Tom Skeehan Awarded Prestigious Australian Design Commission

Powerhouse in partnership with David Jones announce Tom Skeehan from SKEEHAN Studios as the inaugural recipient of the 2025 Australian Design Commission, a new three-year initiative that supports the next generation of Australian designers.

Each year, the commission awards $50,000 and a nine-month creative development program that invites an Australian designer to create a prototype of a product that embodies the future of the Australian home.

Canberra-based designer Skeehan’s winning concept, What We Keep, is a sculptural glass cabinet that presents the personal and emotional things we choose to keep in our homes. It is designed to be viewed from all sides, as both artwork and furniture — a place to display special objects to reflect on their meaning. The concept features a wrapped timber frame with textured glass made in collaboration with Canberra Glassworks and local makers.

SKEEHAN Studio Founder Tom Skeehan describes the commission, “The glass softens what’s inside, creating a sense of quiet and care. Inside, hidden compartments and moving parts invite people to interact with it—some sections slide, pivot or unfold—turning the cabinet into a discovery box. What We Keep is not simply a cabinet. It is a meditation on how we live, what we hold onto and the emotional utility of objects in the home.”

Inspired by the David Jones 1948 exhibition 7 Designers that encouraged thoughtful living through design, this prestigious commission is part of the Powerhouse, David Jones partnership. The partnership will see David Jones and Powerhouse invest $300,000 over the next three years into the next generation of Australian designers to create work that engages with the David Jones archive.

The David Jones archive spans nearly two centuries and showcases the retailer’s remarkable history and enduring impact on Australian design and is now part of the Powerhouse Collection.

“David Jones helped shape how Australians live with design, and Powerhouse continues to preserve and champion that legacy so being selected to collaborate with two of Australia’s most culturally significant institutions is a real honour,” said Tom Skeehan.

“This Commission is an opportunity to reflect on what we keep, why it matters, and how design can shape the stories we share.”

Chris Wilson (David Jones) added, “We’re delighted to congratulate Tom Skeehan as the first recipient of the Powerhouse and David Jones Australian Design Commission. His concept, inspired by the David Jones archive, thoughtfully explores design in the Australian home. We look forward to seeing the prototype come to life in a dedicated window installation at our Elizabeth Street Flagship in Sydney in 2026.”

More information: powerhouse.com.au/david-jones-design-commission