Doing Design Differently Auckland: Panel with George Aye
CoDesignCo, in collaboration with the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries, presents the “Doing Design Differently Auckland: Panel with George Aye,” which critically examines the evolving landscape of social design in Australia and Aotearoa, emphasising ethical considerations.
George Aye, co-founder of Greater Good Studio, will be joined by panellists Cecelia Faumuina, Kaan Hiini, and Dr. Diana Albarrán González to discuss the challenges and opportunities of ethical design in the region.
AUCKLAND: User Interface (UI) Design Workshop
This workshop is hosted by our friends at UX Gym.
Learn how to design a user interface (UI) by learning how people understand and make decisions when using screen-based interfaces, and how to respond to this when making your own design decisions. In this course you put everything you learn into practice by creating your own interface design in professional design software.
How does it work?
This is an experiential course. You learn by doing. Our teaching methodology is built on giving you three building blocks for everything we cover:
1. Principles
You get the foundational theory behind the methods you learn – why we work the way we do. This is to give you a basis for further study or self-development and helps you judge how appropriate any method is for a given challenge, enabling you to alter a method as required or to develop your own methods as needed.
2. Methods
You get common design methods that make up a typical human-centred design process. These are practical ways of working that you can take away and start applying immediately.
3. Practice
You apply the principles and methods you learn on a project. This practical component is essential in making sure you can apply what you learn in the course to real life human behaviour and design problems.
Course outcomes
On completing the course you will:
- Have enough knowledge of UI design software to start designing an interface
- Have an understanding of how people understand and make decisions when using screen-based interfaces
- Understand the basic principles of good interaction design
- Be able to design a solid accessible and usable screen-based interface
- Understand the basics of how user interfaces are implemented
- Be able to document a UI design
In addition you receive:
- A certificate of completion if you attend the whole course and complete all the practical and theory portions of the course.
- Access to full online notes for the course and access to our community Slack channel to tap into the expertise and experience of our course alumni and facilitators.
What do you need?
You will need a laptop with the Chrome web browser installed. We provide all other necessary materials for this course.
On the day
We start at 9:30am and wrap up at 4:30pm with an hour for lunch at 12:30pm. Lunch is not provided, but we do provide coffee and healthy snacks.
Who is it for?
All are welcome and no prior design or coding knowledge is required to do this course. However, the course is primarily aimed at:
Non-UI designers and design graduates
Traditional designers who want to add UI design to their skill set or learn how to work better with their UI colleagues.
UX Designers
UX designers who want to expand into UI design or better understand UI considerations when doing digital design projects.
Strategists and analysts
Senior practitioners who want more insight into UI considerations when doing digital design projects.
Developers
Developers who want to build their UI design skills or learn how to work better with their UX and UI colleagues.
Product owners and project managers
Product owners and project managers who want a better understanding of UI design in order to collaborate with and manage their UI colleagues better or to get better outcomes for their digital products and projects.
AUCKLAND: Design Research Workshop
Our friends at UX Gym are hosting this Design Research workshop
A practical introduction to user or customer research. Learn the theory and practise the methods of modern design research as you design a research project from scratch, implement it, analyse the findings, and communicate the insights you discover.
How does it work?
This is an experiential course. You learn by doing. Our teaching methodology is built on giving you three building blocks for everything we cover:
1. Principles
You get the foundational theory behind the methods you learn – why we work the way we do. This is to give you a basis for further study or self-development and helps you judge how appropriate any method is for a given challenge, enabling you to alter a method as required or to develop your own methods as needed.
2. Methods
You get common design methods that make up a typical human-centred design process. These are practical ways of working that you can take away and start applying immediately.
3. Practice
You apply the principles and methods you learn on a project. This practical component is essential in making sure you can apply what you learn in the course to real life human behaviour and design problems.
Course outcomes
On completing the course you will:
- Have a good grasp of basic design research principles
- Be able to identify research needs and design a programme of work to meet those needs
- Be able to conduct observational and semi-structured interview-based field work
- Be able to analyse the data collected from your field work
- Be able to present those findings in the manner most appropriate for their intended use and audience
In addition you receive:
- A certificate of completion if you attend the whole course and complete all the practical and theory portions of the course.
