CLEVER PEOPLE
At Swensk, we’ve always believed that our customers are more than just shoppers—they are creators, entrepreneurs, and thinkers shaping the worlds of design, business, and culture. Over the years, Swensk has become a hub where ideas and craftsmanship intersect, and where our clients aren’t just buying clothes—they’re engaging in a shared philosophy of quality, longevity, and independent thinking.
With Clever People, we are creating a space where the people who shop with us—who build, design, and innovate—can share their journeys, insights, and challenges. These talks are not about selling a product; they are about exploring the realities of creating something meaningful in today’s world. From fashion to food, health to technology, and urban design to art, these conversations reveal what it takes to build businesses, communities, and creative projects outside the traditional system.
CALLING ALL SWENSK MAKERS
At Swensk, we’ve always believed that our customers are more than just shoppers—they are creators, entrepreneurs, and thinkers shaping the worlds of design, business, and culture. Over the years, Swensk has become a hub where ideas and craftsmanship intersect, and where our clients aren’t just buying clothes—they’re engaging in a shared philosophy of quality, longevity, and independent thinking.
With Clever People, we are creating a space where the people who shop with us—who build, design, and innovate—can share their journeys, insights, and challenges. These talks are not about selling a product; they are about exploring the realities of creating something meaningful in today’s world. From fashion to food, health to technology, and urban design to art, these conversations reveal what it takes to build businesses, communities, and creative projects outside the traditional system.
To participate in the market, there are just two conditions:
1. You must be a Swensk customer.
2. Your product must suit our broader clientele (curated with the same eye we use for clothing).
But we are confident—if you shop at Swensk, your work will likely resonate with likeminded people.
If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you. If you are interested in taking part, please fill in the form below, name and a short description of your business and the products we could sell at the market.
We will provide the staff and the space—and all revenue (minus card fees) goes directly to you. This is not a profit exercise. It’s a celebration. A way to present our Clever People to the wider Swensk community and to say thanks for supporting us all these years.
CLEVER PEOPLE MARKET
For four days, Swensk will transform into a marketplace where our clients become the creators, makers, and sellers. The Clever People Market is an exclusive opportunity for our community to discover and purchase products made by the very people who shop with us—from artisanal goods and fashion to design objects and creative services.
Unlike a traditional market, participation is by invitation only—reserved for Swensk customers who build, design, and craft with intention. Every product reflects the same values that define Swensk: quality, longevity, and thoughtful design.
Special appearences at the market
At the Clever People Market, special appearances go beyond traditional selling—they are live, interactive experiences that bring the creative process to life. These appearances showcase Swensk’s customers not just as makers, but as thinkers, innovators, and storytellers, offering visitors the chance to engage directly with their work.
Rather than static displays, these sessions offer a behind-the-scenes look at creation in motion.
CLEVER PEOPLE TALK
The Pre-Evening Talks at Clever People offer a curated series of insightful conversations, panels, and discussions that dive into design, business, and innovation through the lens of our creative community. These sessions bring together entrepreneurs, designers, and industry leaders who have built businesses, redefined industries, and challenged traditional systems.
Each talk is an opportunity to exchange ideas, gain firsthand insights, and connect with the people shaping the future of design, commerce, and sustainability.
Thursday 15 May, 2025
10am -5pm
Clever People Market
12-2pm
Clever People Market - Special Appereance
Lucianne Tonti - Writing in Motion
In the wake of Sundressed a new interesting angle of the fashion industry has come to my attention. I will be working on it at the market and signing my book, Sundressed at the same time.
Lucianne Tonti, fashion journalist, sustainability advocate, and author of Sundressed: Natural Fabrics and the Future of Clothing, a book exploring regenerative textiles and the future of ethical fashion.
6-7 pm
Clever People Talks - Panel
Lucianne Tonti, Mats Ekstrom, Liam Wallis. Moderatet by Jane Matthews
Living outside the system
This discussion confronts the reality that the system itself is broken—and that many so-called “sustainable” solutions only reinforce its flaws. Instead of working within these constraints, how can businesses, cities, and individuals design new ways of operating?
