The Design Conference 2020
 

#TDCbne20


Brisbane Powerhouse
May 20-23 2020

The Design Conference is an event for creatives. We discuss more than the future of design — but what design means in the hearts and minds of the worlds favourite creative leaders. By being transparent and vulnerable, we engineer an experience which is designed to move, motivate, educate and connect.


TDC Student
Conference & Awards

Wednesday
May 20, 2020

Book Now

TDC Professional
Conference & Awards

Thursday May 21 —
Saturday May 23, 2020

Book Now


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  • Main Auditorium — TDC 2019

Celebrating 10 Years


In celebration of our 10th anniversary, we’re launching our inaugural Orb awards. TDC Orbs recognise originality, responsibility and balance as equal forces of creative commerce and honour Agencies and Individuals for their holistic efforts.

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Inaugural Orb Awards
Enter Now


Orb for Best Agency

Orb for Best
Agency

Orb for Best Designer

Orb for Best
Designer

Orb for Best Freelance Designer

Orb for Best
Freelance Designer

Orb for Best Student Designer

Orb for Best
Student Designer

Praise

“The Design Conference was an amazing experience. The people we met there made us bigger as human beings as well as creatives. Matt is insane — in a good way.”


Snask

2019 Keynote Speaker
Branding, Design & Film Agency
snask.com

 
  • Chris Do — 2019 Keynote Speaker

Keynote Talks


From critically acclaimed strategists to the worlds most outrageous commercial artists, The Design Conference is curated to not only entertain but more specifically to surprise. In one way or another, our Speakers will leave you feeling confronted in the most beautiful way.

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Speakers


Beatriz Romero*   Executive Producer TA\VO STUDIO Madrid, Spain

Beatriz Romero*

Executive Producer
TA\VO STUDIO
Madrid, Spain

Clare Fernandez*   Graphic Designer Asís. Design Studio Buenos Aires, Argentina

Clare Fernandez*

Graphic Designer
Asís. Design Studio
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Jess Greenwood*   Global CMO R/GA  New York, United States

Jess Greenwood*

Global CMO
R/GA
New York, United States

Paul Garbett   Creative Director Garbett Design Sydney, Australia

Paul Garbett

Creative Director
Garbett Design
Sydney, Australia

Yah-Leng Yu*   Creative Director Foreign Policy Singapore

Yah-Leng Yu*

Creative Director
Foreign Policy
Singapore

Ben Johnston*   Artist / Designer Ben Johnston.ca   Toronto, Canada

Ben Johnston*

Artist / Designer
Ben Johnston.ca
Toronto, Canada

Craig Parsons*   Chief Creative Officer Parsons Branding Cape Town, South Africa

Craig Parsons*

Chief Creative Officer
Parsons Branding
Cape Town, South Africa

Karabo Poppy*   Artist / Designer Mother Tongue Joburg, South Africa

Karabo Poppy*

Artist / Designer
Mother Tongue
Joburg, South Africa

Sheldon Lieberman   Chief Executive Officer Bigfish   Brisbane, Australia

Sheldon Lieberman

Chief Executive Officer
Bigfish
Brisbane, Australia

Zoe Green   Creative Director Co-Partnership Sydney, Australia

Zoe Green

Creative Director
Co-Partnership
Sydney, Australia

Calvin Luk*   CD Automotive Design BMW Group Designworks Munich, Germany

Calvin Luk*

CD Automotive Design
BMW Group Designworks
Munich, Germany

Danielle de Andrade   Art Director Garbett Design Sydney, Australia

Danielle de Andrade

Art Director
Garbett Design
Sydney, Australia

Michael Janda*   Chief Executive Officer Michael Janda Utah, United States

Michael Janda*

Chief Executive Officer
Michael Janda
Utah, United States

Stuart O’Brien   Chief Executive Officer Houston Group   Sydney, Australia

Stuart O’Brien

Chief Executive Officer
Houston Group
Sydney, Australia

Claire Foxton   Artist / Designer Claire Foxton.com Sydney, Australia

Claire Foxton

Artist / Designer
Claire Foxton.com
Sydney, Australia

Francisco Adriani*   Graphic Designer Asís. Design Studio Buenos Aires, Argentina

Francisco Adriani*

Graphic Designer
Asís. Design Studio
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Michaela Webb   Creative Director Studio Round Melbourne, Australia

Michaela Webb

Creative Director
Studio Round
Melbourne, Australia

Tavo Ponce*   Creative Director TA\VO STUDIO Madrid, Spain

Tavo Ponce*

Creative Director
TA\VO STUDIO
Madrid, Spain

* These Speakers will appear at both our Professional and Student Conferences


125 First Release Passes Now Available

Watch

Acclaimed Keynote Speaker

Kris Sowersby is the New Zealand based type designer behind The Klim Type Foundry (Klim). His talk from #TDCbne18 is dry, educated and incredibly clever. Expand your knowledge on type and tune in for the next 40 minutes. This is a great keynote.