- Access to full online notes for the course and access to our community Slack channel to tap into the expertise and experience of our course alumni and facilitators.
What do you need?
All materials are provided. This course is process focused, not tool focused, so you don’t need to bring a laptop or other device, although you are welcome to do so if you wish. All you need to bring is your attention and enthusiasm!
On the day
We start at 9:30am and wrap up at 4:30pm with an hour for lunch at 12:30pm. Lunch is not provided, but we do provide coffee and healthy snacks.
Who is it for?
All are welcome and no prior knowledge is required to do this course. However, the course is primarily aimed at:
Decision makers
Anyone involved in making decisions for product, UX, or service design who wants to learn how to generate reliable evidence-based insights to inform those decisions.
Designers and design graduates
Product, service, and UX designers who want to add research to their skill set.
Strategists and analysts
Senior practitioners who want to gain an understanding of generating user or customer insights.
Product owners and project managers
Product owners and project managers who want a better understanding of how research decisions are made.
People exploring career transition
People from other professional backgrounds who want to explore transitioning into user or customer research.
AUCKLAND: UX Crash Course
Our friends at UX Gym are hosting this UX Crash Course workshop in both Auckland and Wellington.
Get hands-on experience of a human-centred approach to UX design in this intensive one-day course. This course gives you a solid grounding in the principles and theories behind a modern, user-centred design process and practical experience taking a UX project from initial research to design to usability testing.
How does it work?
This is an experiential course. You learn by doing. Our teaching methodology is built on giving you three building blocks for everything we cover:
1. Principles
You get the foundational theory behind the methods you learn – why we work the way we do. This is to give you a basis for further study or self-development and helps you judge how appropriate any method is for a given challenge, enabling you to alter a method as required or to develop your own methods as needed.
2. Methods
You get common design methods that make up a typical human-centred design process. These are practical ways of working that you can take away and start applying immediately.
3. Practice
You apply the principles and methods you learn on a project. This practical component is essential in making sure you can apply what you learn in the course to real life human behaviour and design problems.
Course outcomes
On completing the course you will:
- Have a firm grasp on the principles behind user experience design to use as a base for further study
- Be able to identify if a project needs research
- Be able to design and conduct semi-structured user/customer interviews
- Have a solid grounding in basic information architecture and user interface design principles
- Be able to design and run basic usability tests
In addition you receive:
- A certificate of completion if you attend the whole course and complete all the practical and theory portions of the course.
- Access to full online notes for the course and access to our community Slack channel to tap into the expertise and experience of our course alumni and facilitators.
What do you need?
All materials are provided. This course is process focused, not tool focused, so you don’t need to bring a laptop or other device, although you are welcome to do so if you wish. All you need to bring is your attention and enthusiasm!
On the day
We start at 9:00am and wrap up at 4:30pm with an hour for lunch at 12:30pm. Lunch is not provided, but we do provide coffee and healthy snacks.
Who is it for?
All are welcome and no prior knowledge is required to do this course. However, the course is primarily aimed at:
Digital designers
Web, interaction, and UX designers who want to build on their UX skills, put into practice approaches they have read about, adopt a user-centred design approach, or better their understanding of the principles behind common UX design methods.
Graphic designers and design graduates
Traditional designers who want to transition into digital design or learn how to work better with their UX colleagues.
Strategists and analysts
Senior practitioners who want to gain an understanding of the principles of user experience design and experience how those principles are practised on the ground.
Developers
Developers who want to build on their UX skills or learn how to work better with their UX colleagues.
Product owners and project managers
Product owners and project managers who want a better understanding of how a user experience design approach can get them better outcomes on their products and projects.
People exploring career transition
People from other professional backgrounds who want to explore transitioning into human-centred or user experience design.
Auckland | DA Lunch Club
This winter edition of the DA Lunch Club is for all those who work in management and leadership roles within Aotearoa NZ creative businesses.
Join us for a delicious meal while we connect with leaders in the creative industry and learn from our featured speakers who’ll be sharing and discussing what healthy creative businesses look like.
