Wood, Metal and Plastics

Noah Abdelmalak

Carey Baptist Grammar School, Kew
Wurundjeri Country

A rectangular wooden box with stackable layers, which contain paints and paintbrushes. — *Designer’s Toolbox* by Noah Abdelmalak, Top Designs 2023. Photograph by Nicole Cleary, courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Designer's Toolbox

American maple, pine, rattan, canvas, felt, PLA, macrame rope

My design brief highlighted the need for a product that stored art and design equipment in a way that extended its life, reduced the cost of broken tools and minimised environmental impact. By championing quality and minimalism, and inspired by the Japanese bento box, the Designer’s Toolbox provides ample storage while still catering for the bespoke equipment used by different creatives. My product combines functionality with an aesthetic that favours clean lines and curves.

Harrison Carr

Carey Baptist Grammar School, Kew
Wurundjeri Country

A set of wooden drawers that resemble a Rubic’s Cube, stacked on diagonal angles. — *Children's Rotating Drawers* by Harrison Carr, Top Designs 2023. Photograph by Nicole Cleary, courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Children's Rotating Drawers

Plywood, aluminium, paint, magnets

With space becoming increasingly restricted in hospitals, children find themselves recovering in smaller and less appealing rooms after procedures. In producing this storage cube, I aimed to improve the experience for children in hospitals. I conducted research to understand what children desired and required in a hospital room, and what would make them feel most at home. This unique design offers optimal storage styles and functional features to engage a younger audience.

Jade Leahy

Strathmore Secondary College, Strathmore
Wurundjeri Country

A circular wooden table with an open top. Inside the table is a dark green fabric surface with a deck of cards and dice placed on it. — *Family Games Table* by Jade Leahy, Top Designs 2023. Photograph by Nicole Cleary, courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Family Games Table

Recycled Tasmanian oak floorboards, plywood, recycled pine, fabric, Velcro

During the 2020 Melbourne lockdowns, many families spent their days trying to reconnect through playing board and card games. This table is designed to function as an everyday surface for busy families, while providing an area to play games on. The unique design allows for games to be continuously paused by putting the lid back on top of the multifunctional table and resumed when ready.

Shobhit Mehra

Strathmore Secondary College, Strathmore
Wurundjeri Country

A plywood timber table with angled legs, set against a black background. — *Multipurpose Furniture* by Shobhit Mehra, Top Designs 2023. Photograph by Nicole Cleary, courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Multipurpose Furniture

Plywood timber, wood safe glue, screws, wood biscuits, veneer, magnets

With housing rental rates rising, many people are now opting to live in smaller apartments. This has resulted in a widespread need for multipurpose furniture. In creating this product, I undertook research into similar, existing products and decided to incorporate the three most common types of furniture found in a small apartment: the dining table, coffee table and desk. Scandinavian design elements were incorporated to give the product a minimalist yet contemporary look and appeal to its intended target audience of young adults aged 18–30.

Marlo Morton

Wesley College, Melbourne
Bunurong Country

A square wooden box with glass sides and a glass top. A plant is visible through the glass panels. One of the glass panels is slightly open. — *Disassembling Indoor Planter* by Marlo Morton, Top Designs 2023. Photograph by Nicole Cleary, courtesy of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Disassembling Indoor Planter

Cypress timber, annealed glass, galvanised steel, magnets, copper pipe

Our increasingly busy lives leave little time for plant lovers to properly care for their plants.. In creating this product, I set out to design a planter that would meet the requirements of particular plants over extended periods, by reducing the time required for maintenance by plant owners. I achieved this by creating a water reservoir and enclosed design that provides optimal water retention. Because this requires significantly less watering, I was able to meet the time-saving goal I set out to achieve.