This month we're spotlighting Melbourne!! A city known as a melting pot of coffee, laneways, sporting events and foodie culture. Also referred to by its Aboriginal-recognised name of Naarm, Melbourne in Australia has a thriving art and design industry that is always on the lookout for new and creative minds.
This month, we are excited to introduce you to Simon Lee, our Melbourne City Host and interview Katrina Tesoriero who's extensive career in retail, lifestyle and beauty brands has led her to jumping towards the world of freelance.
We are always seeking feedback from our community and this month we heard loud and clear that people want access to folio reviews by industry professionals. Ask and you shall receive! In May we are starting folio reviews; book in for a 1:1 hour chat with an industry professional who can review your work and give you that confidence boost for your next career move.
The last month has been busy!!! We also launched an online shop that sells prints from our City Hosts and community members from all around the globe. We're keen to fill the shop with the work of students, grads, new and emerging designers and illustrators — so if you would like to submit a poster design to sell in the shop, get in touch and we'll do the rest! Of course, the majority of revenue goes back to designers! 😌
Enjoy the issue and as always, if you'd like to collaborate or partner with us — hit reply and say hello!!
The Design Kids Team 💙
Psst... Are you following us on Instagram? We've been featuring the work of new and emerging designers from around the world, and of course spotlighting the work you're placing on #tdkpeepshow 💥
Support TDK: The Design Kids relies on your support to create community, connection and impact for emerging graphic designers around the world. If you would like to sponsor an issue of TDK Monthly, just hit reply or learn more here.
Meet Melbourne TDK City Host Simon Lee!
Hey everyone! I'm Simon, a graphic designer and IT engineer.
Originally from Auckland but now living it up in Melbourne. I love being part of TDK and the greater design community here, and always excited to meet new people to talk about design and other random topics. Definitely say hi if you see me around!
Melbourne-based art director and designer Katrina Tesoriero has carved out a bold, image-led niche across fashion, beauty and brand. From her early agency days to shaping art direction at Three60, Katrina shares how leaving the traditional ad world gave her clarity, and why great design is never just a luxury — it’s essential. In this interview, she talks creative pivots, visual storytelling, and the power of creating work that makes you proud.
Can you tell us a little about your first few steps in your career. Was there a moment or experience when you realised this was what you'd do as a career?
Straight out of uni, where I studied Communication Design at Swinburne, I landed a role at a mid-sized agency working on retail campaigns and collateral for a well-known bathroom retailer. It gave me a taste of Ad Land, but I quickly realised my heart was more in design than advertising. So, I made the call to jump ship to Studio Brave — where I had my ‘aha’ moment, knowing I had found my place in the design world, doing the kind of work I loved for the clients I was most passionate about.
After three years at Brave, I took the leap into freelancing, working with a variety of studios, which eventually led me to Three60. That’s where I truly honed my passion for photographic art direction, fashion and beauty — a space I’ve largely remained in ever since.
For more interviews from some amazing folks, check out TDK site here.
Craft and curiosity with Bobby Haiqalsyah ✌️
Bobby Haiqalsyah's story is one of resilience, curiosity, and constant reinvention, whether he’s mentoring emerging designers through the Melbourne Lettering Club or art directing packaging for major brands. We sat down with Bobby to talk about his career detour, the power of community, and what’s next for design in Australia. Read the full interview here
Join Bobby in a two-day immersive workshop in Melbourne where the craft of type and letterforms take centre stage!
Whether you're a design professional or type-curious creative, TypeCraft guides you through the art of lettering—from foundational hand-drawn forms to refined digital execution for your brand. Learn the craft, explore your style, and leave with your own custom lettering piece, and access to a community of professionals.
Melbourne Design Week
15-25 May, 2025. Various locations across Melbourne.
Melbourne Design Week (MDW) celebrates design in an annual 11-day program of talks, tours, exhibitions, launches, installations, and workshops across Australia’s design capital. The program is driven by ideas through providing a platform for designers, educators, enthusiasts, thinkers, and businesses to come together to share these ideas, show and sell new work, and consider how design can be used as a force for good in an increasingly complex and precarious world.
#TDKtuesdays is on May 6th!
Our City Hosts bring their design communities together on the first Tuesday of every month for meetups, live events, panels, studio tours, presentations and sometimes, for a few laughs! Jump in here and RSVP to the next #TDKtuesdays event in your city!
Some of the best brushes, tools and effects for digital illustration. Created by Andrew Fairclough, a Los Angeles based Australian Illustrator and Designer.
And if that wasn't enough eye-candy there's a bunch of how-to tutorials to go along with them!
Our global community have told us that they are looking for guidance and mentoring to help them thrive in their careers. We are providing a regular calendar of events to support this, and the first initiative is Folio Reviews! Book in for a 1:1 hour session with an industry professional who will review your folio, and help structure it to give you the best chance of positioning you to meet your career goals. Not in your timezone? Hit reply and let us know when will suit you!
Job: Freelance
Konpo Studio, Snr Branding Designer, Barcelona
We are looking for a highly skilled Freelance Senior Brand Designer to lead impactful brand projects from concept through execution. Apply now.
Job: Freelance
Citrina, Graphic Designer, Sydney
Freelance graphic designer to join their team in bring their vision to life for new product launch and beyond. Apply now.
Support TDK: The Design Kids relies on your support to create community, connection and impact for emerging graphic designers around the world. If you own a studio, business, product, service or school that supports designers and would like to sponsor an issue of TDK Monthly, just hit reply or learn more here.
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