HG Design
Mud Australia's Shelley Simpson
Meet the Designer
This fall marks a new chapter at Hopson Grace: the opening of Mud Australia’s first Canadian shop-in-shop inside our Dupont showroom. For ten days, Founder and Creative Director Shelley Simpson personally unpacked, styled, and placed every piece — a reflection of her hands-on approach and deep connection to her craft. We sat down with Shelley to talk about her creative process, the quiet power of simplicity, and what excites her most about bringing Mud to Canada.
Shelley Simpson with Hopson Grace founders Martha Grace Mckimm and Andrea Hopson
HG: Why Hopson Grace? Why Canada, why now?
SS: Hopson Grace shares our belief that good design should last and be lived with. We’ve had a wonderful seven-year relationship with them, so when the opportunity came up to collaborate on a shop-in-shop, it felt right. Canada has this wonderful mix of curiosity within design and people who take their time with the things they choose. That sense of care really aligns with how we think. We saw a natural opportunity to share more of Mud Australia with Canada, bringing the complete Mud Australia store experience to Toronto - a thoughtful extension of the brand and an exciting new chapter for us.
HG: Do you see a kinship between Australian and Canadian design sensibilities?
SS: Yes, very much so. There’s a simplicity that runs through both cultures. A respect for craft, nature and things that serve a purpose. Design here in Canada feels lived in, not performed, and that’s something we relate to.
HG: When did you first become interested in design and how or why did you choose your profession?
SS: I wouldn’t say I chose it so much as it chose me. I started making ceramics for friends and family, and it became a place where I could switch off and create. It just felt right. I still approach design the same way. If something doesn’t exist, I make it. From there it’s simply grown, one form at a time.
HG: Who and/or what inspires you?
SS: I’m inspired by how people actually live with things. Pieces need to be used, loved and reached for without thinking - that sense of practicality keeps me interested. I’m also drawn to designers who work with integrity, like Dieter Rams and Alvar Aalto. They remind me that less is often more. Mostly, I find inspiration in the everyday, a well-used bowl, a good meal, light falling across a surface. Those small, quiet moments say the most. The ongoing challenge is creating and evolving a range where function, colour and form come together in a harmonious and meaningful way.
HG: How would you define your style?
SS: When planning a room, every item should be well-scaled. Make sure to take the time to measure and plan the furnishings you want to use. Edit out all the things you don't love. It's better for the environment to buy good, well-designed items. If they are affordable, it's nice to have at least one good piece of art in every room.
HG: Where’s your happy place?
SS: Home, unless I’m travelling with my family. Ideally with good food and great company. Or in the studio, it’s my version of meditation, just with more clay and less silence. I also love early walks with my dog Molly in Sydney, especially in spring when everything feels fresh and unhurried. It’s the best way to clear my head before the day begins.
HG: What’s your favourite part of the design process?
SS: That point when you’re refining a form and it suddenly feels right in your hand. It’s a small victory every time. There’s no exact science to it, you just know when to stop. Usually just before you’ve gone too far.
HG: Best entertaining tip or favourite ritual when you entertain?
SS: Keep it relaxed and serve food that makes people happy. I like meals that bring everyone to the table - it’s never about perfection, it’s about atmosphere. Candles, conversation, a bit of mess, that’s the good stuff.
HG: Styling tip?
SS: Don’t overthink it. If you love something, it will work. A simple bowl with fruit, a jug with flowers, whatever feels natural. And if it looks a bit imperfect, even better, it means someone’s actually using it.
HG: Favourite Mud colours?
SS: I’m forever drawn to our neutrals Milk, Dust and Sand, they just sit quietly in a room. But I do love the pop of brighter shades like Citrus or Plum. They keep things from getting too serious.
HG: Favourite Mud product(s)?
SS: The Pebble Bowl range will always be one of my favourites. It’s from the early days and it’s still the piece I reach for at home. It reminds me of when the kids were little and I love its practicality and versatility. I also have a soft spot for our new Baker Oval. It has a way of making anything you cook look intentional, even when it isn’t.
"In Australia, dining is largely informal. We love to eat outdoors, surrounded by friends, good food and a sense of ease. It’s simple, generous and always relaxed."
- Shelley Simpson
Serve larger roasts in Mud's Paris platter. All Mud products are oven-safe.
HG: Best entertaining tip or favourite ritual when you entertain?
SS: Keep it relaxed and serve food that makes people happy. I like meals that bring everyone to the table - it’s never about perfection, it’s about atmosphere. Candles, conversation, a bit of mess, that’s the good stuff.
HG: How do you keep Mud’s calm minimalism fresh for today’s design-savvy customer?
SS: By not overcomplicating it. We stay true to what we do but keep refining. Freshness doesn’t come from trends, it comes from care. A new colour, a small tweak, a new context, that’s often all it takes. It’s about maintaining harmony across the range so everything feels connected and considered.
Above: Mud's Hive vase.
HG: Colour vs neutrals?
SS: I’ll never choose sides. Neutrals are grounding, yet keeps things alive. The beauty lies in how they speak to each other. I think life needs both - a little calm, a little chaos. For me, it’s about balance: roughly 85% neutral and 15% colour.
Visit Mud Australia's Canadian store within Hopson Grace at 200 Dupont Street in Toronto.
HG: What excites you most about introducing Mud to Canadians and what do you hope they feel when they hold a piece?
SS: I’m excited to see how Canadians make Mud their own. That’s always the best part, seeing our pieces find a new rhythm in someone else’s home. I hope they feel the care in it, the intention and maybe a bit of that Australian spirit. If it makes their morning coffee feel even slightly better, that’s success.
