Ross Madden established one of Australia’s first local design-oriented wholesale outlets, Aero Design, in 1974, and today owns and manages R.G. Madden, a retail chain of eight stores around Australia. The company maintains a strong philosophy of support for Australian designed products.

Aero Design opened as a retail showroom in 1976 in Bridge Road, Richmond. The philosophy of the company was simple but effective: well structured furniture that was aesthetically pleasing and functional, mainly designed and made in Australia.

Ross sold the business in 1986 and in 1987 he opened a designer home wares store, appropriately named By Design, in Toorak Road South Yarra.

In 1990 the name of the store was changed to R.G. Madden to reflect the personal direction of the business.

Ross is a past Board member of the Victorian based Artists and Industry and is currently a Board member of the Australian Academy of Design.