team

In 8 short years, Sara advanced from Graduate to Founder and Creative Director of Das Studio. Within 3 years she created a business formed on a foundation of human happiness and now leads a team of 20 creative minds and professionals.

After completing a degree in Architecture and practicing for a time in the profession, she acted on a curiosity for furniture and lighting with a second degree in Product Design. Two pathways that when combined, grant her a beautifully unique perspective of the interior world.

Having carved out a specialisation in high-end residential, hospitality and accommodation design early in her career, Sara turned her fascination for the creation of ‘moments’ of beauty and joy into a career for making people’s lives better, functionally and emotionally. Now as a mentor and creative with genuine humanity, Sara imparts her encyclopedic knowledge of design with her team and her clients are truly the beneficiaries.

From Architect and Associate, to joining Sara at the helm of Das Studio as Managing Director in 2019, Dino has spent the last 14 years leading projects and teams across large and small practice in South Australia.

As a fierce advocate within his community, Dino has committed across his career charity and activism that has propelled him to being a trusted leader within South Australia, and to his beloved Das teammates. His acknowledgement being awarded the National Emerging Architect Prize by the Australian Institute of Architects in 2021 is testimony to that.

Everything Dino has achieved to date is a glimpse into the kind of leader that he is. One who spreads knowledge, is profoundly generous and shares in good ideas as parts of a common agenda rather than the expression of a single person. In this way he makes sure change, innovation and initiatives are steered by many champions.

Because at the end of the day, Dino hand-on-heart believes a rising tide lifts all ships.

Uniquely positioned with a masterful set of skills across Finance, HR, IT, QA, BD and all the other administrative and occupational acronyms – Sarah is what every business dreams of finding, a Unicorn. A mythical maverick who dances between all managerial aspects of the business, navigating obstacles with a mastery of emotional response and business nous.

Drawn to the high-octane nature of the design industry, Sarah has operated within the architectural realm since 2012, with 4 years managing in various sectors prior to this. Having previously studied in both Accounting and Management, and currently completing an MBA – all alongside full-time roles – is just a small insight into the hustle, smarts and dexterity Sarah has engaged throughout an already extensive professional career.

Sarah’s ability to add humour and make the difficult and complex seem easy, naturally makes her the beacon of guidance and support for all things Das; professional, personal and everything in between.

Enjoying drawing and sketching from a young age, Allan discovered a medium through which to express himself creatively. Following a stint studying Engineering with one eye on a potential pivot to Graphic Design, stumbling across an Architecture exhibition showed him a path to satisfy all his interests. One that fosters creativity at the nexus of design and maths – a dance between art and science.

In the 13 years since, Allan has grown through practice in Australia, Europe and the Middle East, into an extremely balanced designer and technician who masterfully straddles the realms of rich narrative development and documentation acumen. For Allan, there is no greater joy than seeing something you’ve imagined in your mind’s eye come to life in a building.

Now at home mentoring and leading the talented team at Das, Allan has found an environment that allows him to push forward with the transition to more advanced design modelling methodologies – building on the foundations laid by Das’s philosophy to always ‘make better’.

Some might say Rachel’s career stemmed from the persistent persuasion of a sibling but in reality, it was something much more personally ingrained. With an Advanced Diploma of Design for Live Production, Theatre and Events Rachels deep understanding of anatomy, anthropometrics, light and colour naturally developed into a career of curating human environs, graduating with a degree in Interior Architecture in 2014.

Rachel’s extensive experience across projects in the civic, public and education sectors saw her rise quickly through the ranks to the role of associate at her previous firm. Das Studio were privileged to have her join the team in 2020 where she has elevated herself to become an integral part of the leadership team, managing projects across Das’s commercial and education portfolios.

Alongside Rachel’s seniority in the practice – warm empathy, a calming demeanour and technical proficiency, make her an innate mentor. When she listens, she listens deeply – enabling her to understand her clients clearly and what it means for everyone to live, work and learn, with considered, beautiful spaces.

One of Sam’s earliest memories involved scaling the heights of his childhood home, looking out and imagining possibilities from unsafe heights. Now as an architect some 25 years later, Sam is doing pretty much the same thing, albeit with two feet planted firmly on the ground.

Sam’s capabilities extend from early consultation and masterplanning to on-site construction, and with experience in civic, education and adaptive reuse, he has been an integral contributor for numerous award-winning projects.

As a natural teacher, Sam sees the potential in others – something he champions as a member of the Das leadership team, mentoring multiple people at a time, as a study group leader and as a sessional tutor at the University of South Australia.

Thoughtful in his analysis of place, Sam is entrusted to explore unexpected outcomes alongside his clients and collaborators. As he uncovers these new possibilities, he does so with a calming and precise demeanour, making the complex seem not so scary at all.

