Steve Martinuzzo

Steve Martinuzzo is a product design and development professional of over 30 years, who challenges design thinking to create socially responsible and user-centred products.

Steve graduated from RMIT Industrial Design in 1985. His first professional position was as the first-ever industrial designer with what is now Boral Lifts. But Rob Pataki had kept tabs on Steve, and in 1987 invited him to join PA Technology just before the firm transitioned into Invetech.  After a solid three years grounding there, Steve travelled overseas for a year, including working for Addisons in London on the global BP station rejuvenation design project.

On return he immediately found a positions with John Westwood, and then at Sprocket Design (formerly Form Australia) where Gerry Mussett’s passion and approach influenced Steve’s future aspirations from which his own business would eventually evolve.

After a return stint at Invetech reaching 2IC of the Design Group, Steve left to co-found Cobalt Design with Jack Magree. Despite a humble start their aim was to become a world-recognised product development group, by enriching people’s lives through good design.

Cobalt Design consults to leading Australian and global companies on a diverse range of iconic and commercially-focused products. Of note, Cobalt Design has been involved with Melbourne’s trams since the late 1990’s, and Steve personally worked on a project that resulted in the now iconic “Tarzan Handle” used on Melbourne trams since 2017.

He has contributed to the development of future designers throughout his career. First, as a lecturer at both Monash and RMIT University. Second, through Cobalt Design, who have employed professional placement students every year since 2002, where they have long-term career opportunities as well as workplace support through training and mentoring.

Steve has been an active member of the design community by serving as a Director and Victorian President of the Design Institute Australia, and being a board member of numerous state and federal government committees, as well as an awards judge and expert witness.

More recently, Steve has been an Auditor in a government-centred design thinking into broader client engagements.