Exporting Kiwi designers and architects to the world

By Design Daily Team, July 27, 2011 @ 12:51 pm

There’s a wealth of designer and architectural talent in New Zealand but Kiwis can be on the modest side when it comes to championing that talent and, as much as it may hurt to admit it, we could learn a lot from our Trans-Tasman neighbours. Now a new business-orientated initiative led by Auckland Council, called Design Landscape, is aiming to raise the international profile and export sales of architects and designers. And, as part of the Designer Institute of NZ’s Designers Speak series, you have the opportunity to find out what exactly it is we can learn from The Australians.

The Designers Speak ‘Auckland Conversations’ event will outline the project model HEAT instigated by the Queensland State Government. This will be followed by a facilitated discussion to scope an application for Auckland.

Leading the event will be presenters, Lindy Johnson, manager creative industries, Queensland State Government and Shane Thompson, chair of the HEAT advisory board.

Event Details

Date: Thursday 18th August

Time: 5:00pm - 7:30pm

Venue: Viaduct Event Centre, Level 3, Kawau 1, 161 Halsey Street, Auckland

Refreshments: Drinks and canapés

Cost: FREE

RSVP: events@dinz.org.nz

More about Design in the Landscape

Design in the Landscape meets Auckland Unleashed economic priority areas by stimulating international recognition of New Zealand’s innovative and inspirational architects and designers, enabling Auckland to become a competitive and prosperous city, advancing the social, economic and cultural and vibrant quality of life for citizens within urban areas

More about Lindy Johnson

Johnson’s passion for creativity and design combined with her keen nose for business and export opportunities is the result of 30 years working in the sector.

Trained as a visual artist, she’s worked extensively in industry and government, conceiving and initiating internationally ground breaking programs targeted at increasing global demand for Queensland's creative services and products, and increasing employment opportunities for creatives.

These include Queensland's first whole-of-government arts policy - Art Built In 2 percent for Public Art; HEAT Architecture; HEAT Fashion; and Ulysses - Transforming Business through Design.

More on Shane Thompson

Based in Brisbane, architect Shane has recently established a new practice after 24 years as a Principal of BVN Architecture, where he was instrumental in the growth and international prominence that BVN has achieved as one of Australia's most innovative and influential architecture studios.

In recent years he’s emerged as a significant and respected voice for architecture and design in the region. He has worked throughout Australia, South East Asia, China and the UK. His work has received over 100 State, national and international awards including the National Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture and a Sir Zelman Cowan Award Commendation‑the two highest award categories in Australian Architecture. He is also the recipient of the Francis Greenway Society Gold Medal for Sustainable Architecture.

A regular conference speaker, he holds many academic, government advisory, urban development, sustainability and arts industries appointments which include: Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland, Creative Industries member of the Government's Industry Advisory Board, Queensland's Board for Urban Places, membership of the Queensland College of Art Board, a founding director of the Australian Green Development Forum and a member of the HEAT Advisory Board.

Notable projects include the University of the Sunshine Coast Faculty of Arts, Lavarack Barracks Living in Accommodation, Queensland College of Art, the Athletes Village in London for the 2012 Olympics and one of Australia's largest Urban Renewal developments, the $3 billion RNA Showgrounds in the Brisbane city centre.

Recently he presented two projects shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival Awards in Barcelona, chaired an Urban Design Seminar in Venice during the Biennale, has been involved in the development of a new curriculum for Masters of Architecture programs in Australia and last month returned from teaching at the University of Florida. A monograph on his work, Making a Sub Tropical Architecture was published in 2004 by L'Arca Edizioni of Milan.

In 2012 he will oversee the Australian Institute of Architects National Conference, as a co Creative Director, to be held in Brisbane for the first time in over 25 years.