Special Guests:
Andy Wright, CEO of Streamtime will be our keynote speaker all the way from Sydney. Andy is the creator of the Never Not Creative community and co-chair of the creative, media and marketing industry Mentally-Healthy Change Group. Never Not Creative runs mental health support groups for creatives, mentoring initiatives, events a podcast, and the Never Not International Women’s Day platform. He’s been working in the creative industry for many years. From running the local offices of global agencies like Interbrand and R/GA, he was also an original co-founder of For The People in Sydney.
He’s run successful and award-winning projects for GOMA, Australia Post, Telstra and Streamtime. It’s the latter where Andy now spends his time as CEO of the project management software business, with a mission to create healthier creative businesses.When not doing any of the above, you might find him somewhere in Scandinavia chasing the Aurora Borealis and a bit of peace and quiet.
Eddy Royal, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Curative. After a decade in advertising, Eddy Royal founded Curative in 2012 knowing that stories, well told, can be a powerful force for change. She guides, focuses and inspires the team to find creative solutions for complex social issues, and nurtures the brave partnerships that allow Curative to push creative boundaries. Eddy does all this while also being a founding board member for the newly established D*List – (an online culture magazine by and for disabled people in Aotearoa), and counts her most important role as māmā to her beautiful little girl Luka.
Keynote Talk with Andy Wright:
What does a happy, healthy creative business look like? There are many metrics for understanding what makes our businesses profitable.
We look at utilisation, productivity, awards won, client profitability.
These metrics tell half the story, but what about the other half? The health and happiness of our people? The capacity of our managers and leaders to lead? The systems and processes that contribute to healthy and not unhealthy outcomes.
Join Andy Wright, CEO of Streamtime and Founder of Never Not Creative, as he unpacks learnings from research partnerships with mental health leaders, conversations with creative business leaders and collaboration with The Centre For Transformative Work Design.
Tickets:
- DA Studio Friends and Individual friends – $50 per person (Friends: use the special access link to get access to this ticket price )
- Professionals / Non-Members – $70 per person
**Please note: By registering for this event, you give Streamtime permission to contact you via email and you will have the ability to opt out.
AUCKLAND DA Half-day Workshop | Motion Design for Designers | 2 August 2023
AUCKLAND DA half-day workshop | Motion Design for Designers
Would you like us to run this workshop in Christchurch or Wellington?
Email kate@designassembly.org.nz to register your interest.
We need 10 people to run a DA Workshop in your area.
As we all know…the world is in constant motion and it’s time to leave that boring static design work in the past. This workshop will help you understand the world of the motion designer and why it’s just better.
Who is this workshop for?
Designers who want to expand their skill set and offering into motion.
Anyone who might be intimidated by what they don’t know about motion design and would like a peek into the moving image.
What will you learn?
- You will learn about the principles of animation and the process of bringing it to the screen.
- A rundown of the skills and disciplines needed as a motion designer.
- The various styles and applications of motion work and the things to consider when designing for it.
- How to apply this knowledge to your future design practice
This half-day workshop will cover
- The combination of 3 disciplines
(graphic design, animation, filmmaking) - Additional disciplines that can help (Illustration, photography, visual effects, editing, programming, sound design 3D modelling, character animation, programming)
- Uses for Motion Design
Ten Principles of Motion Design
1. Squash and stretch
2. Anticipation
3. Staging
4. Follow through and overlapping action
5. Slow in and slow out
6. Arc
7. Secondary action
8. Timing
9. Exaggeration
10. Appeal
The Motion Process
1. Client Inquiry
2. Discovery
3. Research
4. Concepts
5. Script
6. Storyboards
7. Animatic
8. Design
9. Animation
10. Edit & Master
11. Format
Production Styles
- Vector Art
- Pixel Art
- Photography
- Live Action
- CG (3D)
- Stop Motion
- Compositing/Effects
Designing for Motion
- Storytelling
- Contrast and tension
You will also learn what Motion Designers wish you knew
- the common pitfalls
- file setup
- thinking outside the frame
There will be time for questions and answers to your specific issues in this small, informative workshop.
