Showcasing exceptional design and exploring design ideas, this blog approaches design from an ethical standpoint.
Content includes architecture and interiors (particularly houses, restaurants, hotels and public buildings), furniture, lighting and objects, design exhibitions and books, plus architecture pavilions and art installations, and more.
In making thematic links, The Design Writer aims to provide a deeper, more nuanced understanding of why design matters.
The Design Writer is a blog by me, Penny Craswell.
I have written two books for Thames & Hudson: Reclaimed: New homes from old materials (2022), which includes 24 homes from 12 countries around the world made from salvaged and repurposed materials, and Design Lives Here: Australian interiors, furniture and lighting (2020), which features 21 homes in Australia and one piece of furniture or lighting in the house also by an Australian designer.
About me
I am a writer, editor and curator with a specialisation in design, interiors, architecture and craft.
Former roles include Creative Strategy Associate at the Australian Design Centre and Co-Director of Sydney Craft Week (2017–2021), Communications Manager at architecture firm Woods Bagot (2012–2015), Editor of Artichoke magazine (2010–2012), Deputy Editor of Indesign magazine (2005–2010) and Assistant Editor of Frame magazine in Amsterdam (2005).
While at the Australian Design Centre I helped to curate Obsessed: Compelled to make, Living Treasures: Masters of Australian Craft \ Prue Venables and Made / Worn: Australian Contemporary Jewellery. And have written essays for these print exhibition catalogues: Glass: Art Design Architecture, Steel: Art Design Architecture, Concrete: Art Design Architecture and Obsessed: Compelled to make.
I currently write for Houses, Art/Edit, Design Anthology and Green magazine as well as NGV magazine. I have written freelance articles since 2001 and have been published in many design and art magazines, including Architectural Review, Artlink, Architecture Australia, Assemble Papers, Azure, Belle, and Frame. I have also written for The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times.
I have also been on the jury of a number of awards, including the Frame Awards (2021) and NSW Architecture Awards (2016), was a Curator of TEDx Sydney (2018–2019), Architectural Conversations Curator at the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (2016), Contributing Editor at Belle magazine (2015), Co-Editor of a High-Rise special of AR magazine (2016) and Co-Publisher of a print special called The Milan Report (2017).
I am a well respected voice in Sydney’s design and architecture industry and have presented at many events in Sydney and around Australia. I have also been interviewed for ABC 702 Sydney, Eastside Radio Arts Thursday and the NAVA Podcast.
In 2017, I completed my Masters in Design (Hons) at UNSW Art and Design by research and have taught design history at UNSW as a casual tutor.
Work with me
Please contact me to discuss writing commissions, editing, speaking or curatorial projects on pcraswell [at] gmail [dot] com.
The Design Writer graphics
Thank you to Danny Wehbe for The Design Writer’s graphics. The logo plays on the idea of the lightbulb moment – thinking about design as well as looking at it – while the lightbulb filament shape forms a dW for Design Writer.
Submit content
Please send images and texts about architectural, interior projects and objects, products, exhibitions and books to me for consideration. Email Penny at pcraswell [at] gmail [dot] com.
The Design Writer launched on 30 March 2014 and is advertising (and advertorial) free.