Upcoming Events

City

Wellington

Date

1 June 2022
6.00pm till 8.30pm

Background

The Best Design Awards are a major feature of the local design calendar and some of last year's winners are touring the country to offer first-hand insights into their projects.

This event is brought to you by Resene 

Speaker(s)

RTA Studio, Irving Smith Architects

Rich Naish, Jeremy Smith

SCION Innovation Hub - Te Whare Nui o Tuteata

Judge's comments: Te Whare Nui o Tuteata is a stunning piece of Aotearoa architecture, not only for its dense storytelling and design excellence but more importantly, what it stands for and the engagement process it undertook with science and mana whenua. An exciting blend of our modern world and tikanga principles. From its carbon-stored timber bone structure, to its Matariki lighting features, it demonstrates by example how the buildings of tomorrow, need to be considered and shaped.

Clemenger BBDO, Assembly, New Zealand Human Rights Commission

Emily Beautrais (writer), Emma Brown, Matt von Trott FDINZ, Andre Afamasaga

Voice of Racism

Most of us are more than willing to say we’re anti-racist. But how can we actively and successfully fight racism if we don’t know what it can sound like? The campaign was designed to show the harm of lots of ‘small’ moments of racism, particularly when lived along more overt and aggressive examples.

Te Kahui Toi / Massey University

Ngataiharuru Taepa (Te Ati Awa, Te Arawa), Kura Puke

Te Rau Karamu Marae

The design of the wharenui ‘Te Whaioranga o Te Whaiao’ relates to a defined area within Te Waonui (the forest) and focused on the roles of atua such as Tāne Whakapiripiri and Hinewaonui in the creation of Te Rakau Tipua - the cosmic tree. This speaks of the connections to all things, which may be experienced by all of those who enter under its canopy and into its embrace, in ceremony guided by the spatial narrative.

Motion Sickness, Wai Creative

Sam Stuchbury PDINZ, Katene Durie-Doherty

Proud to Be Māori

Unapologetic, unwavering, and delivering a message of hope, resilience, and pride, ‘Proud to be Māori’ stands as an enduring body of work with deep cultural significance, and bears an everlasting relevance to the issues faced within Aotearoa.

City

Christchurch

Date

2 June 2022
6.00pm till 8.30pm

Background

The Best Design Awards are a major feature of the local design calendar and some of last year's winners are touring the country to offer first-hand insights into their projects.

This event is brought to you by Resene 

Speaker(s)

RTA Studio, Irving Smith Architects

Rich Naish, Jeremy Smith

SCION Innovation Hub - Te Whare Nui o Tuteata

Judge's comments: Te Whare Nui o Tuteata is a stunning piece of Aotearoa architecture, not only for its dense storytelling and design excellence but more importantly, what it stands for and the engagement process it undertook with science and mana whenua. An exciting blend of our modern world and tikanga principles. From its carbon-stored timber bone structure, to its Matariki lighting features, it demonstrates by example how the buildings of tomorrow, need to be considered and shaped.

Clemenger BBDO, Assembly, New Zealand Human Rights Commission

Emma Brown, Frances Cooke, Matt von Trott FDINZ, Andre Afamasaga

Voice of Racism

Most of us are more than willing to say we’re anti-racist. But how can we actively and successfully fight racism if we don’t know what it can sound like? The campaign was designed to show the harm of lots of ‘small’ moments of racism, particularly when lived along more overt and aggressive examples.

Motion Sickness, Wai Creative

Sam Stuchbury PDINZ, Katene Durie-Doherty

Proud to Be Māori

Unapologetic, unwavering, and delivering a message of hope, resilience, and pride, ‘Proud to be Māori’ stands as an enduring body of work with deep cultural significance, and bears an everlasting relevance to the issues faced within Aotearoa.

Ariki Creative

Hori Mataki

Te Waiatatanga Mai o Ngā Atua

Te Runanga o Kaikoura in partnership with Waka Kotahi, Kiwi Rail and the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR), led a team of creatives, artists and designers to produce artwork connecting purakau and whakapapa into the landscape of Kaikoura after the 2016 earthquakes.

City

Auckland

Date

8 June 2022
6.00pm till 8.30pm

Background

The Best Design Awards are a major feature of the local design calendar and some of last year's winners are touring the country to offer first-hand insights into their projects.

This event is brought to you by Resene 

Speaker(s)

Alimetry

Jim Hannon-Tan

Gastric Alimetry (Product & Value of Design)

Gastric Alimetry is a very young company commercialising and developing a game changing technology. The product delivers clear value from an ease of setup and diagnostic point of view. It’s truly a step change. In addition in two years it employs 25 people, growing >100% per year, it’s an approved diagnostic test in 29 countries, and is currently launching in its first 7 hospitals across 5 countries, including the world’s largest children’s hospital (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia). So while it’s early days the value it’s generated from a health point of view is clear and it’s already well underway to realising it’s commercial and human potential.