A chance to find out about the wonderful world of motion design.
About the presenter
Shaun Madgwick is a freelance motion designer and director with 20 years of experience working with big agencies, small studios and everyone in between. He’s projected onto castles, influenced elections and even made some instagram videos.
In 2020 he founded the Motion Designers Guild of Aotearoa to build on the community’s history of sharing knowledge and expertise and to create a local network that connects, nurtures and promotes local talent.
Costs:
Non-Members | $450 + gst
DA Friends Members | $300 +gst
Students | $50 + gst
We hope that you can join us!
If you have any questions please email Kate kate@designassembly.org.nz
Accessibility:
Please note that this venue is accessed by a lift. If you have accessibility requirements then please get in touch!
AUCKLAND | Redesigning Aotearoa with Johnson McKay
Please note: at this stage this is the only ‘Redesigning Aotearoa’ workshop we will be running this year
Redesigning Aotearoa
Design Assembly in partnership with Ira is delighted to announce ‘Redesigning Aotearoa’ | a workshop at Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae Unitec in Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland on Friday 23 June 2023.
This workshop is a full-day, immersive experience dedicated to developing cultural intelligence and creative solutions through a Te Ao Māori worldview.
The only cultural workshop created specifically for those who work with brand, internal culture development and creative services, the workshop will support participants to engage with Tikanga Māori and understand how culture can be a superpower in designing uniquely Aotearoa brands and businesses, products and experiences.
“Te Ao Māori is not just for Māori. It’s a way of seeing the world that can enrich all New Zealanders – culturally, socially, environmentally and economically.”
Johnson McKay, Head of Strategy & Culture, Ira.
This workshop was created by Johnson McKay and Sarai Morris of Ira – a Māori-led strategic and creative agency. Ira brings Te Ao Māori approaches to co-design inspirational brands, products, and experiences from diverse perspectives.
“We no longer live in a one size fits all world. It takes cultural intelligence to bring diverse perspectives together to co-design transformative solutions.”
Sarai Morris, Cultural Strategy & Engagement, Ira
To find out more about the presenters click here https://ira.nz/whanau
There is also an introductory workshop in the series called; ‘Welcome to Te Ao Māori’ on the preceding day Thursday 22 June 2023. To find out more click here.
Tickets are strictly limited and will sell out fast, so book today to secure your place!
Cost for the one-day workshop:
Professional | Future DA Friend $650 +gst
DA Friend | $450 +gst
Student Friend | $100+gst
Redesigning Aotearoa | Outline of Workshop Programme
Mā te rongo ka mōhio | By listening comes knowledge
Mā te mōhio ka mārama | From knowledge comes understanding
Mā te mārama ka mātau | From understanding comes wisdom
Mā te mātau ka ora ai | From wisdom comes life
Mātauranga is knowledge. It is spiritual, scientific, cultural and creative experiences passed down inter-generationally. It informs the priorities in Te Ao Māori – the Māori world view and shapes Tikanga Māori – cultural process.
Our purpose for developing these workshops is to ensure that the principles and perspectives of Te Ao Māori continue to inspire the communities of Aotearoa.
These workshops are a safe space to gain cultural understanding and the support of experts to help embed your learning into how you deliver and design culturally authentic outcomes.
Participate in learning sessions, break-out group work and personalise the principles to suit your own context and needs.
Explore solutions to questions like:
How do we define organisational strategy that aligns to Treaty commitments and aspirations to remove inequitable barriers to Māori self-determination?
How do we shape organisational culture to value Māori cultural values?
How do we communicate brands, products and services in a way that engages Māori whānau and communities?
How do we represent Māori voices and values visually and in design, photography and video?
Redesigning Aotearoa | Workshop Schedule
8.15am | Arrive at the Marae
Whakatau
8.30am
We start our day with karakia and waiata to kick in the positive vibes.
Wahanga 1
Te Tiriti-centric solutions
Understand the history and context of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, how it’s been misunderstood and how it can shape the future of Aotearoa, if we value the commitments made to Māori in it.
