kaurna/adelaide-based creative dean toepfer is a versatile furniture, object, and lighting designer who seamlessly marries functionality and innovation with aesthetic allure. his unwavering commitment to delivering detailed, high-quality work is evident in every project, rooted in a meticulous exploration of material, shape and form.
toepfer draws inspiration from his surroundings, conversations and personal experiences, resulting in creations that embody a captivating amalgamation of influences. his passion for design is driven by the pursuit of imaginative solutions and the tangible manifestation of ideas. at the core of his philosophy is the belief in infusing life into the inanimate, creating pieces that resonate harmoniously with their environment and the people who interact with them.
engaging with diverse materials and processes, toepfer collaborates with various suppliers and manufacturers, relishing the challenge of harmonizing their distinct qualities. his multidisciplinary design studio produces a wide spectrum of works, ranging from product designs to private and public commissions and speculative exhibition pieces.
in 2020, fueled by a shared vision to cultivate community and collaboration within adelaide’s creative sector, toepfer co-founded mixed goods studios. this independent institution in australia’s craft and design landscape offers individual studio spaces and a platform for creatives to explore, build and expand their practices within a collective of like-minded peers.
interviews / publications
- architecture au: death and life
- habitus living
- union magazine #3
- hunter & folk
- sight unseen (melbourne design week)
- the design files
- sight unseen (vase versa)
- broadsheet
- makers mrkt
- wallpaper, april 2021
- artichoke, issue 72
- houses, issue 136
exhibitions & accolades
2025
- death and life: useful objects (solo exhibition)
2024
- togetherness: adelaide city council public art commission
- design + desire: useful objects (melbourne design week exhibition)
2023
- melbourne design fair: independent studio presentation
- new exuberance: contemporary australian textile design (exhibition)
- french exchange: reflections on the jamfactory x boisbuchet scholarships
- it’s not just blue: craft victoria
2022
- melbourne design fair: craft victoria
- by/product: craft victoria (melbourne design week exhibition)
- fortified exhibition: jamfactory (melbourne design week exhibition)
2021
- rekkan / tamuwu / nyinakati (sit/sit down) exhibition: tarnanthi (collaborating with roslyn orsto, tiwi art center)
- design institute of australia awards: national award of merit: use (solute lighting collection)
- the design files awards finalist: lighting design (solute chandelier)
- one two one two exhibition: wonderstruck (melbourne design week exhibition)
- crafts, crossovers and collaborations exhibition: jamfactory (melbourne design week exhibition)
2020
- established mixed goods studios - multidisciplinary shared studio
- idea awards finalist - object: furniture and lighting, professional (solute lighting collection)
- the design files awards finalist - lighting design (solute lighting collection)
2019
- idea awards finalist - object: furniture & lighting, rising (apres cart)
- international internship: lex pott - rotterdam, the netherlands
2018
- denfair front / centre finalist (chroma pendant)
- domaine de boisbuchet scholarship - lessac, france
- workshopped finalist (chroma pendant)
- vivid winner - lighting design award by artemide (rebel futurism pendant)
- vivid winner - judges choice award by living edge (rebel futurism pendant)
- idea awards finalist - object: furniture & lighting rising (chroma pendant)
- adelaide modern exhibition - jamfactory
- drink dine design award finalist (apres cart)