Contact details +6449793521

Associate Professor Sven Amid Mehzoud BA Arch, BDes, MDes, PhD

Head of School

School of Design

Sven has held teaching and research positions, and managed design programs for over 20 years, in New Zealand and Australia. His creative work lies at the intersection of exhibition, scenography, and interior architectural design. Recent work investigates how narratives are constructed in museum exhibitions representing the history of communities and their politics, and how narratives of underrepresented communities can be generated and communicated through performance based interpretation experiences. Works include commissioned or invited exhibition designs, curatorial projects, urban festival designs, and collaborations with councils and community groups. Publications include book chapters, exhibition catalogue contributions, journal research articles and conference contributions.

Professional

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts in Architecture - Winterthur Polytechnic (1989)
  • Bachelor of Design - Victoria University (1997)
  • Master of Design - Massey University (2006)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - University of Technology Sydney (2022)

Research Expertise

Research Interests

Spatial Design, Interior Architecture, Exhibition Design, Scenography, Museum Studies, Performance Studies

Thematics

21st Century Citizenship, Design – for Commerce, Community and Culture

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Built Environment And Design (120000):
Curatorial and Related Studies (210200): History And Archaeology (210000): Museum Studies (210204)

Research Outputs

Journal

Drake, C., Gilbert, J., Mehzoud, S., & Pearce, S. (2019). Collected reflections. Curator: the Museum journal. 62(4), 589-614 Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cura.12339
[Journal article]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.Contributed to by: Mehzoud, S.
Drake, C., Dziekan, V., Gilbert, J., Mehzoud, S., Pearce, B., & Pearce, S. (2019). Curatorial design at the cultural interface: mapping Culpra Station. Curator: the Museum journal. 62(4), 571-588 Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cura.12338
[Journal article]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.Contributed to by: Mehzoud, S.
Mehzoud, S. (2019). Scenographic exhibitions as spaces of encounter. Curator: the Museum journal. 62(4), 629-648 Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cura.12340
[Journal article]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Dziekan, V., & Mehzoud, S. (2014). Activating exurbanScreens: Applying curatorial design toward affective experience in civic media spectacles. Curator: the Museum journal. 57(4), 485-504 Retrieved from https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Curator:+The+Museum+Journal-p-9780JRNL73619
[Journal article]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.

Book

Drake, C., Gilbert, J., Mehzoud, S., Pearce, B., & Pearce, S. (2024). Research Currents Interview: Interpretive Wonderings Team: Campbell Drake, Jock Gilbert, Sven Mehzoud, Uncle Barry Pearce, and Sophia Pearce. In A. Rowson Love, & D. Randolph (Eds.) An Introductory Guide to Qualitative Research in Art Museums. (pp. 150 - 157). : Routledge
[Chapter]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Mehzoud, S. (2024). Mildura Migration Stories: Scenographic Exhibition Design Strategies for the Staging of Co-Authored Community Narratives. In M. Pegno, & K. Souffrant (Eds.) Institutional Change for Museums A Practical Guide to Creating Polyvocal Spaces. : Routledge
[Chapter]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Mehzoud, S. (2016). 'Migratory Grounding' (catalogue essay for Performing Mobilities: The Australian Performance Studies international (PSi) 2015 Project ‘Fluid States: Performances of Unknowing’). In M. Douglas (Ed.) Performing Mobilities. (pp. 89 - 89). Melbourne, VIC, Australia: RMIT School of Architecture & Design, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
[Chapter]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Hannah, DM., & Mehzoud, S. (2011). Presentation/Representation/Re-presentation. In T. Brejzek (Ed.) Expanding Scenography: On the authoring of space. (pp. 102 - 112). Prague, Czech Republic: The Arts and Theatre Institute
[Chapter]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Noble, A., Mehzoud, SA., & Jensen, LE. (2008). Antarctic shopping party: Southern Lights - Antarctic collectibles. In D. Hannah, & O. Harslof (Eds.) Performance Design. (pp. 104 - 113). Copenhagen, Denmark: Museum Tusculanum Press
[Chapter]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.