Understanding the history and relevance of Te Tiriti O Waitangi
Breaches of Te Tiriti O Waitangi historical and present impacts
Māori aspirations for self-determination
Examples of Treaty strategies that can transform Aotearoa
Wahanga 2
Elevating Cultural Creativity
Explore the beauty of Māori creative expression and how to elevate not appropriate culture.
Cultural appropriation versus cultural elevation
Rautaki – Strategy: How to bring Te Tiriti and cultural values into developing strategy for brands and businesses.
Ahurea – Culture – How to bring te reo Māori and culture into your organisational culture
Auaha – Creative – How to bring culture into your brand, campaigns and visual language.
Wahanga 3
Continuing Beyond The Workshops
Open discussion about the things learned, what’s been challenging, how do we resolve those questions and continue to learn beyond the workshop?
Whakamutunga
4pm | Closing karakia and waiata
To secure your tickets for ‘Redesigning Aotearoa’ on 23 June please click here
To see information about ‘Welcome to Te Ao Māori’ on 22 June please click here
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions by emailing events@designassembly.org.nz
AUCKLAND | Welcome to Te Ao Māori with Johnson McKay
Please note: at this stage this is the only ‘Welcome to Te Ao Māori’ workshop we will be running this year
Welcome to Te Ao Māori
Design Assembly in partnership with Ira is delighted to announce ‘Welcome to Te Ao Māori’ Workshop at Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae Unitec in Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland on Thursday 22 June 2023.
This workshop is a full-day, immersive experience dedicated to developing cultural intelligence and creative solutions through a Te Ao Māori worldview.
The only cultural workshop created specifically for those who work with brand, internal culture development and creative services, the workshop will support participants to engage with Tikanga Māori and understand how culture can be a superpower in designing uniquely Aotearoa brands and businesses, products and experiences.
“Te Ao Māori is not just for Māori. It’s a way of seeing the world that can enrich all New Zealanders – culturally, socially, environmentally and economically.”
Johnson McKay, Head of Strategy & Culture, Ira.
This workshop was created by Johnson McKay and Sarai Morris of Ira – a Māori-led strategic and creative agency. Ira brings Te Ao Māori approaches to co-design inspirational brands, products, and experiences from diverse perspectives.
“We no longer live in a one size fits all world. It takes cultural intelligence to bring diverse perspectives together to co-design transformative solutions.”
Sarai Morris, Cultural Strategy & Engagement, Ira
To find out more about the presenters click here https://ira.nz/whanau
There is also a second workshop called ‘Redesigning Aotearoa’ on the following day Friday 23 June 2023. For more information about this please click here
Tickets are strictly limited and will sell out fast, so book today to secure your place.
Cost for the one-day workshop:
Professional | Future DA Friend $650 +gst
DA Friend | $450 +gst
Student Friend | $100+gst
Welcome to Te Ao Māori | Outline of Workshop Programme
Mā te rongo ka mōhio | By listening comes knowledge
Mā te mōhio ka mārama | From knowledge comes understanding
Mā te mārama ka mātau | From understanding comes wisdom
Mā te mātau ka ora ai | From wisdom comes life
Mātauranga is knowledge. It is spiritual, scientific, cultural and creative experiences passed down inter-generationally. It informs the priorities in Te Ao Māori – the Māori world view and shapes Tikanga Māori – cultural process.
Our purpose for developing this workshop is to ensure that the principles and perspectives of Te Ao Māori continue to inspire the communities of Aotearoa.
The workshop is a safe space to gain cultural understanding and the support of experts to help embed your learning into how you deliver and design culturally authentic outcomes.
Participate in learning sessions, break-out group work and personalise the principles to suit your own context and needs.
Explore solutions to questions like:
- How do we define organisational strategy that aligns to Treaty commitments and aspirations to remove inequitable barriers to Māori self-determination?
- How do we shape organisational culture to value Māori cultural values?
- How do we communicate brands, products and services in a way that engages Māori whānau and communities?
- How do we represent Māori voices and values visually and in design, photography and video?
