Lani Gambino

Born in Milan but raised as a Sicilian with an Aussie flair, I'm a designer with a taste for adventure and humor. In 2004, my family made a bold move from the fashion capital of Milan to the vibrant streets of Melbourne, Australia. My stubborn Palermitano dad still insists on avoiding English-speaking citizens, even after 15+ years Down Under! Meet Mario, the man who decided to bring a slice of Italy to Melbourne by opening a pizzeria in Coburg. I had a hand in designing the logo and menu for his Coburg pizza shop, where aesthetics meets an appetite.

My design journey began at DesignWorks, where I crafted concepts for PJ Mask summer apparel, delighting parents with matching shirt and shorts sets for their little superheroes. I then immersed myself in the sports industry, creating kits, merchandise, logos, and social media content for multiple futsal teams in Melbourne's inner city suburbs, competing in the men's league cup, even gracing television screens.

Currently, I'm relishing university life at Swinburne, enhancing my design skills while enjoying social interactions with peers. When not honing my design craft, I'm on the hunt for new holiday destinations with high temperatures and beautiful beaches.

Between my travels and beachfront lounging, I manage a part-time job and dive into exciting freelance projects.

AuzBox Billboard

AuzBox is a company dedicated to the discovery and promotion of new and emerging Australian artists. They have established a platform to foster and showcase music and events across Australia. In celebration of their past achievements, they decided to host a one-day event.

This billboard was designed to promote the upcoming one-day event and furnish information regarding its date and location. It works flawlessly, thanks to its eye-catching design, rich in elements and details. The interplay of shapes and colours harmoniously conveys a message of punk and music, encapsulating the spirit of the event.

Bear Burgers Logo

In the process of rebranding, the brand couldn't undergo a complete transformation due to its existing recognition, thus necessitating the retention of the bear as a constraint. The colours employed in the logo aptly embody the essence of a burger shop, with vibrant yellow hues that align with the traditional palette adopted by most fast-food establishments. The logo, while retaining a sense of simplicity, offers an impressive level of detail. This intricacy allows it to stand out prominently, whether viewed from the street or online. Its design strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and depth, making it a distinctive and recognisable emblem for the brand.

Never Forget Campaign

This campaign aimed to convey an important message, specifically an advertising campaign designed to commemorate the history of Australia Day.

The purpose of this website is to enlighten those who may not be familiar with both sides of the story. It serves as an informational resource and also as a platform for seeking assistance if required. Within this site, you'll find valuable information covering a wide range of topics related to indigenous Australians. We offer options for individuals interested in volunteering or donating to support local communities that may lack the support of families, friends, or essential resources such as food and water.

The website's design was intentionally kept clean and visually appealing, avoiding the excessive use of images or text that might distract the viewer. To achieve this, a colour palette of dark brown, orange, and white was selected, creating a strong contrast that ensures the message is conveyed clearly and effectively.

Moonee Ponds Lions

Moonee Ponds Lions is a Victorian Futsal Club actively participating in various series, social gatherings, and friendly matches at Thomastown and Brunswick Futsal Oz. Presently, the club proudly fields five distinct teams, each vying in different competitions, and they have achieved notable success by securing a league title and clinching a cup final. Although relatively new, the club has recently expressed a strong desire for transformation. Moonee Ponds Lions envisions the creation of a classic retro brand that will set them apart from their competing teams.

In collaboration with the client's vision, they sought a logo, an animation, and kits that would help them establish a distinctive identity and representation. The solution offered perfectly aligns with their objectives, showcasing their colours and logo with a touch of style. Furthermore, it incorporates ample detail to keep viewers engaged and intrigued about what's coming next.

Il Villaggio

"Il Villaggio" is a recently opened Italian restaurant located on Gaffney Street in Coburg. The proprietor is a Sicilian gentleman who has harbored a lifelong dream of establishing his own pizzeria. He takes immense pride in highlighting and commemorating his hometown, whether through the culinary delights on offer or the overall dining ambiance.

The client envisioned a character that would serve as a canvas for creative and playful ideas and illustrations within the establishment. They described the character they wished to embody their business as one that exudes a sense of fun and coolness, while still embodying the classic Italian pizzaiolo stereotype.

Acknowledgement of Country

The School of Design and Architecture respectfully acknowledges the Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners and knowledge-keepers of the lands, waters and sky that surround us, where we work, learn, create, communicate and make place. We recognise that sovereignty has never been ceded and this always was and will always be Wurundjeri Country. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who continue to make a better world through design.

We extend our acknowledgement to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students, alumni, real-life clients, and knowledge keepers, who have contributed to our own education diversity and growth. We will continue to ensure that staff and students respectfully honour ancestral connection to Country and Place in everything that they do.

We are dedicated to the notion of design to make a better world and we acknowledge that making tools, shaping place, sharing stories, making meaning, wayfinding and collaborating have long been and continue to be both central and integral to First Peoples' cultures. We recognize that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ cultural contributions have continued relevance to design practice and commit to: reconciling ancestries of design and contemporary practice as well as pursuing culturally and professionally appropriate ways to engage with a diverse population of colleagues, industries and clients. In a time of treaty-making and voice we understand that there are overlaps between caring for Country and the sustainable production of goods, services, experiences, products and buildings.

Guided by the principles of respect, reconciliation, and reciprocity we undertake to indigenising and decolonising design practice by dismantling colonial structures and challenging biases that have marginalised Indigenous voices and design.

As students of SoDA you will be given opportunities to both engage with and educate yourself in Indigenous creative practices and cultural protocols through a lens of inclusivity, diversity, respect, mutual understanding, inter-cultural dialogue in all aspects of design practice. Indigenous people have been telling stories, making tools, and connecting to Country through visual media, placemaking and place marking for more than 60,000 years and these practices are part of an ongoing, evolving and live tradition.