Banner photography by Derek Swalwell.
We’re living in an age of convenience. Where a trend can sweep across the globe before lunch, and a design can be scraped, cloned, and repackaged in less time than it takes to make a coffee. It’s never been easier to mimic, and never harder to create something that’s truly new.
At Nightworks, we believe in original work. Not because it’s fashionable or marketable, but because it’s the only thing that moves the world forward. It’s also the hardest thing to do—especially now.
That’s why we’re proud to support the Australian Interior Design Awards in 2025 and 2026, specifically the Installation Design category. These spaces don’t just house design: they are design. And they remind us what’s possible when people still choose to make something from nothing.
a category that transcends the brief
Installation design sits at a fascinating intersection between interior, art, object, and story. These are not conventional spaces. They are immersive, provocative, and often temporary by nature. But their impact lingers.
We chose to support this category because we see a kindred energy in it. Our pieces are made to define a space, not fade into it. We believe in objects that shape mood, spark conversation, and hold meaning. Installation design lives in that same world. It transforms the familiar into something entirely new, and often unforgettable.
This sponsorship also brings us full circle. Our story began in Australia, and while we now call Aotearoa home, Australia remains a central part of our DNA. Supporting the Australian Interior Design Awards is a gesture of belief in the design community that helped shape us.
Image by Timothy Kaye.
the value of original work in a climate of copies
To support original work is, increasingly, a choice. We see this firsthand.
Just this year, a standout project that specified our lights ultimately installed replicas. That decision was disappointing. Not because of the lost sale, but because of what it said about the culture we’re working within. One where the look is sometimes valued more than the process. One where speed and cost are driving decisions at the expense of integrity. And it shows: the knockoffs had quality issues that negatively impacted the space (we're not surprised).
This isn’t isolated. Designers everywhere are facing AI-generated portfolios that scrape their work without credit. Creatives are watching concepts they laboured over show up elsewhere, diluted and decontextualised.
That’s why celebrating originality isn’t just a nice idea. It’s necessary. These awards aren’t just about recognition—they’re about preserving the conditions for meaningful work to continue. They send a signal: that new ideas still matter, and that people are watching when you bring one into the world.
celebrating the 2025 installation design finalists
The 2025 shortlist is a testament to this spirit. These projects are bold, intelligent, and deeply considered. Some are playful, some deeply emotional, but all of them make you feel something. And that’s the mark of great design.
From immersive fashion experiences at the NGV to evocative public spaces that reframe community histories, these installations are doing more than creating environments. They’re creating impact.
We’ll be sharing more on each finalist shortly. For now, we simply want to say: we see you. And we’re grateful for the energy you’ve poured into something original.
Image by Clytie Meredith.
keep making things that matter
To anyone out there still trying—still sketching, still experimenting, still pushing your ideas through endless rounds of self-doubt—thank you.
We know how much it takes to bring something real into the world. The time. The cost. The vulnerability. The risk that no one will get it.
But when it lands, when the right space meets the right story, it reminds people what design is for. It connects. It moves. And that’s what we’re all here for.
Keep going. Keep making. We’ll be here, cheering you on.
— The team at Nightworks Studio.