Workshop Schedule:
‘Welcome to Te Ao Māori’
8.15am | Arrive at the Marae
8.30am | Pōwhiri | Welcome Ceremony
Be welcomed onto Te Kotahitanga Marae at Unitec, Auckland in a pōwhiri and participate in whakawhanaungatanga – the art of building relationships.
Wahanga 1: Te Ao Māori | World View
Understand what informs a Māori cultural identity and world view. The importance of maintaining cultural, environmental and community balance through the principle of tapu and mana.
- Wairuatanga: The spiritual foundations for te ao Māori
- Tapu and Mana: Critical concepts that govern all aspects of te ao Māori
- Tūranga: Community roles and responsibilities that shape how te ao Māori operates daily in Māori contexts.
Wahanga 2: Tikanga Māori – Cultural Processes
How does the Te ao Māori view inform Tikanga Māori – processes that bring diverse people together to co-design outcomes together?
- Pono, tika, aroha: three balancing factors in developing and applying Tikanga Māori
- Specific Examples of Tikanga Māori
- Pōwhiri: gender based roles and are they changing
- Rāhui: restoring environments and people
- Mātauranga: protecting and valuing knowledge in a digital era
- Hohou Te Rongo: inclusive practises to resolve disputes
- Tangihanga – death and transition into the next life
- Matariki – environmental and community balance
Wahanga 3: Evolving Tikanga
How is Tikanga Māori changing? What are the positive and negative influences on that change? How can we support an indigenous culture to be revived to retain its unique way of seeing the world?
- Balancing individual liberties and collective responsibility
- Gender identity and cultural roles within te ao Māori
- Evolving use of te reo Māori and how knowledge is shared
- Cross cultural collaboration for new and exciting outcomes
Whakamutunga
4.30pm – Closing karakia and waiata to settle the learning before going home for the day
To secure your tickets for ‘Welcome to Te Ao Māori’ on 22 June please click here
To find out about the subsequent workshop ‘Redesigning Aotearoa’ on 23 June click here
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions by emailing events@designassembly.org.nz
AUCKLAND DA Workshop: Taking advantage of AI to elevate your design practice
*DA Friends receive $150 off per ticket. Join as a DA Friend Today!
**DA Plus Friends, if you’d like to apply one of your free workshop tickets email us for the access code.
Following on from the Autumn Conversation series exploring AI & Design, we invite you to join Giselle Scott (Digital Product Designer at Rush) and Rod Acevedo (Product Design Lead at Rush) for a workshop designed to help designers and researchers understand the potential of AI in design.
As AI technology advances exponentially, the design industry holds great potential for efficiency and creativity.
In this workshop, you’ll learn about the benefits and drawbacks of AI in design and the science of prompting, and engage in exercises ranging from beginner to advanced levels. You’ll explore the areas where AI can collaborate with humans and answer questions that humans can’t.
By the end of the session, you’ll have gained new insights into the world of AI in design and practical takeaways to implement in your own work. Whether you’re an experienced designer or just starting out, this workshop will help you understand the coexistence of artificial intelligence and design practice.
Who’s it for?
The session is designed for the following audience:
- Design executives, managers, and practitioners working in government and non-government organisations interested in implementing new ideas into their design practice.
- Designers and researchers seek methods to enhance their processes and results.
- Developers and technologists seeking to enhance their comprehension of the potential risks involved in system design
- Anybody interested in observing the coexistence of artificial intelligence and design practice.
Workshop Costs:
Our DA Friends receive savings of $150 per ticket at this workshop. Join as a DA Friend here.
– Non-DA Friend, $450+gst
– DA Friend, $300+gst
– DA Student Friend, $50+gst
AUCKLAND TĀMAKI MAKAURAU DA Event: Spring Conversations | Design & Placemaking
Welcome to Design Assembly’s Spring Conversations 2023!
This time we will be exploring the role that design plays in creating a sense of place.
Tickets are FREE for DA Friends – Access tickets with your special code
Placemaking is an approach where people work together to make places better, not only for themselves but for others and for the place itself. For this event we have three speakers with a wealth of experience in different aspects of placemaking who will talk about their approaches to a variety of key projects undertaken in Aotearoa.