Kris Sowersby

2018 Keynote Speaker
Type Designer
klim.co.nz

 
  • Mills, Mirella & Kelly — 2019 Panel Discussion

Industry Panels


Our Industry Panels deliver an interactive platform for discussing emerging issues, important to the creative industry. Featuring a wide range of guests, you never know who you may find on stage. Many thanks to Andy Wright (NNC), Mirella Marie (Womentor) and our many hosts for their moving contributions.

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Topics


Pricing your work in 2020

Danielle Wilson, Streamtime, Danielle Garbett, Michael Janda & Michaela Webb


Get the best out of clients

Simon Lesch, Streamtime, Stuart O-Brien, Yah-Leng Yu and Michaela Webb


Mentally-Healthy 2020

Andy Wright and Mentally-Healthy


Find the energy to get shit done

Sean Hall (Energx), Karabo Poppy and Jess Greenwood


Asking for a friend – LIVE

Andy Wright, Never Not Creative, Mentally-Healthy, Zoe Green and Co-Partnership

 
  • Sophia Mary Mac — Skill Share 2019

Process Showcase


In traditional TDC style, we have designed each Process Showcase to deliver a unique experience tailored for illustrators and hands on creatives. In collaboration with Wacom, we have curated six incredible creatives who will not only share their process but also an anecdote which marked the turning point in each experts creative life.

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Experts


Sonny Day   Artist / Designer WBYK Sydney, Australia

Sonny Day

Artist / Designer
WBYK
Sydney, Australia

Biddy Maroney   Artist / Designer WBYK Sydney, Australia

Biddy Maroney

Artist / Designer
WBYK
Sydney, Australia

Ken Taylor   Artist / Designer Kentaylor.com.au   Melbourne, Australia

Ken Taylor

Artist / Designer
Kentaylor.com.au
Melbourne, Australia

Karabo Poppy*   Artist / Designer Mother Tongue Johannesburg

Karabo Poppy*

Artist / Designer
Mother Tongue
Johannesburg

Niqui Toldi   Artist / Designer   Sydney   Australia

Niqui Toldi

Artist / Designer
Sydney
Australia

Ben Johnston*   Artist / Designer Benjohnston.ca   Toronto, Canada

Ben Johnston*

Artist / Designer
Benjohnston.ca
Toronto, Canada

125 First Release Passes Now Available

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Interact

Interact with some of the best people from our Industry. Representatives from Wacom, Streamtime, The Print Bar and many others will be hanging out to ensure you’re up-to-date with the raddest products and services.


Wacom Australia

Product Showcase /
Digital Artist Hangout

 
  • Official After Party

Side Events


Even though The Design Conference is an adventure in itself, those who venture into the night will experience a greater level of curated art, music and culture. We've scheduled your sleep in, the rest is up to you.

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Locations

2020 Side Events announced December 5


Premium Meet & Greet:  Coming Soon

Premium Meet & Greet: Coming Soon

Launch Party:  Coming Soon

Launch Party: Coming Soon

Official After Party:  Coming Soon

Official After Party: Coming Soon

Event Map

Make the most of your experience by staying near the James Street retail and lifestyle precinct. James Street is the backbone for The Design Conference and all her side events. Discover incredible restaurants, five-star hotels and some of the best coffee in Australia. If you require advice where to eat, sleep and play — or how to transit from Brisbane Airport, we invite you to reach out.


 

Matt, Amanda, Adam & Prue — End of Session Q&A

Curated Q&A


The Design Conference is hosted by some of Australia's favourite creatives. Expect nothing less than love and energy from our team.

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Conference Hosts


Matt Leach   Radio Host Aus Design Radio

Matt Leach

Radio Host
Aus Design Radio

Indi Tansey   Co-Founder   Codebots

Indi Tansey

Co-Founder
Codebots

Prue Jones   Creative Director Fjord

Prue Jones

Creative Director
Fjord

Yasmin Naghavi   Solicitor Media Art Lawyer

Yasmin Naghavi

Solicitor
Media Art Lawyer

Mirella Marie   Founder Womentor

Mirella Marie

Founder
Womentor

Andy Wright   Managing Director Streamtime

Andy Wright

Managing Director
Streamtime

125 First Release Passes Now Available

Listen

Australian Design Radio (ADR) is a podcast based in Sydney, Australia. Their aim is to provide the global creative community with conversations and commentary on Australian Design.


 

Brisbane Powerhouse — TDC 2019

Love & Thanks


 

The Design Conference is an experience anchored by the world's greatest companies. We want to thank them for their continued support through 2020.


Major Partners


Community Partners


Conference Supporters


Venue Partners

Brisbane Powerhouse

119 Lamington St,
New Farm Q 4005
(07) 3358 8600

Ovolo The Valley

1000 Ann St,
Fortitude Valley Q 4006
(07) 3253 6999

The Third Quarter

194 Petrie Terrace,
Q 4000
0401 178 791

X-Cargo

37 McLachlan St,
Fortitude Valley Q 4005
(07) 3180 4783

 
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