A NEW CHAPTER FOR AN ICONIC (& VERY COMFORTABLE!) ARMCHAIR
Luxury furniture house Maker&Son has joined forces with Sydney’s Studio ALM for a bold collaboration that reimagines “the most comfortable chair in the world.”
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Luxury furniture brand Maker&Son, renowned for its deep-seated armchair often described as the most comfortable in the world, has announced its first-ever collaboration – a partnership with Sydney’s Studio ALM.
The project redefines a classic by offering something new: the ability to reinvent the chair through interchangeable covers, without changing its timeless essence. It is a meeting of permanence and play, rooted in craftsmanship but alive with creative experimentation.
For this collaboration, Studio ALM took its cues from a broad spectrum of cultural influences.
The bold textiles and colour stories of Australian designers Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson provided a starting point, along with the graphic dynamism of Sonia Delaunay and the irreverent French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac.
That spirit of pattern and fearless colour was further energised through ZigZag Zurich, the Swiss textile brand whose Memphis-style ethos and community-driven design added a contemporary spark.
The results are fabrics that are far more than decorative. They are graphic and textured, charged with energy and intent. Merino wools and cottons appear alongside hand-dyed cottons created by rural cooperatives in Senegal, giving each piece a global resonance.
Among the designs are Mayen by Kleopatra Moursela, evoking alpine landscapes through geometric harmony; Gate and Japan by Nathalie Du Pasquier and George Sowden, founders of the Memphis movement; Rimini One by Sophie Probst, a modern celebration of weaving and colour; Senegalese Patchwork, exclusive hand-dyed cottons; Karo by ZigZag Zurich, a vibrant pink checkerboard; and Shake Your Move by Milanese designer Federico Angi, which combines precision with playful rhythm.
The collaboration is also available through the brand’s showrooms and selected online platforms. For Maker&Son, the partnership reinforces its position as a brand synonymous with soulful comfort, meticulous detailing and natural materials.
For Studio ALM, it marks another chapter in its ongoing mission to surprise and spark delight by weaving together art, craft and design from across the globe.
A Sydney couple has paid $15.5 million for the Grand Penthouse at Marquee’s $285 million La Belle Residences beachfront development which is nearing completion at Palm Beach, eclipsing the record for an off-the-plan apartment sale on the southern Gold Coast. The sprawling single level 640 sqm beachfront residence, with sweeping views of the Gold Coast …
Continue reading “$15.5m La Belle Penthouse eclipses southern Gold Coast record”
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A new study models a potential $80.6 billion lift in Australian GDP after a decade, as national testing shows a decline in Year 10 digital literacy.
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Australia trails Singapore and Malta in a new Commonwealth index, while national testing shows fewer than four in 10 Year 10 students meet the standard for digital literacy.
Australia has ranked third among 56 Commonwealth countries for youth AI readiness, with researchers estimating that artificial intelligence could lift the level of Australian GDP by $80.6 billion after a decade under their middle scenario.
The Ayre Think Tank released the index at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda. Australia scored 71 out of 100, behind Singapore on 77.6 and Malta on 75. The United Kingdom followed closely on 70.8, with Canada fifth on 70.2. Only 15 countries reached the study’s benchmark of 53.
What the $80.6 billion figure measures
The researchers applied International Monetary Fund estimates for broad groups of economies to Australia’s 2025 GDP. The resulting scenarios put the potential lift in Australian GDP after 10 years at between $40.9 billion and $120.3 billion, with $80.6 billion representing the midpoint.
The figures describe how much larger the economy could be at the end of the period under each scenario. They represent a change in the level of GDP in year 10.
Digital literacy falls as schools roll out AI tools
Australia scored 8.7 out of 10 for access to technology and 7.5 for digital, data, media and AI capability. Separate national testing found that 37 per cent of Year 10 students met the proficient standard for information and communications technology literacy in 2025, down from 46 per cent in 2022. About one in 10 students reported receiving substantial teaching on AI-related tasks. National assessment results
The report points to two state initiatives aimed at building those skills. Queensland began rolling out an AI education platform in state schools in 2026, while Victoria introduced free specialist training for workers looking to develop AI skills or move into related roles.
The index draws on 1,128 sources and examines the conditions facing people aged 15 to 29, including access to technology, education and pathways into work. Australia had usable data for 76 of the 102 indicators used in the rankings. The researchers found too little comparable evidence to score an eighth area covering critical judgement and people’s ability to exercise control over AI systems.
Professor C. Justin Robinson, campus principal of the University of the West Indies’ Five Islands Campus, said young people should be equipped to question and improve AI tools and supported in building alternatives suited to their needs.
The report calls for affordable access to technology, more practical education and stronger links between training, employment and entrepreneurship. It also urges governments and educators to support AI tools suited to local languages and give young people ways to challenge automated decisions.
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