After the talks, there will be a Q&A session where you can ask the speakers your burning questions and engage in a lively discussion with fellow attendees. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or just starting out, this event is a unique opportunity to learn from practitioners in the field and gain valuable insights into the impact of design on placemaking in Aotearoa and beyond.
Join us for an engaging and informative event that will inspire and enlighten you.
Thanks to Wooing Tree wines of Central Otago for sponsoring some delicious wines for this event….
Wooing Tree Wines | Pinot with Passion
Featured Speakers
Finn Forstner and Damian Powley | Isthmus
Eric Thompson | Head of School, Design Innovation Whitecliffe
Emme Jacob | Maynard Design
AUCKLAND DA Workshop: Writing & Presenting for Designers with Mark Easterbrook
A deep dive into the art of writing and presenting, to help you support your design work.
In the first half of the day, we’ll step above the nuts and bolts of grammar and spelling and look at what makes good writing good, so you can develop your confidence with the written word. In the second half, we’ll look at how to present the story of your work in a compelling way and equip your client with reasons to say yes, so you can do more of the work you want to do.
Who is the workshop for?
Designers who want to develop the written language and presentation skills to support their talents with visual language. Anyone working in design who wants to improve their ability to communicate ideas through words, and brush up on their presentation skills.
What will you learn?
Writing for Designers
– What makes good writing good
– Writing before the work – how to establish tone and style
– Writing in the work
– crafting good copy
– Writing around the work
– how to pitch your work persuasively
– Writing about the work
– how to reflect on the work for awards and PR
Presenting for Designers
– Ways to structure a presentation
– How to make the best use of the client’s time
– How to strike a balance between emotion and reason
– How to manage tricky questions
– How to project confidence
– What to do with disruptive personalities
What to bring with you:
Your interest, enthusiasm and your burning writing questions. If you can, think of one positive and one negative writing and/or presentation experience to share.
Workshop Costs:
Our DA Friends receive savings of $200 per ticket. Join as a DA Friend here.
– Non-DA Friend, $650+gst
– DA Friend, $450+gst
– DA Student Friend, $100+gst
About the facilitator
Mark Easterbrook is a freelance copywriter and creative director with 20 years experience in the communications and creative industries. He has written and presented everything from hardcore retail advertising to poetic brand films to culturally sensitive government communications. He has an MA in Film, TV & Media Studies and has been a radio host, copywriter, bouncer, gravedigger, gas station attendant, charity board member and Programme Director of the Going West Writers Festival.
TĀMAKI MAKAURAU DA Event | Summer Social 2023
We invite you to join your fellow designers and creatives to share snippets from your busy year and celebrate the start of summer…at last! Check out the chic interior of brand new Bar Beluga just off Ponsonby Road, whilst you kick back and prepare for the start of the silly season!
This is a relaxed, two hour event is for members of our Design Assembly community and beyond to connect and chat to your heart’s content. Your ticket includes a welcome drink, snacks and a hands-on Christmas activity to take home….what a great way to spend a Thursday evening! Stay in the hood for dinner and more socialising afterwards, as you wish…
This is a whānau-friendly event….children under 18 are welcome and free to attend
Tickets are FREE for Design Assembly friends of all tiers.
You can sign up to be a DA Friend anytime—and there’s no time like the present.
Have a peep at our membership options here.
Cost for Summer Social Tāmaki
FREE for all DA members
$30+gst+bf for non-members
Venue | Bar Beluga
Rose Alley, 5 Rose Road
Grey Lynn
Auckland
1021
We’re looking forward to celebrating with you! Please get in touch if you have any questions.
Your friendly DA team!
AUCKLAND Tāmaki Makaurau DA Event | Annual Pub Quiz 2023
The DA Annual Pub Quiz is back for 2023!
Join us on Thursday 15 June for an evening of graphic design, arts and culture trivia to win the great Design Assembly Annual Quiz….along with bragging rights and the ‘oh-so-desirable’ kitsch DA trophy to proudly display in a prominent spot!
