Who are we?

The Australian Design Alliance (AdA) is the alliance of peak professional organisations that represent designers across all aspects of Australia’s design industry. We are a not for profit industry alliance. Our goal is to promote the use of design to boost Australia’s productivity, sustainability and innovation.

What do we want to do?

Convincing our political leaders in Canberra to create and fund a national design policy is our number one priority.

Australia has a wealth of design capability. The AdA’s campaign can play an important role in getting this more fully recognized and more effectively utilised. I wish it every success.        Sir George Cox, former Chair of the UK Design Council and author of The Cox Report (Creativity in Business).

We want to see a national policy for design adopted by the federal government that will be embedded in all government policies but specifically linked to Australia’s Innovation Agenda and cultural and urban design policies.

As a society we are facing ever increasingly complex challenges. However, rather than seeing these as insurmountable challenges, we should see them as exciting opportunities which Australia can be at the forefront in tackling; through innovative, creative and design led solutions. At Arup we believe that design is the key to true long-term sustainability. Kerryn Coker, Arup

We want to develop initiatives that will:

• Invest in the design industry to raise the profile and the market for   Australian design both nationally and internationally,
• Help Australian businesses to realise their full potential for sustainable growth and international competitiveness by placing design at the core of their business,
• Immerse design into the culture of the public sector to ensure that design thinking is part of the development of public services from transport to urban planning and social services,
• Ensure that design thinking is integrated into all our systems of learning from schools to tertiary courses and professional education.

                                                                                                                The government is listening but with your support we can escalate the conversation and put design at the forefront of innovation for the good of Australia and the good of our design community.

In advanced high cost economies, future competitive advantage will increasingly be based on the intangible value of design and innovation, which enables firms to differentiate their products and services. The question is not whether Australia can afford to invest in design, but whether we can afford not to. With trade-exposed industries such as manufacturing and tourism under severe pressure, Australia’s creative talent in design should become a key source of our uniqueness in global markets and value chains. Prof Roy Green, Dean of the UTS Business School and a member of the Prime Minister’s Manufacturing Taskforce.

How can you help?

To dedicate resources to do this we need to raise a minimum of $15,000, although we would like to raise a lot more. We are a lean operation; a volunteer Board and a part time Executive Director. With your support we will be able to undertake the research we need to do to strengthen our case, spend more time influencing political leaders and step up our communications strategy to showcase the work of Australian designers in all their guises.

I fully support the AdA's campaign for a national design policy. As a film designer, I would like to see more opportunities opened up for our designers both in Australia and internationally. I urge you to support the AdA in this endeavour. Catherine Martin, Designer

We need 300 people to pledge $50 each to reach our $15,000 target. We know there are loads of designers, and people who appreciate good design, out there. We know that you understand the difference good design can make to every aspect of our lives. If you are one of these people you can help us to reach, and even exceed, our target.

Your contribution demonstrates your support and in no small measure will help us to mount a memorable campaign that will have long term benefits for all of us working in design and more broadly for the country.

All our supporters are valued and we appreciate all pledges big and small. For those who contribute $100 or more we have some special rewards to keep you in loop on our progress.

You can pay with a Mastercard or Visacard. It’s a pledge system and if we don’t meet our target, your payment will not be processed. You will need to create a Pozible login, or if you already have a Facebook login you can opt to sign in with that.

We will keep you up to date with Pozible updates on our Facebook page and through Twitter so please ‘like’ and ‘follow’ us to keep up to date with the progress of our campaign.

If you would like to pledge a larger sum we’d love to hear from you so please contact our Executive Director, Lisa Cahill on [email protected]

Thanks in advance for helping us to give Australia the design policy we need to make us stronger and more competitive on the world stage.

The AdA is proud to be a Pozible network collaborator.

A big thanks from all at the AdA for your help with getting this campaign together to: The Gingerbread Man Team, Kim Hardaker, Autumn Loveday, Louis Thorn, Dean Wells, Dr Joanne Jakovich, Oliver Kratzer, Henry Wilson, Sir George Cox, Kerryn Coker, Brave Creative, Kate Moore, Professor Roy Green, Catherine Martin, Liane Rossler, Mel Young and Collect @ Object: Australian Centre for Design.