Tori has always possessed a creative mind and since a young age has expressed herself through making. At six years of age, she watched on as an Architect reimagined her family home and was drawn to the ability of design to positively shape the everyday rituals of people’s lives. With generosity and community front of mind, she has set about forging a career where she can have an impact through Architecture.

Since graduating in 2016, Tori has contributed to award-winning Education and Residential projects, curating spaces for learning, connection and life. She has also dedicated herself to causes within and beyond the profession, selflessly taking on responsibility for the people and endeavours she is passionate about.

Within the Das Studio universe, she has made an immediate contribution taking on stewardship of Residential, Education and Tourism projects as well as mentorship of the practice’s graduates. Consistent with the Das Studio ethos of ‘make better’, Tori brings an infectious enthusiasm and energy to everything she touches, instantly lifting up those around her.

Having spent a childhood observing her father practice Architecture and living through three renovations of the family home, design has been ever present in Alex’s world. These formative experiences combined with a rich ancestry in design – her Papa a talented woodcarver and artist and her great great Aunt one of Germany’s most notable ceramicists of the last century – have paved the way for a creative life.

From these foundations, together with grit and determination, Alex has gone on to carve out her own design destiny, graduating from the University of South Australia in 2011 with a Bachelor of Interior Architecture with First Class Honours.

With over a decade of experience prior to joining Das Studio, her thoroughness across the design process have been a hallmark of her work. She leaves no stone unturned and as a result, many of Alex’s projects have been recognised in state, national and international awards programs, as well as being featured in a broad range of design publications.

With her passion for all things interiors and love of residential design, we are truly lucky to have Alex as part of the Das fam.

Elyse is a fearless adventurer – traversing the breadth of Australia to study and work before landing at Das Studio in 2022. Always creatively minded, Elyse first dipped her toe in the industry via a Graphic Design degree before realising that she wanted to participate more broadly in her creations – the built environment was calling and Interior Architecture was her ticket.

Having worked in Perth and Adelaide for nearly a decade within a national practice, Elyse possesses a diverse pool of expertise with a particular speciality within the commercial and workplace sectors. Across all typologies she loves to embed deep meaning in the spaces she creates, to tell stories that enhance connection between people and place.

A natural leader, Elyse’s arrival at Das Studio has had an immediate impact on our Interior Design discipline capability. With expertise, empathy and energy in abundance, combined with her critical thinking and attention to detail, Elyse is a valuable asset to both our team and our clients.

Josh possesses an uncanny understanding of how objects and people come together. After completing a Master of Architecture, Josh worked his magic as a designer, maker, collaborator and as an undisputed king of the office latte art. Forging his own bespoke furniture business for several years, Josh finessed his skills as a furniture designer, curating and creating form and functionality for an ensemble of clients.

Bringing those vast set of skills and experience to the table, Josh made his way back into the architecture profession, working on various Commercial, Retail and Education projects. In 2019, Josh became a member of the Das Studio team and since then, has engrained himself as part of the Das DNA. A Das Studio OG. He has taken on the most complex of projects from the beginning, most notably our very first project in the Modular Schools program.

Being a maker for so long, Josh loves getting in and around a construction site, observing the assembly of Das’s many modular projects and the fit-out of bespoke installations. An emerging leader and valued sounding board on the fine details that can make architecture look effortless, Josh is not just a great team member, he’s a mate.

A meticulousness and flair for sourcing ‘the impossible’ may have seen Ashleigh excel as a Private Investigator had she preferred mystery over materials. Instead, she has spent the last decade accumulating an enviable knowledge of products and delivering an extensive portfolio of projects since graduating with a degree in Interior Architecture.

An integral member of the Das studio team, Ashleigh is a trusted go-to for the Directors to get the job done efficiently and accurately. She scours her vast network of resources and suppliers to piece together entire worlds and spaces, with her ‘Midas touch’ seeing multiple projects garner awards in the hospitality and residential design sectors over the years.

Ashleigh takes pride in her ability to support the development of a design from concept to construction, a quality that greatly contributes to Das Studio’s ability to create beautiful and functional spaces for all to enjoy.

Edward is forever chasing the thrill that comes with exploration and discovery, traversing layered and complex design conditions with a nimbleness enabled by taking the long view. Across his formative years in study, his adventurous but rigorous approach has seen him repeatedly recognised as an emerging talent, securing the Australian Institute of Architects Chapter Prize for Integration of Research and Design.

Since graduating with a Master of Architecture in 2019, Edward has worked on a range of project scales and typologies, from bespoke single residential to large scale community, sports and education projects. His brand of design agility has sparked an accelerated rise from student to respected practitioner both with Das Studio and as a sessional tutor at the University of South Australia.

