New British Inventors celebrates an emerging generation of British inventors who are developing new modes of thinking and shaping advances in many fields of design. The campaign presents these pioneering British designers and creates a platform for international debate about the potential of design to shape the future. British Council Australia brought two new British inventors together with Australian designers, architects and developers in panels and talks at Melbourne’s MPavilion last week to challenge how we make and innovate in cities and factories.

UK-based design engineer Oluwaseyi Sosanya and Paul Stoller from Atelier Ten’s Australian office brought UK and local experience to the conversation. Moderated by RMIT Design Hub curator Fleur Watson, Oluwaseyi and Paul engaged the crowd with insights in to their practices and processes, and discussed how they use design to marry new technologies and materials with  craft and tradition to invent new products and projects.

Oluwaseyi has developed a concept for a unique device that can weave three-dimensional structures. The 3D Weaving Machine combines the traditional art of weaving with the use of modern materials and high-tech processes to create structures that are both flexible but able to withstand extremely high impacts. His design can change products from protective sportswear to bulletproof vests.

UK environmental designers and engineers business Atelier Ten has worked on large-scale sustainable projects both in Australia and overseas, with  a willingness to invent new structures to respond to environmental challenges. Paul's impressive portfolio includes the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute laboratory in Adelaide, the Barangaroo South precinct in Sydney and the original environmental concepts for Melbourne's Federation Square.

MPavilion is a shelter and art piece in a public garden. Recently named one of the world’s Top 10 temporary structures, it is designed and shaped to start conversations, host performance and art, and act as a meeting place. It was an ideal setting to talk about risk and experimentation as an essential part of good design, whether it is to revive manufacturing, make high street shopping exciting, or developing new city communities.