Pavement Print Studio

Mobile Design and Printing Facility

A research-driven initiative investigating mobile design pedagogy through real-world community engagement. Our bicycle-mounted printing facility operates as both educational laboratory and public service, bringing collaborative design practice directly to community spaces.

Methodology

The studio functions as a nomadic design practice, positioning students as practitioners within authentic community contexts whilst examining the relationship between mobility, accessibility, and collaborative creation.

Spatial Practice

The mobile facility challenges traditional studio boundaries by establishing temporary design spaces within existing community environments. This approach interrogates how physical location influences creative processes and community participation in design outcomes.

Collaborative Production

Through direct-to-mesh screen printing techniques, the studio enables real-time collaborative design production. Community members become co-creators rather than passive recipients, fundamentally altering traditional designer-client relationships.

Cross-Cultural Exchange

Links to partner studios in Osaka facilitate simultaneous international design sessions. This connection creates opportunities for examining cultural translation, miscommunication, and meaning-making across geographical and linguistic boundaries.

Pedagogical Innovation

Students experience design education through direct community engagement rather than simulated briefs. This approach develops professional competencies whilst contributing meaningful outcomes to community partners, bridging academic learning with social responsibility.

City North Festival

3-5 October 2025

Experience Pavement Print Studio in action during the City North Cross-Cultural Festival on Cardigan Street, Carlton. The mobile facility will operate throughout the weekend, facilitating collaborative design sessions with festival participants and maintaining live connections with partner studios in Osaka.

Location: Cardigan Street, Carlton
Format: Street-closed festival environment
Focus: Cross-cultural dialogue through collaborative printmaking

Student Experience

Participants develop practical competencies in mobile design practice, community engagement, and cross-cultural collaboration whilst contributing to meaningful community outcomes through hands-on learning experiences.

Technical Proficiency

Students master direct-to-mesh screen printing techniques and mobile studio logistics. These skills translate directly to contemporary design practice requirements for flexible, responsive production methods.

Community Engagement

Direct interaction with diverse community members develops communication skills, cultural sensitivity, and collaborative design methodologies. Students learn to facilitate rather than dictate creative processes.

Professional Development

Operating within real community contexts provides authentic professional experience including project management, client liaison, technical problem-solving, and public presentation of design work.

International Collaboration

Links with Osaka partners expose students to global design perspectives, cross-cultural communication strategies, and international professional networks within contemporary design practice.

Industry Partners

The studio operates through strategic partnerships with industry leaders who provide technical expertise, materials, and professional guidance, ensuring authentic professional learning experiences for participating students.

xTool
Digital fabrication technology and laser cutting equipment for rapid prototyping and design development
Permaset Inks
Professional screen printing inks and technical expertise from Australia's leading screen printing manufacturer
Ball and Doggett
Premium paper stocks and printing substrates for diverse community printing requirements
JAM Osaka
International collaboration partner providing direct-to-mesh technology and cross-cultural design expertise
RadHause Bikes
Custom bicycle engineering and mobile studio construction expertise for optimal mobility solutions

Institutional Support

Pavement Print Studio receives support from RMIT University's Creative Industries programmes, leveraging expertise across disciplines to develop innovative approaches to design education and community engagement.

Graphic Design
Furniture Design