What Edward has shown throughout his career to date is the ability to develop something from the early conceptual stage and consistently carry it through to execution with the nous of someone well beyond his years of experience.

After growing up in country South Australia, a move to the big smoke meant a year of open inspections and display home visits with her parents to find their new family home. This weekly adventure spawned a Saturday night ritual reworking floor plans and creating interiors schemes sowing the seeds for the professional life that would follow.

However, Lyndal’s courtship with a career in design was a long one. After a decade of working in the commercial furniture world, Lyndal ultimately found her calling in Interior Architecture. Commencing in professional practice in 2017, she has contributed to award winning Education projects and now calls Das Studio her home, working across our Health, Commercial and Education portfolios.

Lyndal brings purpose to everything she touches creating a positive impact on the lives of those that inhabit the spaces she designs. She brings balance, good vibes and big laughs to Das Studio and we are proud to have her with us on McLaren Street.

With an Architect for a great-grandfather and a Drafter for a grandmother, Ben’s affinity for design was seemingly in his blood. Growing up in Adelaide surrounded by wine country, Ben developed a fascination with the natural and built world around him, sealing his fate to pursue a career in Architecture, by completing his Master’s degree in 2018.

Inspired by the possibility of designing the future, Ben possesses intrinsic qualities far beyond his years, complemented by his eagerness for continual learning and a never-ending pursuit of the joy of solving design problems. Ben’s considered approach and attention to detail are valuable assets to our practice, and have contributed to award winning urban development and defence projects in the early stages of his career.

Highly motivated to be the best version of himself for his young family and for his craft, Ben is a perfect match for the Das team. They say DNA doesn’t lie, and Ben is living proof.

Sara may be at the beginning of her career but she’s quickly carving out her very own multi-coloured corner of the interior world. As winner of the 2019 Gold Student Award from the Design Institute of Australia and the Interior Architecture Award of Excellence for her graduating year, it was both merit and an endearingly sassy personality that secured her a place with Das Studio in 2020.

From day one, Sara immersed herself in design, and the studio library, fast tracking her knowledge of materiality and products to hone her own unique design aesthetic. From this foundation she has been able to unlock a treasure trove of ideas for Das Studio clients. Her proficiency with documentation is also something to behold, enabling Sara to deliver countless new learning environments across Das’s many education projects.

Sara is continually refining her craft and executing outcomes well beyond her years, all-the-while embodying her mantra that there’s no such thing as too much colour!

The Architect and the Anthropologist have always had much to say to one another. From as young as 10-years-old, Shannon has imagined these conversations and how they may one day merge into a career.

After impressing the Das Studio team during an internship in 2019, Shannon was offered a casual position while finishing her Master of Architecture in 2020. She has since savoured working across all scales of design, from fine-grained residential details to the broader strokes of master planning, as a permanent member of the team. As an Emerging Architects and Graduates Committee member she promotes knowledge sharing by connecting students with the greater professional network.

In 2022, Shannon was awarded Graduate of the Year by NAWIC (SA), testament to her generosity and contribution to the architecture profession.

Shannon still loves exploring theories concerning humanity, ritual and the all-important preservation of memory. Often found clutching her 35mm camera, Shannon’s ability to capture the essence of a place on film has aided the development of many Das projects.

As is often the case for those in the profession, Ricky-Lee’s design savvy parents had a formative influence on her future career trajectory. Watching on inquisitively as they went about designing and building their rammed earth home by hand, with sustainability principles embedded throughout.

This experience sparked a fascination in Ricky-Lee to better understand the built environment, and more broadly, the world around her. Following a brief professional detour working in local government, she ultimately found her way to design, completing a Bachelor of Interior Architecture at the University of South Australia in 2022.

Having grown up in the wild paradise that is Kangaroo Island, it’s no surprise she sources inspiration from the natural environment. And now, with experience in the Health and Education sectors at Das under her belt, she brings a genuine curiosity to her work, as well as a thirst for knowledge and love of collaboration with her Das-mates.

Always a happy face around the office and our ‘here if you need’ kinda gal, Ricky-Lee has become a valuable member of the Das crew.

Whether Sienna was drawn to Architecture by nature or nurture is debatable. The daughter of a graphic designer and trained interior designer, creativity was formative in her upbringing; her childhood homes architecturally-designed, and building a keen passion and eye for detail.

Currently studying a Bachelor of Architectural Studies at the University of South Australia, a series of encounters with Dino landed her at Das, where she rounds out the team, the youngest member. As Studio Assistant, she aids with everything from marketing and research, to attending to Das’ growing plant babies. Learning and absorbing as much as she can along the way.

A friendly and approachable face, Sienna loves forging connection with others, particularly through cooking and eating, unsurprising considering her Italian roots. She approaches her work and studies with curiosity, determination, and an eagerness to grow, carving out her future in the Architectural realm.