Creative Work

Mehzoud, S., & Williams, G. (2022). Katherine's Room [scenographic exhibition design/installation]. Katherine Mansfield Home and Garden. Wellington, NZ..
[Design]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Foster, S., & Mehzoud, S. (2019, June 6). Curation of NZPQ19 Te āhua tū wātea: New Zealand representation at Prague Quadrennial 2019 (Exhibition of Countries and Regions Section). Czechia: Prague Quadrennial.
[Exhibition]Authored by: Foster, S., Mehzoud, S.
Mehzoud, S. (2019). Making Home: Mildura Migration Stories [scenographic exhibition design and co-curation, including installations, artefacts, digital media and community engagement]. Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura, VIC, Australia.. 199 Cureton Avenue , Mildura VIC 3500, Australia: Mildura Arts Centre
[Design]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Mehzoud, S. (2018). Wes Walters: The art of the pre-cursor [scenographic exhibition design including installation components].Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura, VIC, Australia..
[Design]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Campbell, D., Gilbert, J., Mehzoud, S., & Pearce, SL. (2016). Migratory Wonderings. [exhibition curation of 8 artists works including audiovisual, documentary, artefacts, painting, performance art]. 8 - 21 Nov 2016. 107 Projects, Redfern, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
[Exhibition]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Mehzoud, SA., Drake, C., Gilbert, J., & Pearce, SL. (2016, February 19). 'Interpretive Wonderings' [curation of group exhibition], Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura VIC, Australia.. (No. of Pieces: 27) [Curation of 27 Australian Indigenous and non-indigenous artists' works ranging from paintings, sculptures, installations, photography, documentaries, performance art and audiovisual works]. Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura VIC, Australia..
[Exhibition]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Mehzoud, SA. (2016). Interpretive Wonderings [exhibition design], Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura VIC, Australia.. : 19 Feb - 10 April 2016, Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura, VIC, Australia
[Design]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Mehzoud, S. (2016). Graeme Drendel: Silos and Silence. 1 Dec 2016 - 26 Feb 2017. Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura, VIC, Australia
[Design]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Attiwil, S., Maidment, S., Mehzoud, S., & Rhodes, K. (2014). Situation: An IDEA Conference and Exhibition. [exhibition curation of 16 artists works including artefacts, installations, audiovisual work, drawings]. 23 Jul - 3 Aug 2014. RMIT Design Hub, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
[Exhibition]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Mehzoud, S. (2013). exUrbanScreens Media Arts Festival 2013: The Discrete Image. Frankston Arts Centre, Frankston, VIC, Australia: exUrbanScreens Media Arts Festival 2013
[Design]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Lawrence, J., Mehzoud, S., Lommerse, M., & Foster, S. (2012). An Interior Affair: A State of Becoming. [exhibition curation of 16 artists works including installations, drawings, sculptures, audiovisual works]. 6 Sep - 6 Oct 2012. FORM Gallery, Perth, WA, Australia.
[Exhibition]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Mehzoud, S. (2012). exUrbanScreens Media Arts Festival 2012: Light in outer Space. Frankston Arts Centre, Frankston, VIC, Australia: exUrbanScreens Media Arts Festival 2012
[Design]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.

Thesis

Mehzoud, S. (2022). Exhibition Spaces of Action and Encounter: Scenographic Exhibition Design for the Presentation of Migration Narratives in Museums. (Doctoral Thesis) Mehzoud, S. (2022). Exhibition Spaces of Action and Encounter: Scenographic Exhibition Design for the Presentation of Migration Narratives in Museums. (Doctoral Thesis)
[Doctoral Thesis]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.

Conference

Mehzoud, S. (2020, September). Access to Museums for underrepresented communities through new virtual reality platform technologies. Presented at Project Boomerang Webinar. Web-based, Dubai.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Mehzoud, S. (2018, July). Presencing Collections: a migration exhibition for a regional Australian museum. Presented at IFTR World Congress 2018 Theatre, nation and identity: between Migration and Stasis. Studio - Laboratory for Performing Arts Faculty of Dramatic Arts, University of Arts, Belgrade.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Mayer, C., & Mehzoud, S.(2015). Walk and talk the Queen Victoria market. In Conference Proceedings: Applied Collaborations: 8th International Conference and Exhibition. Christchurch, New Zealand: Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia
[Conference Other]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Dziekan, V., & Mehzoud, S. (2013). Activating ex_urbanscreens: Applying curatorial design strategies to a new media art festival. In Discursive Space Conference(pp. 31 - 33). , Discursive Space: Breaking barriers to effective spatial communication in museums Toronto, Canada: Ryerson University, School of Interior Design
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Mehzoud, S. (2012, November). Creative Acts of Mediation. Presented at Unbounded: An Interior Design Colloquium. Swinburne University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Mehzoud, S., Lawrence, J., Foster, S., & Lommerse, M. (2012). 'An exhibition model to enable recognition and evaluation of creative works as research in interior design/interior architecture'. Proceedings of Interior: A State of Becoming Conference. (pp. 1 - 18). Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia: Interior: A State of Becoming An IDEA (Interior Design/Interior Architecture Educators Association) symposium hosted and convened by Curtin University, Perth, Australia
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Mehzoud, S.
Foster, S., Mehzoud, S., & Adank, R. (2010). Up with the play: TUI prototype design for retail experiences. The 7th Australian Conference on Interactive Entertainment 2010. (pp. 41 - 44). : 7th Australian Conference on Interactive Entertainment
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Adank, R., Foster, S., Mehzoud, S.