With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, Fiona Lynch lives and breathes design. The award-winning interior designer founded her internationally acclaimed studio in 2013 – but her fascination with the art and design world began when she first picked up a paintbrush as a teen.

“My high school art teacher first inspired my passion for creative arts. From studying fine art to transitioning into interior design, I have now spent more than half my life in the industry,” Fiona says.

Since then, the influential designer has worked on a range of high-profile residential, retail, hospitality, cultural and corporate design projects around Australia. She is known for her distinctly artistic approach – treating every space as unique in order to craft genuine one-of-a-kind designs.

Advocating for Australian artists

Fiona is deeply connected to the local design and maker community. From commissioning local artists to spotting emerging furniture makers at design fairs, her enthusiasm for Australia’s art and design scene is palpable. So an invitation to speak at the 2023 Melbourne Design Fair was impossible to resist – Fiona was excited to join interior designer David Hicks and Hub Furniture Lighting Living founder Jacqueline Foti-Lowe on this year’s TALKS program, supported by Mercedes-Benz. Together, they discussed using limited-edition collectible designs to enhance interior spaces.

“The Melbourne Design Fair is so stimulating. You’ve got the most incredible jewellery makers, ceramicists, glass artists, and people working with timber. It’s unique to have these talents gathered in one collaborative space,” says Fiona, who was particularly impressed with the woven baskets crafted by Mualgal artist Paula Savage, the 2023 Melbourne Design Week Award winner.

She explains that she prioritises working with Australian furniture makers and artists, including Tasmanian-born furniture designer Brodie Neill, who Fiona describes as a “forward-thinking master craftsman”. Brodie is renowned for his innovative and thought-provoking works. One of his most noteworthy designs – a sleek terrazzo table called Gyro that was crafted from recycled ocean plastic – was exhibited at the 2020 edition of NGV Triennial through the support of Mercedes-Benz.

Apart from tapping into a rich pool of local talent, Fiona loves working with homegrown materials. While working on the design of Sydney’s Ace Hotel restaurant, Kiln, her team went to great lengths to source Australian stone and timber.

“Italian stone is frequently specified in Australia but we found this amazing South Australian quarry producing incredible Australian stone,” she says.

She believes that Australia’s distinctive landscapes and relative isolation as an island nation create an unmatched atmosphere for unique art and design ideas to take form.

“We can sometimes take for granted the uniqueness of our own environment. The colours and textures in our natural landscape are pretty special and can help shape a distinct creative perspective,” she says.

Fiona is renowned for incorporating natural materials and sculptural elements to bring colour, form and texture to spaces – an approach she refers to as ‘spirited minimalism’. It’s a design ethos the all-electric Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+ shares; tense, sinewy surfaces emphasise the car’s athleticism, while reduced lines and flowing transitions give way to a seamless yet spirited design.

Eschewing trends

Fiona’s clients want unique spaces that tell a story and leave a lasting impression. To do this, Fiona and her team must continually come up with original, fresh ideas that respond to the needs of the people using the space, as well as its location, history and cultural resonance.

“We weave in a myriad of different inspirations and ideas and draw them all together. It’s a great way to get spirit and soulfulness into the work,” she says.

Material selection is also front of mind. During her recent work on Melbourne’s 80 Collins Street retail and corporate office development, Fiona engaged Melbourne-based woodturner Makiko Ryujin to create a distinctive piece of public art. And instead of using manufactured materials, shou sugi ban (the centuries-old Japanese art of preserving wood by charring with fire) was used to create an oversized piece of art made from Monterey Cypress timber reclaimed from Victorian farms.

Fiona also incorporated reclaimed items into the design of Kiln restaurant at the Ace Hotel in Sydney. “We asked the builders to collect a whole lot of waste materials and then we worked with an artist to grind those materials down into pigments to create a textile that wraps around two of the terraces,” says Fiona.

In many ways, she is designing for the future. This was the aspiration behind the development of the EQE 53, too. With bodyshell components made from 100 per cent recycled steel, the EQE 53 reduces CO2 emissions for the semi-finished product by more than 60 percent*, and is part of our acceleration toward an emission-free future.

Beyond her choice of materials, Fiona also strives to create spaces that have a timeless quality to them. And whether she’s collaborating with young artists or experimenting with AI to explore design concepts, her ability to find new sources of inspiration gives her the energy to keep bringing fresh ideas to the table after having been in the industry for decades.

“I've always loved learning and I think that's probably what drives me the most. It’s a joy… I'm very lucky to have the career I have,” she says.

Futuristic design

Melbourne Design Fair is an annual event curated by the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and delivered in collaboration with the Melbourne Art Foundation; and Mercedes-Benz is a proud Major Partner. It celebrates the work of designers, commercial galleries, design agencies and organisations, and exhibits the best collectible designs from Australia and the world.

The Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+ was showcased at this year’s Fair. With its sporty, cab-forward design and slim, coupé-like silhouette, the EQE 53 has a distinctly athletic character and is designed to engage the senses.

From the panoramic sunroof and fluid ambient lighting to the lavish upholstery and Burmester 3D surround sound system, it creates an immersive and luxurious driving experience. Plus, the centre console and distinctive MBUX Hyperscreen – which is available as optional equipment – provides a stunning visual reference to the all-electric drive architecture, making the EQE 53 truly a vehicle of the future.

The vehicle featured in the images and article may include optional equipment that does not come as standard in the EQE 53.

*Source: EQE Press Release, 13 April 2022.

A part of Melbourne Design Week, the Melbourne Design Fair was held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 18–21 May 2023.

Discover the all-electric Mercedes-AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+.

By Jo Stewart