DESIGNsense Limited

Michael Denton

Izon Exoid

The development of the Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing (TRPS) Exoid has enabled a revolution in accurate measurements of nanoparticle properties and with the backing of major clinic’s it is expected to be rapidly embraced by medical researchers all around the world. Used in over 45 countries, TRPS instruments are a key requirement for analysing nanoparticles scientifically and correctly.

Stabicraft

Mike Whittaker

2250 Ultracab Walk-Thru (Product and Value of Design)

Stabicraft is a story of focus and determination. The business started 34 years ago focused on creating a durable replacement to inflatable RIBs. But since going through the Better by Design programme since 2015 the business has stepped it up a gear. It’s introduced new products, significantly increased sales with the introduction of new and redesigned models. It simplified its manufacturing process and won Red Dot Awards. And from a value point of view it’s doubled the business and increased margins too. A strong demonstration of what great design can deliver.

Crestline, PLN

Diego Betanzo DINZ, Blair McKolskey DINZ

Kowhai Wrap Screen

There is a growing body of evidence showing that workplaces that embrace neurodesign and incorporate biophilic principles through natural elements, such as plants, light, colours, and shapes, have noticeable and measurable benefits for both companies and their employees.

This is, to our knowledge, the first time biophilic design considerations have been integrated into a workstation screen design to improve health and wellbeing within the workplace.

The design is a novel and differentiated take on curved workstation screens which adds design value to the curved screen concept without adding significant cost and adds value to the end user in terms of wellbeing, productivity, and privacy.

Vivid Origin

Jesse Keith PDINZ

Bite Lab

A smile is the window into your world, it’s part of your identity and it’s your greatest tool for self expression and confidence. It’s something you take for granted, but when you lose it (or you never really had it), it can really knock your confidence and hold you back.

At Bite Lab they’re dedicated to creating bold dental innovations that enable dental professionals to build better smiles and empower self expression.

Date

16 June 2022
6.30pm till 9.00pm

Background

The Best Design Awards 2021 was our night, a celebration of what we do, where we joined together virtually and shared our work and our stories and looked at our best work.

The night showcased the high standard of design excellence in New Zealand and the collective strength of our community.

Best 2021 is holding a Gold Pin Party to honour and salute the Gold Pin and Purple Pin winners and our Best Partners. Where you can come together and high-five a great year of design excellence.

*This is an invite only to Purple Pin and Gold Pin winners from 2021.

RSVPs close Monday 13th June

Nathan Haines & DJ Hudge

Moa HeyHey (designed by Seachange)

City

Auckland

Date

22 June 2022
6.00pm till 8.30pm

Background

The Best Design Awards are a major feature of the local design calendar and some of last year's winners are touring the country to offer first-hand insights into their projects.

This event is brought to you by Resene 

Speaker(s)

Te Kahui Toi / Massey University

Ngataiharuru Taepa (Te Āti Awa, Te Arawa), Kura Puke (Te Ātiawa, Taranaki Whānui)

Te Rau Karamu Marae

The design of the wharenui ‘Te Whaioranga o Te Whaiao’ relates to a defined area within Te Waonui (the forest) and focused on the roles of atua such as Tāne Whakapiripiri and Hinewaonui in the creation of Te Rakau Tipua - the cosmic tree. This speaks of the connections to all things, which may be experienced by all of those who enter under its canopy and into its embrace, in ceremony guided by the spatial narrative.

New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts

Stacy Gordine (Te Arawa), Eraia Kiel (Te Arawa)

Te Ahi Tupua

Inspired in part by camera footage captured from deep within the world famous Pōhutu Geyser, the design pays homage to its rich natural features – the vortex reflecting different forms of geothermal energy – steam vents, heat, flames and eruption. Inspiration also came from the Māori concept of kaitiakitanga o te whenua - guardianship of natural resources.

Rauawaawa Kaumatua Charitable Trust, MWDesign

Rangimahora Reddy (Raukawa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato Tainui, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Rangitane), Mike Williams PDINZ

Kuki Reka Kani

Kuki Reka Kani are 6 unique cookie cutters, developed and named by Kaumātua as part of a social enterprise called REKA - Rauawaawa Enterprise for Kaumatua Aspirations. Kaumātua can express their heritage, using pūrākau (traditional story telling) to pass on ancient legends to their rangatahi (youth), inspired by the modern Māori patterns carved into the dough within traditional shapes of taonga (treasures.)

Wai Creative

Angie Frires, Ben Thomason

Tū Ana Ngā Pou Angitu

WaiCreate worked closely with Whānau Ora’s Kawa Advisor to ensure the designs properly reflected the concepts behind Te Kawa o Whānau Ora. Further development saw a deeper link to Te Ao Māori by creating six different Pou, each designed to reflect the six different uara or values.

Beronia Scott (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei), Maxwell Rogers Fabrics

Beronia Scott (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei), Roger Green

Park Hyatt Tukutuku

The Park Hyatt at the Britomart has a central theme of Māori inspired design.

The project commissioned a local Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei artist, Beronia Scott, to create a number of tukutuku inspired panels in all 195 rooms of the hotel.

