Joint Creative Directors
Mark Simpson & Damien Mulvihill

Profile

We are an award-winning practice with extensive and diverse professional experience.

DesignOffice was established in 2008. Our team is experienced, dedicated and inquisitive, continually refining our approach to enhance project outcomes. The nature of our work is varied, applying design thinking to a wide range of project scales and typologies, frequently blurring boundaries between hospitality, retail, residential, commercial and institutional sectors.

The studio is led by Joint Creative Directors Mark Simpson and Damien Mulvihill, who have been honing a dynamic partnership and cultivating a shared vision for almost 20 years.

Approach

We draw on integrated architecture and design capabilities to bring a project’s full potential to life.

Across a diverse portfolio, our approach is tailored to individual briefs and specific client needs, always working to make everyday experiences intuitive, valuable and meaningful through design thinking. 

Responding to project needs and inspired by existing fabric, we see opportunities shaped positively by their constraints. Three-dimensional rigour is our foundation, which we build upon with layers that enhance, soften or subvert according to the project aims. 

Intelligent planning, thoughtful detailing and considered layering of materiality, texture and colour are recognisable threads through our work.

Expertise and Services

Our experience crosses disciplines, sectors and geographical borders. We combine our collective knowledge to enhance each and every project, delivering innovative outcomes for businesses, collectives and individuals.  

The lasting value of our expertise is in unlocking the potential of space. We know how to work with and within complex teams, negotiating the needs of multiple stakeholders to help deliver projects successfully and collaboratively. Expanding on the core skillset of architecture and design, we see strategic consultancy and creative collaboration as a way to create impact in diverse sectors and at different scales.

Under the umbrella of Platform by DesignOffice we also create Brands in Built Form®, designing environments for brands in collaboration with others across multiple locations.

DesignOffice is a registered architectural practice in NSW and VIC.

Clients

  • Australian Centre for the Moving Image
  • Baker & McKenzie
  • Bendigo Art Gallery
  • Ben Haines Wine
  • The Commons
  • Country Road Group
  • Cult
  • Goodman
  • Grosvenor Place
  • Milieu Property
  • Moffitt.Moffitt
  • Molonglo Group
  • Mud Australia
  • Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences
  • NeoMetro
  • Oscar Wylee
  • Palace Cinemas
  • Small Batch
  • Space Furniture
  • Studio HiHo
  • Studio Round
  • Superette
  • Tait
  • The Mulberry Group

Awards

  • Project Award Category   Year
  • Project: Handpicked Wines Melbourne Award: Eat Drink Design Awards Category: Best Retail Design Commendation Year: 2022
  • Project: BYRDI Award: Australian Interior Design Awards Category: Hospitality Design Commendation Year: 2021
  • Project: Industry Beans Award: Eat Drink Design Awards Category: Best Cafe Design Winner Year: 2021
  • Project: The Carringbush Award: Australian Interior Design Awards Category: Residential Design Commendation Year: 2021
  • Project: Superette International Award: Interior Design Excellence Awards Category: International Category Highly Commended Year: 2020
  • Project: Mastani Award: Interior Design Excellence Awards Category: Retail Category Winner Year: 2019
  • Project: Tableau Award: Interior Design Excellence Awards Category: Object Category Highly Commended Year: 2019
  • Project: DesignOffice Award: Interior Design Excellence Awards Category: Designer of The Year Winner Year: 2018
  • Project: Peel by Milieu Award: Interior Design Excellence Awards Category: Multi-Residential Category Winner Year: 2018
  • Project: Nau by Cult Award: ICFF Awards Category: Innovative Booth Design Winner Year: 2018
  • Project: Nau by Cult Award: DenFair Awards Category: Best Large Stand Commendation Year: 2017
  • Project: Handpicked Wines Cellar Door Award: Eat Drink Design Awards Category: Retail Design Highly Commended Year: 2017
  • Project: Handpicked Wines Cellar Door Award: Australian Interior Design Awards Category: Hospitality Design Highly Commended Year: 2017
  • Project: Higher Ground Award: Australian Interior Design Awards Category: Commercial Design_Best of State Winner Year: 2017
  • Project: Higher Ground Award: Australian Interior Design Awards Category: Hospitality Design Winner Year: 2017
  • Project: Higher Ground Award: The Age Good Food Guide Awards Category: Cafe of the Year Winner Year: 2017
  • Project: Higher Ground Award: Eat Drink Design Awards Category: Best Restaurant Design Highly Commended Year: 2016
  • Project: Higher Ground Award: Eat Drink Design Awards Category: Best Cafe Design Winner Year: 2016
  • Project: Pop Down Bar Award: Interior Design Excellence Awards Category: Event Category Winner Year: 2016
  • Project: Pop Down Bar Award: Eat Drink Design Awards Category: Best Temporary Design Highly Commended Year: 2015
  • Project: Pop Down Bar Award: Australian Interior Design Awards Category: Installation Design Highly Commended Year: 2015
  • Project: Filter Award: Interior Design Excellence Awards Category: Hospitality Category Highly Commended Year: 2015
  • Project: Filter Award: Australian Interior Design Awards Category: Installation Design Highly Commended Year: 2015
  • Project: Filter Award: Eat Drink Design Awards Category: Best Temporary Design Highly Commended Year: 2014
  • Project: A.Baker Award: Australian Interior Design Awards Category: Commercial Design_Best of State Winner Year: 2014
  • Project: A.Baker Award: Eat Drink Design Awards Category: Best Cafe Design Winner Year: 2014
  • Project: A.Baker Award: Eat Drink Design Awards Category: Best Restaurant Design Highly Commended Year: 2014
  • Project: A.Baker Award: Eat Drink Design Awards Category: Best Bar Design Highly Commended Year: 2014
  • Project: A.Baker Award: Interior Design Excellence Awards Category: Hospitality Category Highly Commended Year: 2014
  • Project: Nishi Display Suite Award: Australian Interior Design Awards Category: Commercial Design_Best of State Winner Year: 2012