Ella Pilsworth

Ella is an emerging designer whose work bridges the worlds of interior architecture, sustainability, and emotional experience. Having recently completed a Bachelor of Design (Interior Architecture) (Honours) at Swinburne University of Technology, Ella represents a new generation of designers dedicated to creating spaces that connect people, culture, and environment in meaningful ways.

Throughout her studies and professional experiences, Ella has developed a refined design sensibility that celebrates simplicity, texture, and human connection. She has completed both local and international internships — including work within an interiors department in Melbourne and an architectural team in Bangkok. These experiences have provided her with a broad and versatile understanding of both interiors and architecture, allowing her to navigate the intersection between spatial design, functionality, and human experience with confidence.

Ella’s creative process is grounded in research and storytelling, with a focus on sustainable materials and the expressive use of light and form. She believes great design extends beyond aesthetics — it should enhance wellbeing, inspire emotion, and foster a sense of connection within its environment.

As she begins her professional journey, Ella is eager to contribute to innovative design practices that value creativity, sustainability, and collaboration. With a strong foundation in both interior design and architecture, she brings curiosity, adaptability, and a forward-thinking mindset to every project!

Phuket City Apartment Proposal

In response to the brief, this bedroom design explores a calm and contemporary atmosphere that prioritises comfort, spatial flow, and material harmony. The space is defined by soft, natural lighting that enhances a refined palette of soft whites, muted textiles, and clean finishes. Furniture was selected to balance function and flow—lightweight pieces maintain a sense of openness, while subtle contrasts in tone and texture introduce depth and visual cohesion. The outcome achieves a balanced environment that reflects both modern living needs and timeless simplicity.

Phuket City Apartment Proposal

This bathroom explores a brighter and warmer spatial atmosphere while maintaining a refined, contemporary character. A palette of soft whites, light stone textures, and warm neutral tones enhances the sense of light and openness. Ambient lighting highlights surface texture and reflectivity, creating a calm yet inviting environment. Fixtures were chosen for their clean geometry and timeless appeal, supporting both functionality and visual harmony. The overall composition balances warmth and clarity, resulting in a bathroom that feels spacious, cohesive, and uplifting.

Phuket City Apartment Proposal

I explored the spatial layout for a proposed apartment building with a focus on creating efficient, comfortable, and highly livable interior environments. This involved analysing the building’s overall spatial flow and designating this particular unit for residential use. I carefully studied the relationship between private and shared zones within each apartment, considering how light, ventilation, and circulation would shape the user experience. Each layout was developed to maximise natural light and maintain a clear, functional sequence between spaces. By adjusting proportions and testing multiple configurations of bedrooms, living areas, and service zones, I aimed to achieve a balance between spatial efficiency, comfort, and a sense of openness suited to tropical living conditions. This is one of several apartment layouts developed for the project.

The Gathering Ground

This area is a revamp of the current cafe located on the ground floor of the newly developed Gathering Ground - a cultural hub for connection and intergeneration learning. Interior elements blend heritage character with contemporary warmth, creating an inviting threshold between the street and community spaces above. Retaining the original brick and window detailing of the Footscray's Maples building, the interior introduces soft timber tones, textured finishes, and natural light to foster comfort and social connection. The cafe acts as a daily meeting point — a space for locals, visitors, and creatives to gather, share stories, and experience Footscray’s diverse cultural identity.

Suspended City

In response to the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as floods, bushfires, and cyclones, this project proposes an innovative and adaptable shelter solution designed to provide temporary accommodation. The Suspended City is a modular, deployable system that can be helicoptered into affected regions as a “kit of parts” and assembled quickly to accommodate those in need for up to six months, while their homes are being rebuilt.

The design features a series of triangular-shaped tents constructed from durable parachute material, suspended above the ground with a network of poles and wires. This suspended structure is versatile, able to withstand the challenges posed by floods, bushfires, and cyclones. By being elevated, it provides safety from rising floodwaters, protects against fire risks, and remains resilient in high winds. The tent-like forms are easily deployed, allowing for rapid assembly within two weeks of a disaster, offering immediate relief to affected communities.

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.