Moderator: Jane Matthews – Co-Owner Swensk, and the founder of Dorothy Street, a consultancy specializing in operations and financial services. <br>
Participants – Lucianne Tonti, fashion journalist, sustainability advocate, and author of Sundressed: Natural Fabrics and the Future of Clothing, a book exploring regenerative textiles and the future of ethical fashion.
Mats Ekström, Swensk Australia, is a Business developer and Co-owner of Swensk. With a background in curated Scandinavian fashion, Mats has spent over a decade redefining the role of a fashion retailer and challenging conventional industry practices.
Liam Wallis is the founder of HIP V. HYPE, a Melbourne-based firm pioneering sustainable, design-led urban development. With a background in architecture and construction, he challenges conventional models, integrating climate resilience, circular economy, and net-zero principles into real-world projects.
Friday 16 May, 2025
10am -5pm
Clever People Market
12-2pm
Clever People Market - Special Appereance
Jen Booth - Meet the Maker: How to make art on leather
Jen will be carving an artwork, into a leather hide. Recreating her studio in the store, you will observe the way the hide tans, burnishes, and the multitude of tools, dyes and needed to create the final piece. A slow meditative process.
Jen Booth, founder Jenuine Leather, is a leather artisan and co-worker at Swensk, known for her handcrafted leather goods. Since 2012, she has been creating artworks and leather accessories from her workshop, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design.
FRIDAY TALKS THEME: Designing a business
Friday spotlights the intersection of design and entrepreneurship—showcasing how creatives transform passion projects into sustainable, design-led brands. With insights from the worlds of artisanal food and health-tech, the discussion will explore product design, storytelling, and scaling without compromising authenticity.
5-6 pM
Clever People Talks
Josefin Zernell
Building Mörk Chocolate
What does it really take to turn a passion project into a thriving business? In this behind-the-scenes talk, Josefin Zernell shares the unfiltered story of how Mörk Chocolate evolved from a homegrown idea into a brand with high ambitions in organic growth.
Josefin Zernell is the co-founder of Mörk Chocolate, a Melbourne-based company focused on high-quality drinking chocolate. Trained as a chocolatier in Sweden, she started Mörk in 2012 with Kiril Shaginov, later opening the Chocolate Brew House in 2015. Her work centers on sustainability, craftsmanship, and redefining how chocolate is experienced.
7.30-8.30 pM
Clever People Talks
Matthew Green
Scaling Wellness
What does it take to turn an idea into a thriving tech-driven wellness brand? Matthew Green, founder of BodyGuide, shares his journey of building a health-tech company from the ground up—from concept to scaling a digital platform that now serves thousands worldwide. Through real-world insights on product development, growth, and innovation, this session unpacks what it takes to build a purpose-driven tech company from scratch.
Matthew Green, founder of BodyGuide, explores how health-tech and movement-based solutions can scale without losing authenticity. With insights from his book I’m Sick of Being Sore and the BodyGuide app, he challenges misconceptions about pain, aging, and injury—advocating for movement as medicine and empowering people to take control of their health.
Saturday 17 May, 2025
10am -5pm
Clever People Market
12-2pm
Clever People Market - Special Appereance
Daniel Pollock - Project: Artful Doer
Daniel Pollock will create a live, evolving art project, inviting visitors to participate in the creation of a special edition of Monsieur Finger cards. This project rethinks the role of the audience—not just as observers, but as co-creators in the design process.
Daniel Pollock, artist and creator of Monsieur Finger, known for his distinctive, thought-provoking card designs that blend art, wit, and social commentary. Daniel is also the creative force behind Jane the Agency and “My Name Is Jane”. Through portraits and personal stories, “My Name Is Jane” turns a common name into a global narrative—one that is both intimate and expansive.
Saturday Talks Theme: Evolve beyond static environments
This day explores the intersection of design, technology, and human experience, showcasing how museums, galleries, and public spaces are evolving through innovation, multidisciplinary thinking, and intuitive digital integration.