Date

4 July 2022

Background

The Business of Design D.Cast is a discussion about running a design business or design in a business. We have looked at a range of subjects and are covering a single theme for each episode.

We’re looking for insights, experiences and anecdotes to share with the audience and we’ve prepared questions as thought/discussion starters - but it’s less an interview and more a discussion.

Covering:
1. Foundation of a Business
3. People
4. Creative and Outputs

D.Cast One:
STARTING UP/GEARING UP
Noel Blackwell FDINZ & Damian Alexander DINZ- LIKEMINDS
Oliver McDermott PDINZ & Ben Thomson - Blender
Concepts Explored
Getting team of experts
Finding clients and work
Cashflow runway
Equipment
Software
Suppliers
Leases

D.Cast Two:
DESIGNING A SYSTEM
Ryan Ward PDINZ & Mandy Flett DINZ, Foodstuffs

D.Cast Three:
PARTNERS, PARTNERING & PARTNERSHIPS
James Carnie, HonDINZ, Clendon Barristers & Solicitors
Concepts Explored
Legal Structures
Contracts, Constitutions and Shareholder Agreements
Shareholders & Directors
Finance
Intellectual Property

D.Cast Four:
BUILDING THE GANG
Kirsti Grant, VP People Experience, Auror
Molly Workman, Head of People & Culture, RUSH Digital
Nick Riley PDINZ, Nick Riley Design
Concepts Explored
Recruitment
Employment law
Culture
Developing people
Making ‘changes’
So you’re a CD now?

D.Cast Five:
MONEY, FEES & LIABILITIES
Catriona Knapp, HonDINZ. McQueen
Paul Izzard PDINZ, IZZARD
Jen Cheyne PDINZ, Mind and Matter
Concepts Explored
The bank
The IRD and ACC
Cash flow vs Profit
Insurance
Budgets
The landlord

D.Cast Six:
REPUTATION & NOTORIETY
Ryan Marx PDINZ, Marx Design
Fraser Calloway, Strategy
Concepts Explored
New business and sales
Self promotion and spec work
Awards and recognition
Portfolio
Client strategy

D.Cast Seven:
INHOUSE
Bevan Tonks FDINZ, Trilogy
Luke Pittar PDINZ, The Warehouse Group
Concepts Explored
Working in a corporate environment
Championing design and design’s value
Working on a single brand/stable of brands
Politics and teams

D.Cast Eight:
OPTIMISING
Catriona Knapp, HonDINZ Treasurer, McQueen
Duncan Shand FDINZ, YoungShand
Concepts Explored
People, place and resources
Building for scale
Maximising revenue and profit
Client growth strategies
Governance and advisory
Maintaining quality at scale

 

A series brought to you by Gideon Keith PDINZ (left) and Ryan Ward PDINZ (right)

View All Events

Best Week

Years

2013 — Present

The lead up to our most prestigious night of the year is the ideal time to bring the design community together to reflect and connect. During Best Week we hold a series of events that build towards the industry's big night out at the Best Design Awards.

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2015

2014

2013

Designers Speak®

Years

2011 — Present

The more we talk about design in New Zealand, the more robust the conversation becomes. Our Designers Speak events give our members the chance to hear top designers sharing insights into their work.

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2011

Designers Speak® Across the Ditch

Years

2015 — Present

Great design can flow both ways across the ditch. This event encourages that trans-Tasman design dialogue, and is a collaboration between the Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA) and DINZ.

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

Folio Night

Years

2015 — Present

Supported by design schools and studios, Folio Night is an initiative from the DINZ Student Council. Each event is a prestigious opportunity for nominated students to present their work for discussion and critique.

2018

2017

2016

2015

No Borders

Years

2015 — Present

Good design can transcend geography’s barriers. And many inquisitive and ambitious New Zealand designers have made the brave and uncertain move of shifting overseas. At No Borders, they return home to share what they have learned.

2018

2017

2015

Open Studio™

Years

2015 — Present

We all have a natural curiosity about the spaces in which designers create. Open Studio offers a rare opportunity to enter these private worlds, and see the inner workings of some of New Zealand's best studios.

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

Pixel to Product

Years

2016 — Present

With digital technology, design is in a state of constant change. This event series gives designers a forum to discuss how this impacts on their innovation process; how they push ideas from the abstract into the real; and on how quickly they bring products to market.

2016

The Form Forum®

Years

2013 — Present

This series of informal events is primarily a forum for spatial designers to meet and share insights. A broad range of relevant topics are presented and discussed including useful tools and tips, the latest design trends and best industry practice.

2019

2018

2017

2016

2014

2013

The Graphics Forum

Years

2016 — Present

This series of informal events is primarily a forum for graphic designers to meet and share insights. A broad range of relevant topics are presented and discussed including useful tools and tips, the latest design trends and best industry practice.

2017

2016

The Product Forum

Years

2016 — Present

This series of informal events is primarily a forum for product designers to meet and share insights. A broad range of relevant topics are presented and discussed including useful tools and tips, the latest design trends and best industry practice.

2017

2016

Other

2021

2020

2019

2018

2015

2014

2013