AdA Members Supporting a National Design Policy

Our cultural expression and the design of everyday things is the mark of our time and place and our historical signature. The lateral ideas and problem solving skills of designers help to shape positive change in our complex challenging world. For this visionary purpose, Australia needs a national design policy. Tamara Winikoff National Association for the Visual Arts

Imagine leadership that would build the capacity of our youth to creatively deal with the challenges of an increasingly complex world – allow business and industry to remain competitive and differentiate itself in the global marketplace more effectively – help re-imagine new answers to those socialproblems that have evaded us for far too long. Design has proven itself as one of this century’s most empowering tools and a driving force behind innovation that brings ‘structure’ to the best of our creative ideas. A National Design Policy would assure critical leadership through the support of programs, initiatives and opportunities that provide design-led solutions to Australia’s greatest challenges.  Steven Pozel Object – Australian Centre for Design (On behalf of the Australian Craft and Design Centre Network)                                
Design is becoming an increasingly critical component in the success of industries worldwide. Substantial differences can be made to a bottom line by good design and this is increasingly evident in the Australian film, theatre and interactive multimedia industries. Australia is a modern and progressive country that would benefit greatly from a National Design Policy. This is part of what being a Clever Country means.  George Liddle Australian Production Design Guild 

In our world the language of design is one of the keys to linking cultural and social participation with economic outcomes. It is the breadth of practice, from aesthetic concerns to system design and the practical economic and social benefits that follow that places design at the heart of any successful future economy. A design policy would ensure Australia has a sustainable place in this future. Gavin Artz  Australian Network for Art and Technology 

A National Design Policy will position Australia internationally as a leader in design and highlight the role of design in creating a modern, sophisticated and intelligent Australia, capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century and beyond.  Brandon Gien Good Design Australia 

The Planning Institute of Australia has long recognised the need for excellence in design in the built environment. The Institute considers that it is important that there is strong leadership in design, and in the built environment, at the National Level. Dyan Currie Planning Institute of Australia

Design and Innovation are inextricably linked to our current collective culture and at once express our place and social fabric. To invest in design is to invest in society and culture. To deepen our economy, to cherish liveability.  Jon Shinkfield Australian Institute of Landscape Architects 

A National Design Policy is the first step in bringing Australia in line with smart economies internationally, which recognize the value-added contribution delivered by design's engagement in the manufacturing and services sectors of the economy. Design is an exciting, existing resource that can be instantly engaged to bring immediate benefit to Australia.  Geoff Fitzpatrick Design Institute of Australia

Implementing a National Design Policy would acknowledge the role that designers and the design process already have in helping to resolve significant social issues, improving the effectiveness of government and increasing the bottom line. Such a policy would recognise the value Australia places on innovation and design lead practices, and would assist Australian industries to remain globally relevant and competitive.  Paul van Barneveld Australian Graphic Design Association 

The Council for Humanities Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) supports the campaign for a National Design Policy. We believe that such a policy will give Australia the edge in terms of innovation in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. We also support a systemic integration of design thinking, research and knowledge into all levels of education to build capacity as well as to continue to build on the strengths of Australia’s existing expertise.  Professor Sue Willis Council for Humanities Arts and Social Sciences

Design is much more than the aesthetic. It encompasses thinking, innovation and process. Design is a discipline in every product. A national design policy will advance design’s strategic role in strengthening Australia's economic competitiveness and sustainability.  Jo-Anne Kellock Council of Textile and Fashion Industries Australia

Our members are:

Australian Craft and Design Centres (ACDC)

Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA)

Australian Institute of Landscape Architects

Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT)

Australian Production Design Guild (APDG)

Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS)

Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA)

Design Institute of Australia (DIA)

Good Design Australia, Australian International Design Awards

National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA)

Planning Institute of Australia – Urban Design Chapter

Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) (observer)

AdA Patron

His Excellency Mr Michael Bryce AM, AE