Alex Yelds

I am a reliable, methodical and curious individual with a creative spirit and strong interpersonal skills. My passion for design stems from a desire to inspire, ground and connect people to their environment. With a proactive and driven mindset, I am continuously seeking opportunities to expand my creativity and refine my technical abilities. Growing up in the coastal town of Merimbula, NSW, and later moving to Melbourne in 2021 to pursue a career in interior architecture, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for natural landscapes and materials, cultural diversity and community. These elements heavily influence my approach to creating thoughtful and meaningful spaces.

I am particularly passionate about residential projects and commercial developments, where I find the challenge of balancing functionality and aesthetics most rewarding. I also enjoy exploring retail and hospitality design, where creativity and atmosphere are essential to the user experience. Ultimately, I aim to create spaces that are not only functional and visually engaging but also evoke strong emotional connections, resonating with its users in profound ways.

As a designer, I am imaginative, inquisitive and empathetic. I enjoy exploring new ways to seamlessly integrate architecture and interior design with the natural environment, creating cohesive and immersive experiences. My ability to blend technical precision with creative vision has shaped me into a well-rounded graduate, eager to contribute to projects that inspire and connect people.

SWIN RESIDENCE: FRONT EXTERIOR

First impressions of Swin Residences. Contemporary. Clean lines. Raw materials.

THE WAVESCAPE: ART GALLERY

A serene art gallery with floor-to-ceiling windows, panoramic beach views and a minimalist design that lets natural materials and art speak for themselves.

COSMIC COLLECTIVE CO: FRONT EXTERIOR

Introducing Cosmic Collective Co. A dynamic co-working hub, designed for the everyday designer entrepreneur to enhance creativity and collaborative efforts.

COSMIC COLLECTIVE CO: PUBLIC CO-WORKING

A warm, inviting workspace blending natural materials and versatile seating for collaborative and solo productivity.

COSMIC COLLECTIVE CO: RESTAURANT & BAR

An inviting dining experience showcasing a featured beam ceiling and an elegant marble bar centerpiece.

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.