Believe it or not, Louise Olsen and Stephan Ormandy started Dinosaur Designs as a means to supplement their fledgling artist practices. Newly out of art school, they needed some form of income so they could keep painting!

Selling pieces at Sydney’s Paddington Markets in the 80s turned quickly into commissions for INXS and Kylie Minogue – aka other young Australian artists making it big on the international creative stage. Fast forward a few years, and Louise and Stephen were right there among them (albeit in a different industry)! 

These days, Dinosaur Designs has grown to a global brand with stores in New York and London, alongside their Australian outlets. Louise is now its creative director, and these days splits her time between Dinosaur Designs, and her own art practice. 

Don’t miss this conversation with a true legend of the Australian design scene!