Powerhouse opens entries for $25,000 sustainable design award

The Powerhouse has launched its call for applications for the 2025 Carl Nielsen Design Accelerator, inviting early to mid-career Australian industrial designers to submit bold, sustainability-focused projects for the chance to receive $25,000 in funding.

The initiative supports a single standout designer working on a project that places sustainability at its core. The program is made possible through a bequest from the late Australian industrial designer Carl Nielsen and his wife Judy, aiming to carry on their legacy by nurturing innovation in sustainable industrial design.

The selected designer will be partnered with leading industry professionals to further develop their project or bring an existing concept to market. Powerhouse will provide ongoing support including mentorship, production assistance, research resources, and promotional opportunities to enhance the project's impact and visibility.

Renowned Sydney-based designer and founder of Industrial Design eXchange (IDX), Ed Ko, will lead the eight-month development program tailored to the chosen designer's needs. The 2025 selection panel includes Powerhouse Collection curator Angelique Hutchison, Nielsen Design director Adam Laws, and Ko himself.

Last year's recipient, Caity Duffus, was recognised for Mycelia House, a visionary design that introduces mushroom cultivation into Australian households, promoting fungi as a sustainable and accessible food source.

The Carl Nielsen Design Accelerator forms part of the Powerhouse's broader sustainability mission across its exhibitions, programs, and collection. Applications for the 2025 round are now open, with designers encouraged to submit proposals that push boundaries in sustainable industrial design.

Nielsen Design director Adam Laws said, "Carl Nielsen was a giant in the industry when the industrial design profession was establishing itself in Australia. The challenges we currently face in industrial design are more global than local, but the need for promotion and support continues to be important. The Carl Nielsen Design Accelerator has been developed to continue his legacy of helping designers achieve their full potential."

Applications will close 5pm, 20 June 2025. The recipient will be announced at the Sydney Design Week opening event in September 2025.