Ravi Newman-Pache

I'm passionate about designing products that are practical, sustainable, and socially responsible. I focus on small, collaborative projects that are grounded in shared values and real-world impact. These projects allow for a close connection to both the people and the process, where every design move is intentional and shaped by context.

My approach is hands-on. I learn by building, testing, and refining, staying closely involved in the making process and advancing ideas through direct experimentation. I value momentum, clarity, and a practical mindset that drives projects forward.

Working with architects, craftspeople, and end users helps me see challenges from different perspectives and leads to stronger, more thoughtful outcomes. My goal is to create products that are valued not just for how they look, but for how they work and how they fit into a more considered way of living.

third rail

A response to the growing theft of outdoor equipment, this project combines a slash-proof protective cover with a custom-designed cam lock to secure boards and gear in real-world environments. Designed for both standalone use and retrofit onto existing board bags, the system protects valuable equipment while also reducing obsolescence. Lightweight, durable, and adaptable, it offers hobbyists a practical, secure, and sustainable solution for everyday use and travel.

Neat Seat

The Neat Seat is a multifunctional storage unit designed to bring children into shared living spaces without disrupting the calm or aesthetic of the home. With integrated seating, storage, and playful features, it encourages connection between children and adults while supporting organisation and inclusivity.

The project explored customisation, sustainable materials, and family-centered design, resulting in a practical and engaging piece that balances function with warmth.

SODA Accelerator NACO DESIGN

I completed the SODA Accelerator program with Naco Design, where I developed a CNC-adapted version of an existing furniture piece. The project focused on exploring emerging technologies and alternative manufacturing methods, and it was through this experience that I discovered my passion for CNC.

That opportunity marked a turning point. I’m incredibly grateful to Swinburne and the SODA Accelerator for opening the door to the industry. Nearly two years on, I’m now working as a CNC technician and designer at Naco Design, where I continue to refine my skills, contribute to a range of projects, and stay deeply involved in the design and making process.

CB HB Business

Chalkboard Hangboards was born out of a love for climbing, the outdoors, and sustainable design. We create high-quality hang boards using local materials and proudly manufacture everything here in Melbourne.

As climbers ourselves, we understand how hard it can be to find gear that’s both reliable and affordable. That’s why we’re committed to making equipment that supports strength, access, and the local community without compromising on quality.

Our boards are more than just tools. They’re a way to warm up, build strength, and stay connected to the climbing culture we love.

ACU Lattice

ACU Lattice is a lighting system designed to bring warmth, visual interest, and acoustic softness to shared spaces. Made from sustainable felt, the design uses a flexible lattice structure created through relief cuts, allowing it to compress and stretch while casting patterned light and enhancing the atmosphere.

Inspired by acoustic principles and material efficiency, the piece functions as both a sculptural light source and a soft spatial divider. It is intended for interiors where mood, comfort, and subtle visual separation are important, such as homes, studios, or hospitality environments.

The result is a dynamic, tactile lighting solution that combines function, flexibility, and visual appeal.

View more lighting on instagram at ravi.industrial.design

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.