From Waste to Wonder: Lousy Ink and Dodgy Paper Gear Up for Finders Keepers Melbourne
Photos by Dodgy Paper
Inside the Circular Design Collective’s sustainable showcase-in-the-making
The Circular Design Collective (CDC) has been a flurry of activity lately, as Lousy Ink and Dodgy Paper prepare to debut their sustainable retail fit-out for the upcoming Finders Keepers Melbourne Design Market, taking place 11–13 July at the Royal Exhibition Building.
These two boundary-pushing brands—known for turning waste into beautiful, useful things—are not just setting up stalls; they’re building an experience that embodies circular thinking from the ground up (literally). Every surface, every product, and every interaction has been carefully designed to reflect a shared ethos: creativity without compromise, and sustainability without sacrifice.
Lousy Ink: Bottling Waste Into Boldness
Lousy Ink reclaims residual ink from discarded printer cartridges (in partnership with Close the Loop and Cartridges 4 Planet Ark) and transforms it into high-quality, refillable drawing and writing inks. Their upcoming stall will showcase not just their latest colourways, but the story behind each bottle—inviting people to rethink the lifecycle of everyday materials.
Dodgy Paper: Recycled Stories, Reimagined
Next door, Dodgy Paper will offer their famously textured, handmade papers crafted from studio offcuts, misprints, and pulped oddities. Each batch tells a tale, and their Finders Keepers display will celebrate that history—complete with bundles pairing their paper with Lousy Ink’s pigment, for the ultimate sustainable stationery set.
A Stall That Walks the Talk
In true CDC style, the duo have been prototyping their fit-out using recycled honeycomb cardboard—lightweight, low-impact, and easily transportable. The installation is more than a stall; it’s a statement of intent.
“We wanted every part of our presence at Finders Keepers to reflect our process—from what we make to how we show up,” says Harley Manifold of Lousy Ink. “It’s not just about selling, it’s about storytelling.”
Come See for Yourself
You’ll find Dodgy Paper and Lousy Ink at the Finders Keepers Melbourne Design Market, running 11–13 July at the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens. Entry is free for under 12s, and tickets are available at finderskeepers.com.au.
Come for the handmade vibes, stay for the radical rethink of how art materials—and art markets—can operate sustainably.
And stay tuned: the collaboration continues at CDC later this year, with an upcoming exhibition on sustainable design and regenerative making.
