At About Space, our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in lighting design has earned us a reputation as one of Australia’s most innovative and forward-thinking lighting brands. But innovation isn’t just about what we create today — it’s about nurturing the creative minds that will shape tomorrow.

That belief has guided our ongoing collaboration with Swinburne University of Technology, where we mentor and inspire the next generation of industrial lighting designers. By sharing our expertise, resources, and insights, we’re helping to ensure that Australia’s vibrant lighting industry continues to evolve, adapt, and thrive.

A Partnership Sparked by Light

This unique partnership was born out of a shared passion for creativity, education, and design excellence. It began when both About Space and Swinburne University sponsored the Light: Works from Tate’s Collection exhibition at ACMI — the Museum of Screen Culture.

During this collaboration, Veronica Vasserman, General Manager of About Space, saw an opportunity to take the partnership further. Inspired by the exhibition’s exploration of light as both a medium and a muse, she proposed a student design competition to Swinburne’s School of Design. The concept was simple but ambitious: give students the chance to design a commercially viable floor lamp that could stand proudly within About Space’s product range.

Naturally, Swinburne jumped at the chance. Supporting young industrial designers is central to their ethos — and the idea of bridging academia and industry through hands-on design mentorship resonated deeply with the faculty.

Now in its second year, the Swinburne × About Space partnership has become a creative incubator for ideas that challenge convention, celebrate craftsmanship, and explore new frontiers in lighting design.

The Design Challenge

The brief was as clear as it was complex: Design a floor lamp that incorporates Yosh Glass and aligns with About Space’s current product range.

Yosh Glass — an exclusive material within the About Space collection — is celebrated for its ethereal translucence and versatile form. Students were encouraged to explore how this distinctive glass could be integrated into a functional, sculptural lighting design that reflected About Space’s design ethos: forward-thinking yet timeless, functional yet artful.

Under the guidance of Product Lead Steven Rollis, students worked through each stage of the design process — from concept ideation to technical refinement. The mentorship experience offered invaluable insight into how professional lighting products move from sketch to showroom, balancing creativity with production efficiency, sustainability, and marketability.

Judging the Next Generation

The final designs were presented to a panel of About Space’s leadership team, including Mark Vasserman (Founder), Veronica Vasserman (General Manager), and Steven Rollis (Product Lead).

Together, they selected three standout winners whose designs demonstrated not only aesthetic ingenuity but also an acute understanding of real-world design parameters — proportion, materials, cost, and consumer appeal.

The Winners

Kelp — by Thea Davey 

Inspired by the movement of sea kelp beneath the waves, Kelp translates organic rhythm into refined geometry. Its curved, modular form draws the eye while offering functionality — each section can rotate independently, allowing users to adjust the lighting direction with fluid ease. Both sculptural and practical, Kelp captures the serenity and dynamism of the ocean in a form that feels right at home in modern interiors.

Litzia — by Jack Cleaver

Taking cues from nature’s quiet resilience, Litzia was inspired by indoor plant forms — tall, elegant, and full of subtle detail. Featuring dual adjustable heads with perforated shades, Litzia merges botanical inspiration with technical precision. The perforations allow a delicate interplay of light and shadow, while the adjustable structure offers flexibility for reading, ambience, or accent lighting. It’s a poetic balance of form and function — a design that feels alive.

Olo — by Robert Buhov

Minimal yet striking, Olo draws inspiration from a single droplet of water resting on a leaf. Its three brushed-brass stems branch gracefully upward, each supporting a Yosh Glass shade that glows with gentle luminosity. Olo is a study in restraint — elegant, balanced, and timeless. Its sculptural simplicity invites calm while evoking the purity of nature’s forms.

From Concept to Creation

While each student began with a bold vision, the process didn’t stop at the concept stage. Working closely with Steven Rollis, the students refined their designs to be production-ready — adjusting dimensions, simplifying components, and considering manufacturing efficiency, cost, and sustainability.

This hands-on process gave the students a real-world understanding of product development — a rare opportunity to bridge the gap between academic creativity and commercial reality. The result is a trio of designs that not only reflect fresh ideas but also embody About Space’s commitment to pushing design innovation forward.

Lighting the Path Ahead

The Swinburne × About Space project continues to prove that when established designers and emerging talent come together, extraordinary things happen. The collaboration is more than a design competition — it’s a shared mission to cultivate curiosity, foster innovation, and illuminate the future of Australian lighting design.

As the industry evolves, About Space remains committed to empowering the next generation of designers. By opening our studio doors and sharing the knowledge we’ve gained through decades of exploration, we’re helping to ensure that the future of lighting burns bright — full of imagination, craftsmanship, and possibility.

Because at About Space, lighting isn’t just what we make. It’s what inspires us.