In a dystopian visualscape, Sydney creative James Guerrisi and Melbourne photographer Pier Carthew have joined forces to showcase the exceptional talents within Melbourne's flourishing design community.

Titled 'Temper Forte' – a playful amalgamation of the Italian phrase 'Semper Forte' (Forever Strong) and the metallurgical process of tempering – this editorial project thrusts objects into a dark, futuristic realm.

Inspired by the audacious futurism of the 1980s, this avant-garde project immerses viewers in a minimalist landscape of makeshift plywood walls cloaked in black, reflecting glossy floors, and chrome screens that beckon with their alluring mystique. Within this austere canvas, the works of Melbourne's most daring design talents come to life, each piece a testament to the city's flourishing creative scene.

Amidst the monochromatic surroundings, a powder blue mushroom lamp by Jordan Fleming casts an ethereal glow, its tactile form and unexpected hand-built nature defying conventions. Nearby, a collaboration between Ella Saddington and metal sculptor Sam Bloomfield manifests as a Curiosity Cabinet, its undulating surface seemingly rippling against the dark backdrop, absorbing and reflecting the materiality that surrounds it.

Dalton Stewart's Earth Table stands as a bridge between art and design, a minimalist assemblage that challenges preconceptions with its simplicity. The brushed metal creations of Volker Haug, Brud Studia, Fiona Lynch, and Another Bureau of Design exude an air of refinement, their sleek forms and exquisite materiality blending seamlessly into the futuristic realm.