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Our Vision

Less By Design

Precision & Discipline

Design is a Teamsport

Empathy

warwick craig working cobalt about full width 2112 scaled

Our Story Our longterm relationships are built on listening and accountability

1996

2000's

2010's

2020's

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

Steve Martinuzzo in a suit Steve Martinuzzo balancing blocks saying FORM and FUNCTION

Steve Martinuzzo

Managing Principal, Co-Founder (Industrial Designer)
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.

[email protected]

+61 3 9320 2230

Jack Magree in a shirt Jack Magree jugglinf tennis balls

Jack Magree

Principal, Co-Founder (Industrial Designer)
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.

[email protected]

+61 3 9320 2230

 

Warwick Brown Warwick Brown holding rope

Warwick Brown

Principal (Industrial Designer)
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.

[email protected]

+61 3 9320 2230

Kynan Taylor Kynan Taylor

Kynan Taylor

Associate Principal, Senior Project Leader (Mechanical Engineer)
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.

[email protected]

Kate Bednarz Kate Bednarz with a softball mitt

Kate Bednarz

Senior Project Leader (Industrial Designer)
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.

Kate Glass Blowing
Mark Matthews-Frederick Mark Matthews-Frederick

Mark Matthews-Frederick

Senior Project Leader (Industrial Designer)
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.

[email protected]

Nathan Hunt Nathan Hunt painting a toy model

Nat Hunt

Project Leader, Senior Engineer (Product Design Engineer)
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.

[email protected]

Karen Magree

Karen Magree Karen Magree

Marcus Krigsman

Marcus Krigsman Marcus Krigsman playing a guitar

Jane Omond

Jane Omond Jane Omond

Graeme Marshall

Graeme Marshall Graeme Marshall admiring a model car

Andrew Fanning

Andrew Fanning Andrew Fanning with climbing ropes

Ben Goodwin

Ben Goodwin Ben Goodwin

Chris Morrish

Chris Morrish Chris Morrish looking panicked as he holds a flaming sausage with his tongs

Toto Cho

Toto Cho Toto Cho

Lucinda Monie

Lucinda Monie Lucinda Monie

Davis Tolley

Davis Tolley Davis Tolley eating popcorn

Justin Yuan

Justin Yuan Justin Yuan looking through a binocular

Lin Chen

Lin Chen Lin Chen

Nathan Scanlon

Nathan Scanlon Nathan Scanlon

Rachel Hook

Rachel Hook Rachel Hook with a sewing machine

Chris Coller

Chris Coller Chris Coller singing

India Luscombe

India Luscombe India Luscombe

Ethan King

Ethan King Ethan King performing a large playing card spring

Awards Recognition feeds our conviction to improve

Cobalt Design

2021

2021 Australian Export Awards - Creative Industries Finalist

Maton Guitar Case

2017

2017 Good Design Award Gold

2017 Premier's Design Award Finalist

IXL Fresco Aurora

2017

2017 Premier's Design Award Finalist

Concave Football Boots

2016

2016 Good Design Award Gold

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

ONE299 Backpack Frame

2016

2016 Land Defence Australia Innovation Award

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

Velo Twista Balance Bike

2015

2017 Good Design Award Gold

2015 Premier's Design Award Finalist

Cabot’s Deck Hand

2014

2014 Good Design Selection

2014 Premier's Design Award Finalist

Suitpack Suit Carrying Luggage

2014

2014 Good Design Selection

Agilent Cary 630 FTIR Spectrometer

2013

2013 Australian International Design Award Best in Category

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

Zgo Monitor Arm

2011

2012 Australian International Design Award

LEX Slimline LED Exit Sign

2010

2010 Australian International Design Award

STATx Blood-Type Analysis Instrument

2010

2010 Australian International Design Mark

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

Heartsine Samaritan PAD

2005

2005 Australian International Design Award

Victoria Police 'Booze Bus'

2004

2004 Australian International Design Award