Annie McKinnon (b. 1991, Coonabarabran)
Annie McKinnon is a designer of spaces, sounds, interactions and music. She produces installations, immersive experiences, interactive objects, products, sound compositions, and buildings. She founded the design agency, About Turn in 2010. Her practice is grounded in collaboration and delves into issues of identity, equality and human connection. Her practice is daring, rigorous, and adaptive.
Annie has worked alongside and has received commissions from Lindfield Learning Village, Museum of Futures, City of Parramatta Council, Maridulu Badyari Gumal UTS, Black Dog Institute, Western Sydney University, Think+DO Tank Foundation, FEEL at University of New South Wales, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Coffs Harbour City Council, Orana Arts, Interactivation Studio UTS, Brown Cab Productions, Bree van Reyk, Sidney McMahon, Murdoch University, The University of Melbourne, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Parramatta Artists’ Studios, Synergy Percussion, DLUX Media Arts, IDX NCIE, City of Sydney, Holly Austin, Martyn Coutts, Anaisa Franco (VIVID), and Dr George Khut.
Musically, Annie has shared the stage with Ngaiire, Courtney Barnett, Elana Stone, Julia Jacklin, Flume, Tigerlily, RUFUS, DMA’s (Little Bastard/Underlights), Lowlakes (Tom Snowdon), DD Dumbo, Emma Davis, Giselle (Flight Facilities), Lime Cordiale, Sticky Fingers, Oh Mercy, Bec Sandridge, MASSIVE BAND (Bree van Reyk), PHENO (Jess Green), Alyx Dennison, Bonniesongs, Jack Carty, The Rubens, Handsome (Caitlin Park), Ian Moss (Cold Chisel), Boom Crash Opera, Wes Carr, Busby Marou and Castlecomer.
In 2022, Annie and her collaborator Emma Davis launched their band ‘Younger Than Me’. @youngerthanmemusic (instagram)
CV
Education
2024-(current) Master of Architecture, School of Built Environment, University of New South Wales
2020-2022 Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Sydney School of Architecture, Design & Planning, University of Sydney
2010-2012 Bachelor of Sound and Music Design, UTS School of Communication, University of Technology Sydney
2008 JENESYS Japan Cultural Exchange, AFS Australia
Industry Experience
2017-(current) Director and Founder, About Turn Pty Ltd
2018-2019 Research Assistant, Interactivation Studio, Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation, University of Technology Sydney
2017-2018 Mentor, CETA, Orana Arts
2017 Creative Producer, Lost in Books
2017 Mentor, Robots in the Outback (FRC), Macquarie University
2014-2016 Research Assistant, Interactivation Studio, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, University of Technology Sydney
2013-2014 Technical Development Assistant, DLUX Media Arts
2012-2014 Accounts and Production Manager, Goodbye Dinosaur Pty Ltd
2012-2014 Assistant Sound Engineer, Lachlan Mitchell (ARIA nominated producer)
2010-2017 Sole Trader, About Turn (previously ‘Sounds + Interaction’)
2008 Alto Saxophone, Beijing Olympic Orchestra
Teaching
2019 Guest Lecturer, Frontiers of Design and Technology, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne
2017 Interaction Design Tutor, Interaction Design Foundations, Master of Design, University of New South Wales
2017 Interaction Design Tutor, Tangible Interfaces and Interactive Displays, Master of Design, University of New South Wales
2016 Technical Tutor, Human-Centred Design Methods, Master of Design, University of New South Wales
2016 Interaction Design Tutor, Design Studio: Figuration, Master of Design, University of Technology Sydney
2016 Media Communications Tutor, Networked Media Production (First Year), University of Canberra
