Forbes is identified as a designer for Rodriquez Fabrics, Melbourne, illustrated in Colin Barrie, Design, Arts in Australia series, Longmans, 1962. His package design work is illustrated in R. Haughton James, The Arts in Australia series, "Commercial Art", Longmans, 1963. He was also active in furniture design winning a 1st prize for dining furniture in the Melbourne Ideal Home Show in 1955.