Over the past few days, we have been exploring installations, exhibitions, workshops and showrooms across Melbourne Design Week - and year after year, this event continues to grow, inspire and surprise us in new ways.
Each evening, we found ourselves leaving completely energised, already daydreaming about the culture, creativity and craftsmanship we had experienced throughout the city. It reminded us once again why design weeks matter so deeply - they create spaces for experimentation, conversation and new perspectives on how we live with design.
At Nook Collections, we believe lighting is more than functional - it shapes atmosphere, emotion and identity. This year’s Melbourne Design Week felt like a perfect reflection of that philosophy.
Highlights
Thoughtful Collaborations and Craftsmanship
From the new collaborations between Haus Light and Robert Gordon, to the immersive installation by David Trubridge at Mondoluce, every stop felt intentional, layered and deeply considered. Trubridge’s work in particular carried a quiet sense of movement and atmosphere - sculptural lighting that felt both grounded in nature and deeply emotional.
Image: Robert Gordon x Haus Lights (Right Image from Robert Gordon)
Image: David Trubridge (Right Image from designweek.melbourne)
One of the highlights was visiting the workshop of Ross Gardam - gaining a rare behind-the-scenes look into the making process and seeing firsthand the level of detail, precision, and artistry behind each piece. Experiences like this always reinforce our appreciation for craftsmanship and the human hands behind design objects.
We also visited Volker Haug, where seeing pieces assembled in person and experiencing the showroom environment added another layer of appreciation for the sculptural nature of lighting. These moments remind us that lighting is not simply an object - it is often an emotional and atmospheric experience.
Another standout moment during Melbourne Design Week was experiencing the new lighting works by B-TD. The exhibition explored lighting through a more artistic and experimental lens - where materials, form, and atmosphere came together to create pieces that felt sculptural, immersive, and emotionally driven rather than purely functional. It reflected a broader direction we noticed throughout Design Week this year - lighting becoming increasingly expressive, collectible, and deeply connected to the experience of space itself.
Abbotsford Convent - Melbourne’s Answer to Alcova
We then made our way to Abbotsford Convent, which during Design Week truly felt like Melbourne’s answer to Fuorisalone del Mobile and Alcova.
The atmosphere inside the convent precinct was unforgettable. Heritage architecture mixed with contemporary experimentation created an environment buzzing with ideas, dialogue, and creativity. Every room revealed something unexpected - from collectible design pieces to conceptual installations exploring materiality, sustainability and future living.
Among the many exhibitions we explored were 100 Chairs, Synthesis, Arum, Industry, LOST HiDE, Domestic Revery, All Heaven Broke Loose, Cyclic, and PAGEANT. Together, they created a fascinating conversation between art, craft, and design that felt both deeply local and globally relevant.
The diversity of voices and disciplines throughout the convent made it one of the standout moments of the trip.
Fiona Lynch, The Grotto and Spaces That Feel Emotional
Another memorable stop was visiting Fiona Lynch and experiencing the atmosphere surrounding her presentations during Design Week.
Known for her layered and highly tactile approach to interiors, Fiona Lynch’s work consistently blurs the line between art, interiors and collectible design. Her studio presentations this year explored permanence, craftsmanship and materiality through exhibitions and collaborations that reflected a slower, more thoughtful approach to design.
One of the spaces that stayed with us most was The Grotto - immersive, atmospheric and deeply transportive. It felt less like walking into an exhibition and more like entering another emotional landscape. The interplay between shadow, texture, sculptural objects and light created an almost cinematic mood. Spaces like this remind us how powerful design can be when it engages all the senses, not just the visual experience.
There was also a strong sense throughout Melbourne Design Week that design is shifting further toward atmosphere and emotion - away from purely functional objects and into experiences that make people feel something. Fiona Lynch’s presentations captured that beautifully.
Ending the Night in Collingwood
We ended one of the evenings at Goldstone Gallery surrounded by the beautiful work of Ilanel - the perfect ending to another inspiring day immersed in design.
Collingwood itself felt alive throughout the week, with galleries, studios, and showrooms all contributing to the cultural energy surrounding the festival. Every corner seemed to reveal another conversation between craftsmanship, art, and contemporary living.
More than anything, this trip reminded us how much we would love to stay for the entire duration of Design Week to experience every talk, installation, and exhibition fully. Much like this year’s Salone del Mobile in Milan, it somehow always feels like there is never enough time.
Leaving Inspired - and Slightly Nostalgic
We will head back to Sydney feeling both inspired and nostalgic, leaving behind the design energy, creativity, and cultural buzz that make Melbourne feel so alive during Design Week.
Trips like this continue to shape how we think about lighting, interiors and atmosphere at Nook Collections. They remind us that great design is not only about aesthetics, but about creating spaces that evoke emotion, spark connection and leave a lasting impression.
For us, Melbourne Design Week 2026 was not simply an event - it was a reminder of the power of creativity, community and craftsmanship to transform how we experience the world around us.