2016 Media Communications Tutor, Professional Media Project (Third Year), University of Canberra
2015 Design Tutor, Interactive Product Design: Methodology and Research (Third Year), University of Technology Sydney
2015 Product Design Tutor, Smart Design, B Design: Product Design (Third Year), University of Technology Sydney
2015 Animation Tutor, Animation Studio: Animation Practice (Third Year), University of Technology Sydney
2014 Industrial Design Tutor, Industrial Design : Interaction Design (Third Year), University of Technology Sydney
2014 Project Consultant, Industrial Design Major Project: Realisation (Third Year), University of Technology Sydney
Awards, Grants and Residencies
2023 Artist in Residence, Lindfield Learning Village, NSW Department of Education
2021 4 Peeps 4 Weeks - Architectural Detailing Mentorship, with Troy Donovan of Prism Facades @the_donnies (instagram)
2020 Dean’s List of Excellence in Academic Performance, Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney
2018 Awarded a Joynton Avenue Creative Residency, Green Square, 107 Projects Redfern
2017 Parramatta Artists’ Studios, Artists Residency, City of Parramatta Council
2016 Pass It On, Artists Residency, Think+DO Tank Foundation
2015 ArtStart, Australia Council for the Arts, Australian Government
2014 Artist in Residence with Fenix Icatu, BrandX, Marrickville Council
2014 Collaboratorium with Andreas Siagian, DLUX Media Arts and University of Technology Sydney
2013-2014 Artist in Residence, DLUX Media Arts
Commissions
2023 Exhibition Design, Our Shared Futures by Museum of Futures, NSW Parliament
2023 Sound Design and Composition, Baby by Sidney McMahon, Queer Encounters: Art Gallery of NSW
2022 Interactive Displays, at Warrumbungle Visitor Centre, commissioned by NSW Department of Planning and Environment
2022 Sound Design, Maggot by Sidney McMahon, UTS Art Gallery
2021 Programming and Robotics Design, Of sorrow and release by Sidney McMahon, ACE Open
2021 Programming and Electronics configuration, Immersion: wp patch by Kalanjay Dhir, Wentworth Point Community Centre and Library
2020 Programming and Robotics Design, Of sorrow and release by Sidney McMahon, ACCA
2020 Interactive Web Application, SUPERCLUSTERS, Bree van Reyk
2020 Website and Online Community Platform Design, Orana Arts and The Studio, Orana Arts
2020 Creative Development, CANOPY by John Harvey, Australian Centre for Moving Image
2019 Permanent Public Installation, Chromaticity, Coffs Harbour City Council
2019 Sound Level Interface Project, ABLSS - Creative Media, Murdoch University
2019 Interactive Web Application, Course of Empathy, University of New South Wales (FEEL)
2019 Illustrations, Warburdar Bununu: Water Shield, a Brown Cabs Production
2019 Creative Development, The Fire Within by Martyn Coutts
2018 Creative Development, Water by John Harvey, Brown Cabs Production
2018 Smart display design, Baradine Discovery Centre, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
2018 Smart display design, Warrumbungles National Park Visitors Centre, Site Specific
2018 Speaker Design, Sidney McMahon artwork, From Where We Stand exhibition, Artbank
2018 Micro Exhibition Design, Child’s Play, Lost In Books and Fairfield City Museum and Gallery
2018 Book Design, Arrival Anthology, Lost In Books, Think+DO Tank Foundation
2018 Book Shelf Design, Lost In Books, Think+DO Tank Foundation
2018-2019 Digital Set Design, A Little Piece of Heaven, Orana Arts
2017 Exhibition Design, The Motion Room by Think+DO Tank Foundation, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
