It's History... But Not As You Know It
The Australian Museum of Design (AMoD) started our collection with more than 7,500 original hand drawn, designs by Australian artists from the late 1890’s to today.
Designs include artworks by Carla Zampatti, Noel Lyons, Lloyd Foye, Bruce Clarke and original works used for Bob & Hazel Hawke in Parliament House, Canberra as well as other designs with exciting stories… many more yet to be revealed.
AMoD is proud to house the largest known body of such designs, and our mission is to digitise and preserve them for future generations of designers, art enthusiasts, and the global public, safeguarding them before they are lost forever.
In an era where authenticity in art holds paramount importance, the Australian Museum of Design continues to expand our design library by incorporating collections from contemporary artists.
The Australian Museum of Design stands as a secure haven for design artists to showcase their work, allowing them to commercialise it through our Digital Design Exchange platform. As Australia’s largest and most significant platform for authentic design art, we strive to uphold the legacy of hand-drawn design while fostering a thriving community of contemporary artists.
The Australian Museum of Design (AMoD) started our collection with more than 7,500 original hand drawn, designs by Australian artists, predominantly from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. These designs, carefully preserved in individual cardboard boxes within a warehouse, had largely remained unseen by the public for more than 50 years.
Designs include artworks by Carla Zampatti, Noel Lyons, Lloyd Foye, Bruce Clarke and original works used for Bob & Hazel Hawke in Parliament House, Canberra as well as other designs with exciting stories… many more yet to be revealed.
Every design was hand drawn onto multiple layers of film acetate to create a final version that was used for wallpapers and fabrics – each layer being a different colour to suit different applications.
With the introduction of accessible computers and the advancement of technology, the authentic style of design creation, which included the beautiful imperfections that only hand drawing can achieve was lost… until now.
AMoD is proud to house the largest known body of such designs, and our mission is to digitise and preserve them for future generations of designers, art enthusiasts, and the global public, safeguarding them before they are lost forever.
In an era where authenticity in art holds paramount importance, the Australian Museum of Design continues to expand our design library by incorporating collections from contemporary artists. We acknowledge and support these artists for their design art, placing a strong emphasis on creative imagination, originality, and authenticity. Our commitment is to create a platform that respects and rewards artists, promoting their work as authentic, hand-drawn originals. This aligns with our dedication to preserving the traditional artistic approach, celebrating the beauty of hand-drawn designs.
The Australian Museum of Design stands as a secure haven for design artists to showcase their work, allowing them to commercialise it through our Digital Design Exchange platform. As Australia’s largest and most significant platform for authentic design art, we strive to uphold the legacy of hand-drawn design while fostering a thriving community of contemporary artists.
"For in each stroke and line, there's a lesson to learn,
that the human touch is something we should yearn."
Original Hand Drawn Designs by Australian Artists
More than 7,500 Textile Designs from Post War to today
Australian Design History: From the Shadows to the Spotlight
AMoD seeks to illuminate and celebrate great Australian designs of the past by bringing these magnificent works out of the shadows and into the spotlight to be experienced, appreciated, and reimagined in new ways.
The recent digitisation of the Florence Broadhurst collection is a fine example of a successful design revival. In 1989, her designs were rediscovered, digitised and quickly became popular and were reimagined across artworks, fashion, home décor, books and films. The Broadhurst designs were seen across the globe in a variety of artistic and captivating applications.
Today, we extend a warm invitation to artists and designers to contribute their own masterpieces to our Digital Design Exchange platform. Visionaries like Collette Dinnigan and Akira Isogawa have already paved the way by sharing their designs, setting a precedent for others to follow suit.
AMoD is your gateway to connect with a global audience. Let us be the bridge that propels your designs into the world. Join us in preserving and promoting the unique narrative of Australian design – a legacy that deserves to be celebrated and shared.
Do you hold a treasure trove of hand-drawn designs by Australian talents, or are you an artist eager to showcase your own creations?
Largest body of Australian designs
Most unseen by the public for more than 50 years
Design Collection History
The heritage and cultural significance of the AMoD collection has been acknowledged by the Powerhouse Museum. The design community and Australian institutions acknowledge there isn’t another equivalent of our collection.
Limited Edition Wall Art
Purchase Giclee Limited Edition Art from authentic, original hand drawn designs by Australian Artists, Post War to today. Only 20 per colourway available.
Public Art Display
Vivid Sydney featured a curated selection of designs from our design collection on Customs House at Circular Quay to a worldwide audience of more than 3.5 million people.
License Design
Fashion houses, jewellery manufacturers and the like have successfully licensed designs from the AMoD library exclusively to huge success.
Australian Museum Design Wallpaper Reproduction
If you have a beautiful design on wallpaper or fabric, we may be able to help you produce more of it with our expert partner team.
Design Restoration
Design Restoration is completed by skilled craftsmen and by hand and protects the artists original work when it may have been damaged over the years.
There’s nothing like a revival…