Design Comes Home For APSDA 2016

The conference is held every two years, and will bring 500 design delegates to the city from across the Asia–Pacific region. The Design Institute of Australia (DIA) was fortunate to win the bid to host this year’s conference and general assembly. This is a significant achievement as it will be the first time in the program’s 18–year history that it will be held in Australia. APSDA is an international alliance of design organisations within Asia, created by 15 groups in 13 different countries. In a press release distributed by this year’s steering committee, the conference “aims to celebrate and create a better understanding of different design cultures through the diversity of its international members”. The conference theme for this year is Home, and aims to build upon the significance and deeply ingrained memories we have of belonging, family, comfort and tradition. It will be an opportunity for delegates to open up “multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary ideas of making, making do and making happen through a sense of place–centred events,” says the steering committee, chaired by Joanne Cys and Francesco Bonato.

Bright minds from Atelier Bow-Wow will provide a keynote address at the conference

An extensive program has been scheduled for the event with many satellite presentations and tours also happening around the city. A number of design studio dinners, exhibitions and a formal gala conference dinner will take place as well as a civic reception hosted by the Lord Mayor Martin Haese. Pre–and post– conference tours will include design trips to the Barossa and the Tonsley precinct. International design duo the Campana brothers, Yoshiharu Tsukamoto and Atelier Bow Wow will all be keynote speakers at the event which features a line–up of renowned national designers including Megan Morton, Alison Page, Debra Little and Anton James. Local design stars Khai Liew, Studio Gram, Claire Kneebone, Ryan Genesin and Cristina Tridente will provide a South Australian perspective.

Acclaimed local designers David Bickmore and Graham Charbonneau from Studio Gram will also be present

Another exciting addition to the main conference will be a concurrent student program, taking place in order to provide the opportunity for international design students to spend a week in Adelaide collaborating on design projects with local education institutions. The conference program will also incorporate the annual Laminex DIA Design Awards and the national DIA Hall of Fame induction event. APSDA will also include the Designer Saturday exhibition and a bespoke installation by Guildhouse designers and makers. The exhibition will serve as a hub throughout the conference with café areas and cooking demonstrations, and will be open to the public. The official conference will be held in the new western wing of the Adelaide Convention Centre. APSDA 2016 Saturday, September 24 and Monday, September 26 Adelaide Convention Centre To find out more and register visit: apsdaaustralia.com.au