2017 Interactive Projection Wall, Sartorial, VIVID Festival and DLUX Media Arts
2017 Carpet Design, Lost In Books, Think+DO Tank Foundation
2016 Composition, Density, 40Under40, Synergy Percussion, The van Reyk Family Cultural Fund
2015-2017 Exhibition Design, Scanlines, DLUX Media Arts
2015 Public Installation, 7mm Pitch, Ramus Illumination with UTS Animation, Central Park
2015 Sound Design, Genero Finalist, Qantas, Tiyan Baker
2014-2020 Interactive Product Design, Wireless Looping FX Jacket, Holly Austin
2013 Interactive Lighting Design, Check My Machine, Synergy Percussion
2013 Instrument Design, Colour Beats, Dress Up Attack!
Solo and Collaborative Exhibited Works
2023 Our Time, Our Shared Futures, Museum of Futures
2022 Keeping Score, Parramatta by Foot, City of Parramatta
2022 Hand Mapping, Special Collection, ADSR Zine
2021 Interactive Web Application and Composition, Topsy-Turvy.net, Maridulu Badyari Gumal /University of Technology of Sydney / Black Dog Institute / Western Sydney University
2020 Our Time, PANDEMIC PIVOTS, Museum of Futures
2018 Habitatual, WOW Festival, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
2018 You've Truly Got a Hold On Me, WOW Festival, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
2018 How We Do, WOW Festival, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
2017 Fibre Optic Garment design, in collaboration with Ruk Sarr for Sartorial, VIVID Festival
2017 Habitatual, Presented by Parramatta Artists' Studios, Parramatta Lanes Festival
2017 How We Do, Future Artists Club, Parramatta Artists' Studios
2017 Red Light Special Interactive, The Motion Room by Think+DO Tank Foundation, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
2017 The Story Booth, The Motion Room by Think+DO Tank Foundation, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
2017 Parramatta Automatic by Clara Wells, Outflux, Skinroom Gallery (New Zealand)
2017 Bookworms, The Motion Room by Think+DO Tank Foundation, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
2017 Pass It On, The Motion Room by Think+DO Tank Foundation, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
2017 #Fashtech Documentary, Presented by DLUX Media Arts with Colour City Creatives, Orange Regional Art Gallery
2016 The Garden of a Thousand Years, in collaboration with Sidney McMahon, Parramatta Lanes Festival
2016 Dial M For Me by Joy Ivill, M Contemporary Gallery, Woollahra
2015 Heart of the City by Anaisa Franco (Berlin) with Aravinth Panchadcharam (India), VIVID Festival
2015 Limited Stage, Double-D Scape, DLUX Media Arts in partnership with The Sydney Morning Herald SPECTRUM NOW Festival
2015 Sand Beats with Bert Bongers and Wendy Neil, Hothouse, Central Park
2014 153 Musicians by Alison Clouston & Boyd, Coalface
2013 You Don’t Love Me Yet by Lauren Brincat, Artbar, Museum of Contemporary Art
2013 You’ve Truly Got a Hold On Me, Minor Works, Bree van Reyk
2013 Colour Beats, Minor Works, Bree van Reyk
Press
2020 ‘Wiradjuri Elders Share Stories In A Little Piece Of Heaven’, Koori Mail: The Voice of Indigenous Australia
2020 ‘Warrumbungle Visitor Centre receives NSW Architecture Awards’, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
2019 ‘Course of Empathy’, The Big Anxiety Festival
2019 ‘Bronze for Warrumbungle National Park Visitor Centre at NSW Tourism Awards’ NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
2017 ‘Interactive Stepping Tile for Rehabilitation’, Social Futures UTS
2017 ‘A Cultural Plan for Parramatta’, Museums and Galleries of NSW
2017 ‘Fashion lights up at Orange Regional Gallery’, Central Western Daily
2016 ‘Stroke Recovery Tech Trial’, ABC
2015 ‘Step by Step’, Vertigo: UTS Magazine
2017 ‘Week long Parramatta Lanes returns to CBD alleyways’, The Daily Telegraph
2017 ‘Casula Powerhouse exhibitions answer questions on beliefs, community’, The Daily Telegraph
2016 ‘Parramatta Lanes: Western Sydney’s laneway festival announces massive food, drink and art program (Sydney)’, The AU Review
2016 ‘Out of this world flavours and concoctions at Parramatta Lanes’, The Daily Telegraph
2014 ‘Ruby's Wish - puppets and people, a theatre show for kids and adults’, The Sydney Morning Herald
Selected Writing
2022 Imperfection, Issue 10, Ligature Journal
2021 ‘Hand Mapping’ by Annie McKinnon, ADSR Zine
2019 ‘Interaction Design for Change’ by Annie McKinnon, Ligature Journal
Public Presentations
2020 Digital Presentation, Ruby’s Wish, Sydney Opera House
2019 Approaches to Composition, Guest speaker, Coonabarabran High School
2018 Selected Delegate, Junket (un)conference by Junkee Media
2017 #Fashtech Technical Workshops, DLUX Media Arts, Canobolas Rural High School/ Orange High School
2017 Arduino for Beginners, The Connection, Rhodes
2017 #Fashtech Community Workshops, DLUX Media Arts, Colour City Creatives/ Orange Regional Gallery
2017 Wandering Books Workshop Facilitator, Lost in Books at Marsden Rd Public School/ Liverpool West Public School
2017 Mentor and Facilitator, Sartorial (VIVID), DLUX Media Arts
2017 Project presentation, Future Artists Club at Parramatta Artists’ Studios
2016 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Workshops for A Garden of a Thousand Years, James Ruse High School/ Rosehill Public School
2016 The Art of Giving Workshop Facilitator, Lost in Books at Liverpool West Public School
2016 Flint Workshop Programming, IDX, National Centre of Indigenous Excellence
2016 Thinking Machines, DLUX Media Arts
2015 ‘7mm Pitch’ Launch, Ramus Illumination with UTS Animation, Central Park
2010 Project presentation, DesignTECH, The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (Powerhouse)
Software (Advanced)
Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects
AutoCAD
Rhino
Protools
Ableton Live
Software (Intermediate)
Archicad
Revit
Grasshopper
Enscape
Sketchup
V-Ray
Coding Languages
Max MSP Jitter
PureData
Arduino
P5.js (a listed source code contributor)
Javascript
HTML / CSS
Unity
Contact
Annie McKinnon
annie@aboutturn.net
@anniemckinnon_ (instagram)