The designer opens up to BC about his creative journey with TSU LANGE YOR and his next big moves
If you’ve ever strolled along Bondi Beach during Sculpture by the Sea, chances are you’ve been stopped in your tracks by one of Joel Adler’s creations.
Ordinary isn’t something he’s searching for.
From Viewfinder, a reverse periscope offering glimpses of crashing waves below, cascading five metres over a sandstone rock shelf, to what might just be the largest disco ball ever to land on Bondi’s foreshore, Adler has an unique talent for pushing boundaries. His designs have also found a home in the bustling streets of New York, gracing shopfront windows.
The young designer’s work has resonated with Australians, earning him accolades and an ever-growing following. It’s no surprise, then, that Adler’s talent caught the attention of Troye Sivan’s fragrance and lifestyle brand, TSU LANGE YOR (TLY), who swiftly brought him on board as their Head of Design. 
“I started working with TSU LANGE YOR as a collaborator and was struck by Troye and Steele’s (Co-founder and Managing Director) openness to trying anything and the collaborative environment they’ve fostered,” Adler shares.
“Working with TLY also means collaborating with a beautiful network of creatives and hyper-focused professionals and it’s been super fun.”
An artist and industrial designer specialising in site-specific sculptures and interactive installations, Adler’s work prioritises the experience of the viewer. His projects are designed to provoke curiosity, inspire connection, and immerse audiences in the beauty of their surroundings.
His latest work in Sydney, Australia, is inspired by his experiences sailing through some of the world’s most remote and unforgiving environments.
“I find inspiration in nature and love the natural 3D forms found in stone, sand, and ice. Last year, I spent three weeks on a sailboat in the Arctic capturing 3D maps of icebergs, and I discovered endless inspiration in that natural environment.”
Adler’s academic foundation is just as impressive as his artistry. After earning first-class honours in Industrial Design from the University of New South Wales in 2017, he expanded his expertise with a minor in Sustainable Design Engineering at Delft Technical University in the Netherlands.
His breakthrough came in 2018, when Mount Sinai College commissioned him to create Tree of Life, a community-driven sculpture that Adler conceptualised, designed, and managed from fabrication to installation.
But it was Viewfinder in 2019 that put him on the map. The work winning the People’s Choice Prize, Kids’ Choice Prize, and Artist’s Pick Award at Sculpture by the Sea in Bondi, Sydney.
Adler reflects on his many pieces of work – and surprisingly, it may be his simplest design to-date that is his favourite.
“The Bowl is one of my favourite designs; it’s like super cheeky but also very serious at the same time. It purposely has no bottom and highlights the surface it’s on. It really taught me about the importance of thoughtful design. It’s like, yes, you can get a $5 bowl at Kmart for your muesli, and that’s fine, but this bowl is trying to be something else. Something considered and beautiful, and not for liquids.”
With a portfolio that spans public art, interactive installations, and now product design, Joel Adler is out a name you’ll probably want to remember. His work continues to inspire awe and redefine the role of design in connecting people with their immediate environment.
As for what’s to come?
“We’re (TLY) working on some new fragrances and some exciting new homewares products in entirely new materials, which is super exciting,” says Adler.
“I’m also working on some fun sculpture projects next year for permanent installation. And I’ll be heading to Chile for an artist residency later in the year.”
