Industrial designer Olson Hamilton-Smith has been named the winner of the prestigious Carl Nielsen Design Accelerator for his groundbreaking project, Foldee, Australia's first locally designed and manufactured folding cargo bike. The award was announced at the opening of Sydney Design Week 2025 on 19 September.
Presented by the Powerhouse and supported by a bequest from Carl and Judy Nielsen, the Carl Nielsen Design Accelerator is an annual program that recognises emerging Australian designers working in sustainable industrial design. The nine-month residency provides the recipient with the opportunity to develop their product under the mentorship of industry leaders, including Ed Ko, industrial designer and founder of IDX SYD.
Chosen by a panel of experts comprising Ko, Powerhouse curator Angelique Hutchison and Nielsen Design Associates director Adam Laws, Hamilton-Smith stood out for his innovative response to two major urban challenges: limited storage space and sustainable transport.
Foldee is designed and built in Melbourne and reimagines the traditional cargo bike with a compact, highly portable structure. The bike incorporates a unique double-hinge folding mechanism, allowing it to collapse to a fraction of its size for easy transport and storage - without sacrificing load capacity. In line with its sustainability mission, Foldee is constructed entirely from 100% recyclable steel.
Nielsen Design Associates director Adam Laws said, "Olson's project is in a relatively small but growing area of a highly competitive market. Its time is now with low impact environmental solutions being encouraged and sought after. The Carl Nielsen Design Accelerator adds to Olsen's momentum by assisting with the commercial optimisation of the FOLDEE lightweight folding cargo bicycle."
The Carl Nielsen Design Accelerator not only provides financial and institutional support to designers but also serves as a launching pad for products that address Australia's pressing design challenges. This year's program will see Hamilton-Smith collaborate with mentors, curators, and fabricators over a nine-month residency, culminating in a public showcase at the Powerhouse.