5-6 pM
Clever People Talks
Michael Parry
Designing the Future of Cultural Spaces
This session explores the evolving role of design in shaping public spaces, cultural facilities and creative precincts. Exploring visitor experience, sustainable design and multi-disciplinary practice, this discussion will explore how the intersection of design, technology and research is redefining how we evolve existing cultural infrastructure, and support the creation of new third-spaces.
Michael Parry, Director of Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation (MAP Co), leading Australia’s largest cultural infrastructure project, including The Fox: NGV Contemporary and Arts Centre Melbourne’s revitalization. With leadership roles at ACMI, Powerhouse Museum, and Creative Victoria, he integrates design, technology, and research to shape public spaces.
7.30-8.30 pM
Clever People Talks
Nic White
The innovation of technology for the Cultural sector
This talk explores how emerging technologies—spanning AI, spatial computing, and interactive media—are transforming the way we design, curate, and engage with cultural experiences. Nic Whyte will share insights from his work at Art Processors, where technology serves as an invisible yet powerful tool in enhancing storytelling, visitor engagement, and immersive exhibition design.
Through practical examples, this session will examine how technology-driven design can break traditional boundaries, creating seamless, intuitive, and deeply personal experiences for audiences. It will also explore the balance between human creativity and digital augmentation—showing how the right blend of innovation, data, and artistic intent can amplify impact without compromising authenticity.
Nic Whyte is a Creative Technologist & Founding Principal of Art Processors, which he co-founded in 2011. With 25 years experience in systems and service design for the cultural sector, he blends creative technology with intuitive interfaces to transform audience engagement. His innovations at Mona include ‘The O’ and a radical new library system. He’s also recently launched the spatial publishing platform Pladia. Nic challenges conventions by leveraging data, simplicity, and intuition to discover hidden opportunities in the intersection of technology and human experience.
Sunday 18 May, 2025
10am-4pm
Clever People Market
12-1pm
Clever People Market - Special Appereance
Michael Trudgeon - The Mobile Hyper Kitchen
The Future of Cooking Spaces – For centuries, kitchens have been static, fixed spaces—but as urban living evolves, should our kitchens adapt too? Introducing the Mobile Hyper Kitchen, a compact, high-performance, movable unit that redefines cooking as an activity, not just a space. Inspired by aerospace, automotive, and marine technology, it challenges conventional designs, offering flexibility, efficiency, and new ways to gather and interact.
Michael Trudgeon, Design Director at Crowd Productions, an innovator in future-oriented spatial and product design, specialising in adaptive, flexible environments that integrate advanced technology and sustainability.
1.30-2.30pm
Clever People Market - Special Appereance
Tess Stomski - Cooking with Tess
As Tess prepares a carefully curated selection of seasonal Japanese dishes, she will share insights into the philosophy behind washoku—the balance of flavor, technique, and seasonality that defines Japan’s culinary heritage. On a stage dinner guests will experience the precision, simplicity, and depth of Japanese cooking while engaging in conversation about its cultural significance, sustainability, and timeless appeal.
Tess Stomski has spent over a decade shaping hospitality, tourism, and food experiences, from Japan’s luxury resorts to the beaches of Noosaville. She built and sold two hospitality brands, wrote the award-winning cookbook Harvest Niseko (2016), and now manages Sandy Beach Resort, creating spaces that bring people together. With a love for collaboration and a knack for turning ideas into thriving projects, she’s always looking for ways to make business more interesting, engaging, and human.
5-6 pM
Clever People Talks
Chris Heywood Zernell
Creativity Multiplied: How AI Can Scale Entrepreneurial Ambition
This talk explores how AI is transforming creative workflows and empowering entrepreneurs to scale their ambitions. It will delve into practical examples of AI accelerating creative processes across design, brand development, and strategic thinking—enabling small businesses and design-led firms to achieve more without scaling overhead. Highlighting AI’s role as a force multiplier, the session will explore how the right balance of human insight and machine efficiency can unlock new possibilities, drive innovation, and amplify creative impact.
Chris Heywood is the Head of Creative ANZ at Techtronic Industries, where he leads innovative initiatives that integrate advanced technologies into creative processes. With a background in both technology and design, Chris focuses on how artificial intelligence can enhance entrepreneurial ventures by streamlining workflows and amplifying creative output.
