Education, Advocacy and Community-building: The Role & Impact of the Design Institute of Australia.

The Design Institute of Australia Awards Graphic for 2023.

The voice of professional designers in Australia, Design Institute of Australia (DIA) plays a pivotal role in the industry by supporting, promoting, and advocating for designers and associated professionals. Championing the value of design, the organisation serves as a vital platform for designers of all ages and levels to thrive, evolve, and collectively address industry challenges.

Having worked with DIA this year on the CPD accreditation of our beloved MILANTRACE Live Events, we wanted to go a little deeper and shed some light on the multi-faceted role the organisation plays in our industry. We recently sat down with some of Australia’s leading designers—Sarah-Jane Pyke of Arent&Pyke, Adele Winteridge of Foolscap Studio, Tom Skeehan of Skeehan Design, and Jo-Ann Kellock, the CEO of DIA—to discuss the impact on their individual careers and DIA’s place within the broader design community.

During our conversations, a few themes emerged. Adele and Sarah-Jane emphasised the DIA’s role in providing support, education, and practical assistance to designers, while Tom highlighted the significance of DIA accreditation in validating designers’ expertise and commitment. As CEO, Jo shed light on the organisation’s mission and its proactive efforts to address pressing challenges within the design profession.

The DIA’s commitment to education, advocacy, and community-building ensures that designers in Australia continue to make a significant and positive impact on our society. Read on for further insights from some of our favourite people in the biz.

This Yellowtrace Promotion is supported by the Design Institute of Australia. Like everything we do, our partner content is carefully curated to maintain the utmost relevance to our audience. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Yellowtrace.

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“The DIA has been a great support. I am a member of The Medium Practice Group in Victoria. We meet to learn more about practice, discuss issues and challenges with running a practice, learn more from invited industry professionals.” — Adele Winteridge

A Pillar of Support and Growth

Adele has been a DIA member for an impressive 15 years. For her, the DIA has been a constant source of support, both for her career and her practice. She points to the Medium Practice Group in Victoria, where professionals come together to discuss practice-related topics, learn from industry experts, and navigate the challenges of running a design practice.

Practical Assistance and Networking

Joining Adele in our conversation, Sarah-Jane highlights the practical assistance offered by the DIA in the form of contract and legal advice. She joined DIA as a student and reminisces about the early days when she and her business partner eagerly read the DIA’s Practice Notes at night, considering them the “holy grail” for guidance.

Moreover, Sarah-Jane values the educational and networking opportunities provided by the DIA. “Some of the talks I’ve attended over the years are legendary—George Freedman presenting his work with colour is one I’ll never forget,” Sarah-Jane continues. She considers DIA a conduit for information into and from the profession and continues to regularly attend the talks and seminars that are organised nationally.

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A Strong Community and Commitment

Tom Skeehan, a Product Designer with nearly a decade of DIA membership, sees the organisation as a platform for expanding networks and accessing industry insights. “Looking back, the DIA played a big part in my professional evolution over the years,” Tom explains. He points to exposure to industry trends, collaboration opportunities, and participation in design events as critical aspects of his professional growth.

A Unified Voice and Advocacy

Jo shared a broader perspective on the organisation’s mission and initiatives, emphasising the DIA’s role in supporting, promoting, and advocating for individuals in the design profession. She highlights the need for design ‘champions’ who can effectively communicate the value that designers bring to projects, ultimately making Australia a better place to live, work, learn, entertain, and recover.

“So much of the promotion that we see today is about a designer’s work, which is wonderful and world-class. However, if we want the public to value designers, we need more design ‘champions’ to speak up in public forums. Design ‘champions’ who are good at communicating the value that designers bring to a project and how this benefits Australia.” Jo elaborates.

“In the early days, we called on the DIA for contract and legal advice and the Practice Notes were the holy grail—we each had a copy and used to read them at night!” — Sarah-Jane Pyke

The Value of DIA Membership

Jo emphasises the invaluable asset that DIA membership is for designers at every stage of their careers. She highlights the dynamic nature of the design profession, where trends shift rapidly with technological advancements and evolving consumer preferences. DIA membership provides designers with the currency of knowledge and the sense of connectedness vital to staying updated in an ever-changing landscape.

The Significance of DIA Accreditation

Tom Skeehan introduces the importance of DIA accreditation as a means to validate a designer’s knowledge and experience. In a world where technology can blur the lines of expertise, accreditation becomes critical in maintaining consumer trust and ensuring that designers are prepared for registration with regulators. “I wanted to further communicate trust and my commitment to my clients and the broader design community,” Tom elaborates, “being recognised as a DIA-accredited designer promotes my dedication to continuous professional development and assurance for clients and partners.”

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Challenges and Advocacy

One of the most pressing challenges facing the design profession today is the lack of recognition and value placed on designers’ work by governing bodies and consumers. This issue stems from the misalignment of various design sector frameworks, including legislative, regulatory, educational, and professional standards. As Sarah-Jane puts it: “Right now, with new legislation being drafted in NSW, the DIA are literally fighting for Interior Designers to stay relevant and respected in this industry.” The institute is actively addressing these challenges and advocating for improvements to elevate the profession’s status. “The biggest issue facing designers working in Australia is the lack of value placed on their work… Join the Fight!” Jo concludes.

The DIA functions as support, education, and advocacy for designers across Australia. Through our conversations, we’ve gained a deeper understanding of the organisation’s role in shaping the profession and we hope you have too. To find out more, head to design.org.au or peruse three types of DIA membership packages available here.

“Primarily, DIA brings currency of knowledge and connectedness…The DIA is a community of designers that come together to prioritise the issues and advocate for change.”— Jo-Ann Kellock

[Images courtesy of Design Institute of Australia.]