René Linssen is a South African born, Australian Industrial Designer living and working in Canberra, Australia.

René loves the challenges of Industrial Design, finding a way to improve people's lives with a product that satisfies a need and that can be aesthetically pleasing at the same time. He also feels strongly about the responsibilities implicit in a career that he believes has a big impact in shaping the world we live in.

Currently an Industrial Designer at Australian product design company Formswell Design, he is involved in a diverse range of design work in industries from sports, outdoors, homewares, government and more.

In 2017, René co-founded the furniture company Furnished Forever with fellow Canberra designer Elliot Bastianon. The company focuses on furniture for high volume commercial and residential applications with an emphasis on local manufacturing.

René has won several national design awards including Vogue Living / Alessi Emerging Designer Award (2015), Belle / Alessi Design Award (2017) and was a finalist in the Mercedes-Benz Design Award (2018).

René is still involved closely with the University of Canberra since completing his Bachelor of Industrial Design in 2016. He is currently acting as a sessional lecturer for their Industrial Design program.

Awards/Recognition

2023 — Australian Design Review 30under30
2018 — Vivid Design Competition Finalist.
2017 — Mercedes-Benz Design Award Finalist.
2017 — Belle Alessi Design Award Winner.
2016 — ACT Australian Government Bike Rack Design Competition Winner.
2016 — Vivid Design Competition Finalist.
2015 — Vogue Living Alessi Emerging Designer Award Winner.
2014 — Reece Bathroom Innovation Award Student Finalist.
2014 — Design Institute of Australia Professional Encouragement Award (Industrial Design).

Exhibitions

2021 — Community - Hosted by ‘Alt Material’ for Melbourne Design Week.
2020 — HOME:MADE - Design Canberra Festival.
2020 — Ductility - Hosted by ‘Alt Material’ for Melbourne Design Week.
2019 — Denfair (Furnished Forever) - Convention Centre, Melbourne.
2019 — Elasticity - Hosted by ‘Alt Material’ for Melbourne Design Week.
2019 — Home.Grown (Furnished Forever) - Sydney Design Festival.
2018 — Denfair Front | Centre - Convention Centre, Melbourne.
2017 — Workshopped17 - Supa Centa Moore Park, Sydney.
2017 — Denfair Front | Centre - Convention Centre, Melbourne.
2016 — Workshopped16 - Supa Centa Moore Park, Sydney.
2015 — Workshopped15 - Supa Centa Moore Park, Sydney.
2015 — Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre’s Emerging Contemporaries, Canberra.

Memberships
Craft and Design Canberra
Accredited Professional Membership
2017 — Present