Design Days
March 2025
Tāmaki Makaurau
Auckland
For just $50, your Design Days ticket grants access to two full days of inspiring activities at the Design Depot in Mt Eden, Auckland, on Friday, March 7, and Saturday, March 8.
Your ticket includes:
- Access to a collaborative, interactive and experiential exhibition space, showcasing innovative designs and installations
- Delicious food and beverage options to enjoy throughout the event from Flight Coffee & Daily Bread
- Over 15 keynote and panel discussions across the two days, featuring engaging topics and thought leaders appealing to both design professionals and enthusiasts
- A screening of the compelling documentary We Need to Talk About AI, exploring technology’s impact on our world
This incredible value has already generated high demand, and attendance will be capped to manage crowds, so act fast to secure your spot!
As the design industry evolves, the importance of clear and comprehensive contracts increases. From navigating AI’s impact on intellectual property to ensuring your client and employee agreements are up to date, this session offers practical advice for designers and studio owners. Learn what to watch out for when protecting your creative output and how to future-proof your contracts in a rapidly changing design environment. Ideal for SMEs and creatives seeking to stay ahead in a world where innovation meets legal considerations.
AI is reshaping how design teams work, offering smarter and more efficient processes without losing the human touch. This session explores practical, real-world applications of AI in design, from streamlining workflows to enhancing decision-making and unlocking creative potential. Earn how design teams integrate AI thoughtfully to optimise outcomes while maintaining the core principles of human-centred design. Whether you’re new to AI or already experimenting, this session offers actionable insights into harnessing its power effectively in your practice.
Discover the transformative power of colour in this captivating session led by artist and colour expert Wendy Hannah. Blending art and science, Wendy explores how colour frequencies influence our emotions, mental states, and overall well-being.
Through innovative techniques—including real-time brainwave monitoring—attendees will witness how colour resonates on a deeply personal level. This session reveals the unseen potential of colour to enhance emotional resilience, elevate design, and improve quality of life. Whether you’re a designer, artist, or curious mind, this is a vibrant journey into the language of colour.
Explore the art and science of design with insights from renowned designer Matt Allen, whose 30-year career has spanned diverse disciplines and continuous evolution. This session delves into foundational design theories like intuition, hierarchy, trends, elemental load and the delicate balance designers navigate to create impactful work.
Matt shares his personal journey of growth and learning, showcasing how curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning fuel creative progress. Join this reflective and inspiring talk to gain fresh perspectives on the enduring principles and ever-evolving nature of design.
Inclusivity isn’t just ethical—it’s essential for creative and commercial success. Diverse teams are proven to be 75% more likely to see ideas become commercialised, yet fostering inclusivity requires more than hiring for diversity. This session explores how recognising privilege, embracing flexibility, and decoding individual experiences can help design leaders build thriving, innovative teams. Discover actionable strategies to create environments where all voices are heard and creativity flourishes, driving better outcomes for your business and the industry at large.
Explore how immersive audiovisual technologies are transforming urban spaces into dynamic environments that engage communities and inspire creativity. This session features groundbreaking projects like the Wearable Art Awards, UCL PEARL, and OuterNET, showcasing the intersection of technology, design, and city living.
Gain insights into integrating these innovations into urban planning, and discover how they foster connection and redefine public spaces. Join thought leaders and designers in this essential conversation about the future of our cities and the role of immersive design in shaping how we live and interact.
Explore the transformative role of colour in architecture, from its historical significance to its bold contemporary applications. This session delves into how colour shapes spaces, influences perception, and reflects cultural values. Combining cultural criticism with practical insights, the discussion examines the timeless and evolving ways colour has been used to evoke emotion, create harmony, and define identity in design. Perfect for anyone intrigued by how hue impacts our built environment and its cultural resonance.
In a world that’s becoming increasingly digital, complex, and stressful, the principles of human-centred design are more critical than ever for spatial designers. Drawing on over a decade of experience designing for brands like Air New Zealand, ASB, and Les Mills, Clarke explores how understanding human behaviour and needs can transform the way we design environments.
Discover how to integrate human-centred design into your creative process, creating spaces that enhance wellbeing, improve functionality, and elevate user experiences. This session provides practical insights into developing this invaluable skillset and applying it across a range of projects, from commercial environments to residential interiors.
Join Jacob Scott, renowned Māori artist, designer, and founder of Te Ara Hihiko, for an inspiring keynote exploring the intersection of Māori art, architecture, and sustainable innovation. Held at the Te Ara Hihiko x Critical exhibition stand, this session will delve into how traditional Māori design principles are revitalised through modern materials and processes.
Jacob will share insights into recent collaborations, including works with Cleanstone, which transform plastic waste into beautiful, durable design pieces. Through the lens of these groundbreaking projects, discover how Māori art and architecture respond to contemporary challenges, from environmental sustainability to cultural preservation.
This keynote is an opportunity to engage with the power of design to tell stories, solve problems, and shape the future. Whether you're a designer, artist, or innovator, Jacob's talk will leave you inspired by the possibilities of blending tradition, innovation, and sustainability.
Join Matt Le Grice, Digital Design Lead at Warren & Mahoney, for an inspiring session exploring the intersection of cutting-edge digital design and New Zealand’s architectural landscape. Drawing on his experience working with global leaders at Zaha Hadid in London, Matt will share how world-class techniques and workflows have influenced his approach to design.
