AGDA DNA 291209

29th December, 2009

Regular updates on design news and activities of the national council and executive office

Looking Back and Moving Forward on Key Highlights

2009 has seen an increase in AGDA activities - some 120 around the country. This, in addition to a number of new initiatives and partnerships, has contributed to an exciting and eventful year with more to look forward to in 2010.

Government Stakeholders Dialogue

Discussions commenced in the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Queensland on government design procurement, will continue into 2010 to ensure greater transparency and professionalism.

Talking and experiencing design through the Victorian State of Design Festival, Queensland's Talking Design and NSW's Sydney Design Week have formed excellent participation models for AGDA.

AGDA forged and strengthened its important consultative status with government and institution stakeholders in education research and curriculum advice.

Design Alliances

AGDA's relationships move onward and upward with Semi Permanent, AGIdeas, DG Graphics, Designers Accord, HK Designers Association and Desktop.

The newly formed Australian Design Council will provide the umbrella for stronger cooperation and collaboration amongst all the lead design organisaitons.

International Relations

The 2008 AGDA Awards Exhibition at AIGA was extended to Pratt institute, New York in 2009.

AGDA conducted two International Speaker Tours this year with Kris Sowersby NZ and Barbara Glauber NY; Jonathon Frere Jones NY, Rick Poyner UK also traveled under the AGDA banner though at limited stops; all with impressive presentations.

AGDA joined Designers Accord and participated in the Icograda General Assembly Beijing alongside 57 other country member organisations.

AGDA won the bid to host Icograda Design Week Brisbane, October 12-16 2010. The week of design activities will culminate in the Australian design calendar's premier event, the 10th AGDA National Biennial Awards on the 16th October.

Raising the Bar

'Never Never' the 9th AGDA Awards Compendium, 484-page full colour volume, has proven to be a very popular purchase, outselling all previous compendiums.

The Inaugural AGDA Poster Annual, a successful vehicle to advocate ‘good' messages on climate change, war on poverty, human rights etc will now become an annual initiative.

A Student Poster initiative will be launched in 2010 - watch this space!

Membership Initiatives

AGDA's membership now represents 9.5% of the graphic design population.

Students and graduates continue to be supported with mentor, portfolio reviews and internship prgrams. The Gordon Andrews Scholarship was awarded by the NSW chapter this year and honours its namesake with an assistance grant to a worthy research student.

Professional members can look forward to new and improved business resources and literary contributions both in print and on the website, whilst the corporate membership structure has become a more accommodating strategy.

Two surveys have been designed. A Member Satisfaction survey was successfully completed last month; an Industry Benchmarking survey on salaries, areas of design growth, employee benefits, educational qualifications etc., will be released in the new year.

Strategy Planning and Implementation

The recent 2009 AGDA National Council ‘s strategy planning workshops have reaped excellent outcomes which will be implemented by newly elected councillors in 2010. Exciting times ahead!

AGDA Website Postings

Check out the latest:

Creating a business procedures manual

22 International Poster Biennale Warsaw 2010 - Call For Entries

Art Month Sydney

AIGA 365 Design Annual and 50/50 Covers design competitions

D&AD Awards 2010 - Call For Entries Reminder

Till next week, best wishes for a very Happy New Year!

Cheers,

Rita Siow

AGDA Executive Director