The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is shining a spotlight on the future of sustainable design with its latest exhibition, Making Good: Redesigning the Everyday.
Opening on 29 August at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, the exhibition brings together the work of over 50 Australian and international designers who are reimagining everyday products to improve societal and environmental wellbeing.
From air-purifying paints to edible coffee cups and leather made from seafood waste, Making Good explores how design is evolving to meet the challenges of sustainability, health, and innovation. The exhibition highlights a powerful shift in design practice, driven by studios and entrepreneurs who are transforming daily essentials like clothing, building materials, and kitchen items into functional, eco-conscious solutions.
A Day of Insight: The Making Good Symposium
To mark the opening of the exhibition, NGV will host the Making Good Symposium on 29 August in partnership with RMIT. This full-day event will delve into key themes from the exhibition, including sustainable architecture, the future of fashion, and innovative food systems. Panel discussions will feature exhibitors, designers, and experts from RMIT and NGV, offering visitors a deeper understanding of the concepts driving this design revolution.
Sustainable Innovations on Display
The exhibition showcases groundbreaking solutions across various sectors, including:
Building Materials
- Matthew Curtis: The glass artist has developed architectural glass blocks made from recycled television screens and waste float-glass, offering a sustainable alternative for construction.
- Besley & Spresser: Their Oyster Terrazzo repurposes Sydney Rock Oyster shell waste from local restaurants, combining it with white cement, ochres, and recycled marble to create a terrazzo-like material.
- Gush Paint: A Singaporean brand that has created air-purifying paint, which actively cleans the air of pollutants. Visitors can experience this innovative paint applied to an accent wall in the exhibition.
Healthcare and Socially Led Design
- Hoopsy: A 99% plastic-free pregnancy test, reducing waste in women’s healthcare.
- Modi Bodi: Their First Period Kit empowers young people with sustainable menstruation options.
- Bed Intentions: A Melbourne-based brand offering the first certified microbiome-safe water-based lubricant enriched with prebiotics to support female reproductive health.
Fashion and Material Innovation
- Petit Pli: Engineered children’s clothing that grows with the child, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
- TômTex: A leather alternative made from seafood waste and mushrooms, showcased as a handbag and dress by New York designer Allina Liu.
- Kiki Grammatopoulos: Eco-conscious running shoes that spread seeds with every step, supporting urban rewilding.
Food and Kitchen Innovations
- Loliware: Biodegradable straws made from seaweed, offering a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics.
- Good-Edi: Edible coffee cups made from locally sourced grains in Melbourne.
- Great Wrap: Compostable cling wrap created from food waste, rethinking kitchen essentials.
Technology and Accessibility
- OOXii Global Vision Kit: A revolutionary tool providing affordable vision screening and customizable eyewear for underserved communities.
- Light Phone III: A minimalist alternative to modern smartphones, offering essential tools without the distractions of conventional devices.
A Celebration of Design for Good
Making Good: Redesigning the Everyday is more than an exhibition—it’s a call to action for designers, consumers, and industries to rethink how we interact with the products we use daily. From reducing waste to improving healthcare and reimagining fashion, the exhibition highlights how design can make a positive impact on both people and the planet.
Whether you’re an innovator, a sustainability advocate, or simply curious about the future of design, this exhibition offers a thought-provoking and inspiring experience. Don’t miss the chance to explore these groundbreaking ideas and discover how design is reshaping the world for the better.
Exhibition Details
- Location: The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia
- Opening Date: 29 August 2025
- Symposium: Making Good Symposium on 29 August, presented in partnership with RMIT
For more information, visit the NGV website and step into a world where design meets purpose.