practices today.

Emerging Design Themes

Designing for Atmosphere and Experience

Many of the studios recognised in the VL50 are redefining how interiors shape emotional experience. Rather than focusing purely on aesthetics, designers are increasingly exploring how atmosphere, light and materiality influence the way people feel within a space.

Kelvin Ho of Akin Atelier. Image: Vogue Living / Dave Wheeler.

Studios such as Akin Atelier led by Kelvin Ho, have become known for creating immersive environments where architecture, lighting and spatial storytelling combine to create a complete sensory experience.

 

Me and You by Flack Studio and Volker Haug Studio. Image: Flack Studio.

Similarly, Flack Studio, under the direction of David Flack, approaches interiors as layered compositions that draw on art, design history and contemporary culture.

A standout highlight of the 2026 list is the continued evolution of the "Me and You" collection - a collaborative triumph between Melbourne’s Volker Haug Studio and Flack Studio. Born from a creative partnership during a project installation, the collection has grown into a sophisticated range that celebrates material dualities, from hand-textured fibreglass to modular precision. This collaboration perfectly illustrates how lighting can transition from a functional necessity into a sculptural lighting centrepiece that defines the atmosphere of a room.

Lighting often becomes the subtle element that ties these stories together. When thoughtfully placed, lighting transforms a space from visually beautiful into something truly atmospheric - something increasingly explored through organic lighting design trends that focus on natural forms, softness and sculptural presence.

Craft, Detail and Timeless Interiors

Another defining theme across many VL50 designers is a renewed commitment to craftsmanship and carefully considered material palettes. Designers are increasingly drawn to objects and materials that celebrate process and artistry - a philosophy reflected in the growing appreciation fo lighting that emphasises craftsmanship and material integrity.

Few designers embody this approach more than Thomas Hamel, whose interiors combine European refinement with a relaxed Australian sensibility. Through richly layered textures, curated art collections and thoughtful detailing, his work demonstrates the enduring appeal of timeless design.

Melbourne-based Fiona Lynch also approaches interiors through a lens of craft and experimentation, blending art, architecture and material exploration to create spaces that feel calm, layered and expressive.

We are seeing this dedication to craft and material honesty across the realm of collectible design.

The partnership between Jordan Fleming and Rosanna Ceravolo resulted in a lighting range that balances architectural monumentality with the intimacy of hand-blown glass. It reflects a broader shift we’re seeing across the industry: a move toward hand-crafted glass lighting that is treated with the same reverence as a piece of fine art, prioritising organic textures and a soft, emotive presence.

Landscape Design as Part of the Living Environment

Image: Adam Robinson Design.

Landscape design continues to play an increasingly important role in how homes and public spaces are experienced. Rather than being treated as an afterthought, gardens and outdoor environments are now integral to the overall design narrative.

Landscape designer Adam Robinson has built his Byron Bay practice around this philosophy. Guided by the motto “Better garden, bigger life,” Robinson’s work focuses on the restorative power of outdoor spaces.

“Our philosophy is anchored in the belief that gardens are catalysts for wellbeing,” he explains. “We design with the intention of nurturing healthier, more joyful communities.”

His studio’s projects explore how landscape can support emotional and environmental wellbeing while fostering stronger connections between people and place.

Robinson’s work has received significant recognition within the landscape design industry, including The Landscape Association’s Excellence Award for Landscape of the Year and the Landscape Design Institute’s Plantscape Design of the Year.

Looking ahead, Robinson is refining the direction of his practice while embarking on a deeply personal milestone - the design and construction of his own home and garden.

Australian Designers on the Global Stage

Greg Natale. Image: Vogue Living / Anson Smart.

One of the most notable aspects of the 2026 VL50 is the growing international reach of Australian designers.

Designers such as Greg Natale, whose multidisciplinary studio spans architecture, interiors and product design, continue to expand their influence globally through residential and commercial projects.

Meanwhile YSG Studio led by Yasmine Ghoniem, has gained international recognition for interiors that blend cultural storytelling with bold creative expression.

Creative directors Juliette Arent and Sarah-Jane Pyke of Arent&Pyke continue to shape Australian interior design through their confident use of colour, material and personality - interiors that celebrate creativity while remaining deeply connected to the people who inhabit them.

The Future of Australian Spaces

Image: Vogue Living / Anson Smart.

The designers recognised in the 2026 VL50 reflect a design industry defined by curiosity, collaboration and global ambition.

What distinguishes this generation of Australian designers is their willingness to explore new ideas while remaining grounded in place. From immersive hospitality environments to carefully crafted residential interiors and restorative landscapes, their projects demonstrate a deep understanding of how design shapes the way we live.

As these studios continue to expand internationally, Australian design is poised to play an even greater role in global conversations about architecture, interiors and landscape design.

Supporting the Designers Behind Australia’s Design Culture

At Nook Collections, we are proud to support the architects, interior designers and creatives who contribute to Australia’s thriving design community.

Through carefully curated lighting collections, - including our range of Australian designer lighting, we aim to complement the thoughtful spaces created by these studios.

As the VL50 continues to highlight the extraordinary talent within the Australian design industry, it is inspiring to see how designers are shaping the future of the built environment, both locally and around the world.

Image: Richards Stanisich.