Good Design Awards Open 2016 

It’s that time of the year again to plan for the celebration of good design through the Australian Good Design Awards.  In our opinion, the judging of these awards are more stringent and considered than most of the other awards in our industry like the IF awards, Red Dot awards and especially, the various city based awards run around the world under the banner of the design 100 organisation, and whilst we sometimes disagree with their assessments, we support their process and the positive message and recognition delivered.

Precious Melbourne product design companies will lament an over the top Sydney focus of the Good Design Awards and the permanent timing of the awards presentation integrated with the VIVID Sydney Festival, but when the major sponsors of the awards are the NSW Government in various guises, then it does no good to complain.  Let’s get onboard and celebrate the coming months when Design’s contribution to business, cultural and social is recognised and promoted.

We love the call the action from Gerhard Vorster, the Patron of the awards.  In his words, and from his business innovation experience;     

Every product, service, space or experience has been designed.

The issue is: was it good design or bad design? Even worse, was the design left to chance? Design has never been more fundamental to our standard of living than it is now, and it will only grow in relevance and importance over the next decade.

That is why amplifiers of this message are so very important.

Good Design Australia has been a key catalyst of this message and, through the Good Design Awards program, amplifies and celebrates the power of design in a very practical way. Design is making a tangible contribution to improved living standards at a time where Australia has to deal with slipping commodity prices, trading partner uncertainties and an ageing workforce. We can and will design better products, better services, better businesses and experiences and a better future for us all. I am particularly delighted that I have the privilege to award a Patron’s Prize to recognise excellence in one of these areas.

I want to congratulate all the businesses that make submissions to the annual Good Design Awards and I congratulate those that go on to be recognised with a Good Design® Selection and the coveted Good Design Award®. But most important in my mind are the thousands of people behind the design of these brilliant projects. The innovative people that “live” design. You are the true inspiration and example for every corporate and government leader in Australia and our world - we all can learn from you.

Award submissions are now open and close on 15th April 2016.

If you have an interest in design, use design and benefit from good design then please spread the word.

If this strikes a chord with you or provides a flash of inspiration that you want to explore with your business, please get in contact with our product design team in Melbourne on (03) 9413 9000, or email Mark at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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