This session delves into Matt’s journey from studying and working in the UK to leading the digital design aspects of ambitious, complex projects back home. He’ll highlight how digital techniques—from computational design to advanced modelling—are being integrated into local architecture and the unique opportunities and challenges of applying these methods in a New Zealand context.
Looking to the future, Matt will discuss the evolving role of AI and other technologies in shaping the next era of architectural design. Whether you’re an industry professional or a design enthusiast, this session offers valuable insights into the potential of digital innovation in architecture.
Join Super Creative podcast host Catie Dawson for a candid conversation with Liv Patience and Toni Brandso, the duo behind the award-winning Material Creative.
They’ll share a behind-the-scenes look at the creativity, successes, challenges, and invaluable lessons from their journey building one of New Zealand’s most innovative interior design studios.
From navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship to their ethos of ‘designing beyond the scope of convention’, Liv and Toni will offer an unfiltered look at the trials and triumphs of running a creative business over the past fifteen years. Whether you’re an established designer, a budding entrepreneur, or simply considering taking the leap into the world of design, this session guarantees inspiration, entertainment, and plenty of practical advice.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from two trailblazing creatives as they reflect on their path, offering insights that resonate with designers at every stage of their journey. It’s storytelling, connection, and learning at its best—live at Design Days.
What does sustainability mean in the world of fashion? For some, it’s about timeless, seasonless design. For others, it’s natural fibres, made-to-order craftsmanship, or minimising environmental impact. In this thought-provoking panel discussion, leading brands come together to share their unique perspectives on what it means to create “sustainable” fashion.
This session will explore the diverse interpretations of sustainability and how these principles are applied in practice. From the use of natural materials to creating garments that stand the test of time, discover how these brands are shaping the future of conscious fashion while maintaining creativity and individuality.
This panel invites designers, industry professionals, and fashion enthusiasts to engage in a meaningful conversation about the complexities of sustainable design, offering insights into the values, challenges, and innovations driving the slow fashion movement.
As AI and automation reshape the design industry, how do we prepare the next generation of designers for a world where technical skills alone aren’t enough? This session explores a human-centred approach to design education, prioritising the skills that will remain invaluable in an AI-driven future.
Through empathy, ethics, collaboration, and leadership, students can develop resilience and adaptability, ensuring they thrive in an evolving industry. We’ll discuss the importance of critical thinking—teaching students to question and analyse digital media—and fostering curiosity to embrace AI as a creative tool rather than a replacement.
By equipping students with transferable skills and a lifelong learning mindset, educators can empower the designers of tomorrow to navigate uncertainty, drive innovation, and maintain the human touch that makes design truly impactful. Whether you're an educator, industry professional, or student, this session offers valuable insights into the future of design education
Simon Devitt, globally recognised architectural photographer, invites you to explore a profound new approach to photography and creativity. Challenging traditional paradigms, Simon highlights how engaging the senses—touch, hearing, and smell—can deepen connections to the structures we capture.
Drawing from his extensive experiences abroad, Simon will share unconventional techniques and philosophical insights, reframing architectural photography as a multi-sensory craft. This session will inspire photographers and creatives alike to move beyond documentation, using their craft to tell the true essence and unique story of the spaces they engage with.
Discover how the combination of behavioural psychology and visualisation through AR can revolutionise the way we experience and select art, turning a highly emotive process into an immersive, personalised journey. This keynote explores how cutting-edge technology enhances our connection to art, offering new ways to visualise pieces in context, understand their impact, and make more confident choices.
Whether you’re a designer, collector, or enthusiast, this session will reveal how the fusion of technology and emotion is reshaping the art world and inspiring new approaches to creativity and curation.
What if your home could improve your wellbeing? Combining insights from over a decade of human-centred design experience with a focus on residential interiors, this session explores how designing with empathy and understanding can transform living spaces.
Learn how to approach home design with the needs of the people who live there at its core. Whether you’re navigating complex living situations, accommodating neurodiversity, or simply seeking a home that supports your lifestyle, this talk provides practical ideas and inspiration. Discover how thoughtful design can do more than just look good—it can enhance your quality of life.
Discover the transformative power of colour in this captivating session led by artist and colour expert Wendy Hannah. Blending art and science, Wendy explores how colour frequencies influence our emotions, mental states, and overall well-being.
Through innovative techniques—including real-time brainwave monitoring—attendees will witness how colour resonates on a deeply personal level. This session reveals the unseen potential of colour to enhance emotional resilience, elevate design, and improve quality of life. Whether you’re a designer, artist, or curious mind, this is a vibrant journey into the language of colour.
Join us for a special screening of We Need to Talk About AI, a thought-provoking documentary that delves into the transformative and sometimes unsettling impact of artificial intelligence on our world. Through compelling stories and expert insights, the film explores AI’s ethical implications, its influence on creativity, and its potential to reshape society as we know it.
Following the screening, engage in an exclusive Q&A with the film’s Director Leanne Pooley and Producer Matthew Metcalfe, where you’ll gain deeper insights into the making of the documentary and the critical questions it raises. This is a must-attend event for anyone curious about the intersection of technology, ethics, and design.
Discover the intersection of art and design in this keynote on “collectible design,” where functional objects become unique expressions of creativity. Drawing from personal stories of inspiration, materials, and collaboration with makers, this talk explores how unconventional approaches in furniture design allow for bold, imaginative outcomes.
Through the lens of two collections, learn how a global design language can emerge while remaining grounded in New Zealand’s rich cultural context. This session invites you to rethink design as more than utility, but as art that tells a story and gives back.
The Design Showcase: Innovation in Focus
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