Industrial designers, engineers & problem solvers
We work together with clients from all over the world to bring ideas to life as beautiful, functional and user-centred products. Formed in 1996, our growing team of designers, engineers and experts are led by Principals Steve Martinuzzo, Jack Magree and Warwick Brown.




Our Team Good design happens when experts work together as a team


Steve Martinuzzo
BA-ID Dist RMIT 1985
Steve has a wide and strategic product development experience including numerous analytical instruments and medical devices for companies including Agilent, Leica and Rauland.
Alongside his leadership at Cobalt, Steve has served as a Director and Victorian President of the Design Institute of Australia, and being a Board member of numerous state and federal government committees, as well as an awards judge and expert witness. More recently Steve has been an Auditor in a government-led Design-to-Business programme, bringing strategic and user-centred design thinking into broader client engagements.
Outside work, Steve’s kids keep him on his toes.
+61 3 9320 2230


Jack Magree
BA-ID RMIT 1985
Jack’s hands-on approach has lead Cobalt’s design direction since he co-founded the group in 1996.
Specific product experience includes over 20 years of defibrillator development for Heartsine, and more recently he has spearheaded our instrumentation design work with Bio-Rad. Another highlight has been the Cylite HP-OCT which has been recognised for both its design and engineering.
Fittingly as a passionate Melbourne Demons fan, Jack has shaped the very look of Melbourne through various major transport projects like Melbourne iconic trams and trains as well as the award-winning Victoria Police Booze Bus.
+61 3 9320 2230


Warwick Brown
BA-ID RMIT 1987
Warwick’s career was forged as an in-house designer with Camatic Seating, a company with significant in-house manufacturing. Before reaching a position as Head of Design, he joined former university classmates Steve and Jack in their recently formed design group, CobaltNiche.
Throughout, he has applied his technical and manufacturing know-how and analytical approach to projects requiring smart mechanical and DFMA (design for manufacture and assembly) solutions.
+61 3 9320 2230


Libby Christmas
BIndDes(Hons) 2005
Design leader, mentor and all-round ‘CAD Wizard’ Libby Christmas is a highly experienced Product Designer with over 15 years of consulting expertise. She has worked in various design roles across the industry, as well as lecturing and teaching at RMIT, Swinburne and Monash Universities.
Libby joined the Cobalt team in 2012 as a Senior Project Leader, and has since earnt the title of Associate Principal, leading the Engineering team. Several of Cobalt’s major projects have been led by Libby, including the One299 Australian Defence Force adjustable backpack frame, the Dermapen 4 microdermabrasion device and the eShepherd virtual herding solution. Her projects have received numerous local and international accolades, including the Australian Design Award of the Year. Libby likes well built master models, neat model trees and complex surfacing!



Kynan Taylor
BEng (Mech) Hons, UTAS 2002
A member of the senior team at Cobalt, Kynan has over 18 years’ experience developing products across a range of industries including medical, consumer electronics, automotive and advanced manufacturing. He cut his teeth with developing advanced composites for Formula 1 and aerospace in the UK, before developing innovative cycling products for iconic Melbourne brand Knog.
Applying his strong design for manufacture and assembly skills, Kynan applies a methodical and analytical approach to all projects. He has extensive experience leading multifaceted design teams to develop innovative products from concept to mass production.
Outside work, Kynan loves being outdoors with his growing family, and going fast; from skiing to motorsports.


Kate Bednarz
B. Des Industrial Design (Masters), Swinburne, 2012
With over 10 years of industry experience, Kate obtained her Masters in Industrial Design through Swinburne’s pilot Design Factory programme with Aalto University, Finland. After starting her career as an in-house designer, Kate joined Cobalt in 2017, bringing with her a wealth of manufacturing and OEM knowledge.
As a Project Leader she manages several high profile, long-term local and international clients, and combines a high aesthetic standard with a focus on usability and quality translation into production. Kate has also earnt the title of Design Team Leader, becoming a key member of the professional development group, and supporting the design team to push their skills to the next level.



Mark Matthews-Frederick
Grad Dip IndDes QUT 2005
Mark hails from southern Queensland, and after studying in Brisbane, his career as an Industrial Designer began in transportation and bicycle design, before moving to Germany to gain new professional and cultural experiences. Over 4 years, Mark worked in automotive design for a variety of carmakers including Audi, BMW and Bugatti.
Now back in Australia, Mark has further broadened his design knowledge through Cobalt’s wide-ranging projects and fields – including consumer, medical and sporting products, among others. He enjoys projects with a strong aesthetic and styling aspect, as well as continuing his involvement in the automotive and transportation industry with a variety of Cobalt’s clients.
Outside of work, Mark has a big interest in music – dabbling in production and DJing. He also loves all things bike-related – particularly BMX and vintage road bikes.


Nat Hunt
B Eng. Product Design Engineering (Hons), Swinburne, 2016
Joining Cobalt as an intern in 2013, Nat has established himself as a seasoned and experienced design engineer. His natural curiosity has driven him to work through every facet of product development, from the micro to the macro, and from the routine to the exceptional. .
As Cobalt’s resident technological expert, Nat feeds on challenges and ‘unsolvable’ problems. He has recently been promoted to a Project Leader, and he’s eager to extend his hands-on engineering through leading our teams in new product developments.
Outside work, Nat is raising a young family, vicariously hoping that one day his kids may see his beloved Blues achieve the ultimate success.
Karen Magree


Marcus Krigsman


Graeme Marshall


Andrew Fanning


Ben Goodwin


Chris Morrish


Toto Cho


Craig Burton


Lucinda Monie


Davis Tolley


Justin Yuan


Max Chapman


Jane Spillman


Nathan Scanlon


Rachel Hook


Chris Coller


India Luscombe


Adam Dean-Smith


Mo Tanida


Ethan King


Awards Recognition feeds our conviction to improve
IXL Fresco Aurora
2017
2017 Premier's Design Award Finalist
Concave Football Boots
2016
2016 Premier's Design Award Finalist
2014 Good Design Selection
2013 Premier's Design Award Finalist
Cobalt Design
2016
2016 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame
Innovito Mobile Coding Van
2016
2016 Mercedes Benz Innovation Prize
Cobalt Design
2016
2016 Design Institute of Australia Award for Professional Practice
Agilent 5100 ICP-OES Spectrometer
2015
2015 Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Selection Award
2015 Good Design Award Gold
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Food Justice Truck
2015
2015 Premier's Design Award Joint Overall Winner
2015 Premier's Design Award Best in Category
2015 Good Design Selection
Suitpack Suit Carrying Luggage
2014
2014 Good Design Selection
Blue Monkey
2013
2014 Good Design Selection
2013 Premier's Design Award Finalist
MineLab F3 Compact Mine Detector
2012
2012 Australian International Design Award Best in Category & Patron Award
Agilent Cary 630 FTIR
2012
2012 Instrument Business Outlook Design Gold Award
2013 Australian International Design Award - Best in Category
LEX Slimline LED Exit Sign
2010
2010 Australian International Design Award
Varian 600-IR Series FT-IR Spectrometer
2009
2009 Australian International Design Mark
Agilent Varian 900-LC Series Chromatography Instrument
2008
2008 Premier's Design Mark
Varian 400DS
2008
2008 Australian International Design Mark
Victoria Police 'Booze Bus'
2004
2004 Australian International Design Award