Australian Design Alliance

Jennifer Hewett's opinion piece in the Australian Financial Review today: "The faith in innovation has now become the professional equivalent of motherhood ...Everyone's for it. Everyone knows it's necessary for the survival of the business species. How do businesses apply the theory to what they do every day - and what they need to do to survive tomorrow?" Catherine Livingstone, Chair of Telstra, head of the Business Council of Australia and Patron of the Australian Design Integration Network is keen to promote design thinking - the goal of design thinking is to create and capture real value rather than just trying to keep cutting costs in a country that has become a very high-cost producer.

Archikidz’s bold new programme to inspire tomorrow’s thinkers and city-makers was officially launched in The Rocks last week.

On August 21st at 6.30pm at the heritage listed Paramount Pictures building in Surry Hills, the Golden Age Cinema is screening IF YOU BUILD IT, a feature length documentary that follows two designer-activists who travel to Bertie County, the poorest in North Carolina, to work with students on a massive design project. The film will be followed by a panel discussion.

The ADA was pleased to support the Built Environment Meets Parliament event held in Canberra on 15 July.  A well attended event hosted by ADA members Australian Institute of Architects and the Planning Institute of Australia with Consult Australia, the Green Building Council Australia and the Property Council of Australia.  The keynote address was delivered by the Hon Tim Fischer AC, who said that, we need holistic planning and design at every level and that, while we may not need a minister for design just yet, we need ministers in government who can bring the concept of design into what they do.  Points that the ADA wholeheartedly endorse. Senator Scott Ludlum (Australian Greens), said that he goes to engineers and designers for solutions.  Professor Barbara Norman (Foundation Chair of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Canberra) emphatically stated that we need a sustainable climate change environment policy now and design professionals need to be a part of this.  The ADA looks forward to this event next year and some shifts in the policy environment  that recognise the value add of design.

Last week Object: Australian Design Centre (associate member of the Australian Design Alliance) hosted a special early morning talk with digital visionary Bob Greenberg on his first visit to Australia. R/GA has recently opened a Sydney office

The benefits of Universal Design are well known - providing better design solutions for everyone, but guest speaker Cain Beckett, Director at Pricewaterhouse Cooper, encouraged participants at the inaugural Australia Enabled by Design-athon to also consider the business opportunities of the rapidly expanding $50b a year market for products, technologies and services for people with a disability.

Registration is now open for Series 4 of the University of Technology Sydney’s Creative Intelligence Labs (UTS:CI Labs).  The theme of Series 4 is The Future is Human: Realising Empathy for Change, co-directed by globally recognised innovation and creativity leaders Annalie Killian and Craig Davis.

Australia will soon have its own annual architecture and design hub via a temporary pavilion in the style made famous by London’s Serpentine Pavilion. Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher said the project will cement Melbourne’s standing as a major hub for design and architecture in the Asia-Pacific, creating an event that will benefit both Victorians and visitors to our State.  See this article by David Wheeldon for more details.

The Powerhouse Museum is presenting Sydney Design from 16 to 24 August.  Hope online and check out the range of activities that you can take part in including design and technology, an interactive light installation, 3D printing and the future of manufacturing, idea bombing for a better city and more.

The AGDA 2014 Australian Design Biennale Awards are open for Entries.