Ben Demeyere with his family at home
Ben with his family at home

Beyond the pixels...

Outside of work, I'm a husband, a dad to two boys, a football fan, a home cook, a music tragic, and someone who tries to spend as much time outdoors as possible.

Family is the centre of it all. My wife and two sons keep me grounded, and a lot of what I do outside of work revolves around them — whether that's getting outdoors together, cooking up something new on a weekend, or introducing the boys to the kind of music their dad insists is still cool.

Curiosity, creativity, craft, and caring about the experience — aren't separate from my professional life, they're very much part of what drives it.

Music

Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. The Living End, Green Day, Blink-182, The Offspring & Jebediah — rock and punk bands that I still come back to today. Growing up I'd stay up late watching music videos on Rage, had Triple J on constantly, and made it to the Gold Coast Big Day Out.

I used to catch live shows whenever I could, though with small kids at home that's a rare luxury these days. What hasn't changed is listening to music while I work — it genuinely helps me focus and get into a creative headspace.

I keep an Apple Music playlist of what I'm currently spinning, updated regularly if you want a window into what's fuelling the work.

Ben Demeyere cheering for the Matildas at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
Ben Demeyere cheering for the Matildas at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Football

Football has been woven into my life from an early age. I grew up going to Brisbane Strikers games with my Dad and brother, and played for Bayside United as a kid — a club my grandfather helped found back in the 1950s, which makes it something I'm genuinely proud to have been part of.

These days I follow Brisbane Roar locally and Club Brugge in Belgium, a connection that runs through my family roots on my father's side. I also keep a close eye on the Socceroos and Matildas whenever they're in action. The beautiful game has a way of bridging generations and geographies, and for me it always has.

Ben Demeyere and his wife at Milford Sound, New Zealand
Ben Demeyere and his wife at Milford Sound, New Zealand

Nature and the Outdoors

Away from the screen, nature is where I recharge. These days that often means a trip to the park with the kids, but whenever the opportunity arises I love getting out to the ocean or exploring the hinterland rainforests of South East Queensland.

There's something about walking through those landscapes — the quiet, the greenery, the distance from a glowing rectangle — that genuinely refreshes my thinking. It's become an important part of how I stay balanced, and I always come back to the work with a clearer head for it.

Ben Demeyere cooking a stir-fry with homegrown kaffir lime leaves
Ben Demeyere cooking a stir-fry with homegrown kaffir lime leaves

Cooking

Cooking is another creative outlet that I genuinely enjoy — there's more overlap with design than you might think. Finding a new recipe, working through the steps, and pulling something together that the whole family loves is its own kind of satisfaction.

I'm currently working my way through a vegetarian Mexican cookbook, which has been a great excuse to experiment with new flavours. When I'm not in the kitchen, I'm probably watching MasterChef for inspiration — or at least that's my excuse.