Pit the combined brainpower of your studio against the rest of Tāmaki Makaurau, or gather together a team of 6 of your most knowledgeable design friends and colleagues. Show your creative peers just how much you know, and enjoy an evening amongst the biggest design nerds in the city.
Have your dinner together as a team (to do some last minute cramming) and then come along to Galatos just behind Karangahape Road at 7pm. There will be snacks on your table and a bar stocked with delicious drinks…plus prizes, jokes and laughs galore!
We’re looking forward to seeing you there!
Design Assembly Annual Pub Quiz
15 June 2023
7pm to 10pm,
Galatos | 17 Galatos St, off Karangahape Road
Professional Non-Members | $300 for a table (1 to max 6 people)
DA Friend price | $240 for a table (1 to max 6 people)
DA Friend PLUS | 1 x Free table (1 to max 6 people)
These tickets will sell out, so grab your team-mates and make a booking using your special code (available by email to DA members)
If you can’t find your code or have any questions, then please email Kate events@designassembly.org.nz
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Terms and Conditions:
Maximum number of people per table is x 6
Price includes: a snack platter for your team.
Please have dinner before coming to the venue as there is no other food for purchase on site.
Drinks are available for purchase at the bar.
The judge’s decision is final.
Thanks to the DA Pub Quiz AUT Student team Phillippa Carswell & Frosina Popovski for providing the artwork and quiz questions for this event! Ka pai!
AUCKLAND DA Event: Autumn Conversations – Design & AI
Welcome to Design Assembly New Zealand Autumn Conversations! In this event, we’ll be exploring the fascinating intersection of design and artificial intelligence. Our theme is “Design and AI: How to use AI in your design process.”
Tickets are FREE for DA Friends – Access tickets with your special code
The world of design is constantly evolving, and AI is one of the most exciting developments of recent years. From generating design ideas to automating repetitive tasks, AI has the potential to revolutionise the way we approach design. But how can we harness this technology to its full potential?
To answer this question, we have three speakers who will share their insights, experiences, and ideas on how to incorporate AI into your design process. They’ll discuss the benefits and challenges of using AI, showcase real-life examples, and provide practical tips for integrating AI into your workflow.
After the talks, there will be a Q&A session where you can ask the speakers your burning questions and engage in a lively discussion with fellow attendees. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or just starting out, this event is a unique opportunity to learn from leading experts in the field and gain valuable insights into the future of design.
Join us for an engaging and informative event that will expand your knowledge of design and AI, and inspire you to integrate AI into your creative process.
Featured Speakers
Rodrigo (Rod) Acevedo, Product Design Lead | Strategist | Google RARE delegate, Rush Digital
Rod is a passionate and award-winning strategist, product designer and creative thinker. A native of Chile, he has dedicated most of his career to decolonising design practices which foster inclusion and prioritise empathetic, human-centred thinking. Over the last few years, Rod has worked on a wide range of problems across many industries including healthcare, insurance and day-to-day services, with a particular emphasis on unpacking complex design challenges.
Rod is part of the Rare with Google program and a design mentor in ADPList.
Giselle Scott, Digital Product Designer, Rush Digital.
Giselle is an experienced digital product designer with a deep passion for AI, accessibility and digital inclusion. With industry experience in healthcare and technology, Giselle leads both RUSH’s Accessibility and AI Guilds and spearheads change, from internal functions within her design team to the products RUSH creates for their customers. Giselle’s focus on designing beautiful, intuitive and accessible products, including leading the design on multi-platform digital experiences and design systems, has led to true impact and improvement in the lives of New Zealanders.
TALK TITLE: Taking advantage of AI to elevate your design practice. Over the past year, we’ve been experimenting with incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into our design practice and let me tell you, it’s been one wild ride! But don’t worry, it won’t just be about boring technical details – we’ll discuss the transformative role of the designer in conducting research, exploration, and fostering creativity while optimising internal processes.
Jayden Szekely, Growth Focussed Marketer, AI & Automation Consultant, Experience Designer
TALK TITLE: The next communication transformation — Powered by AI & Automation. Are you ready to step into the future of design? From chromolithography to smartphones and social media, we’ve seen some major changes in the way we communicate with each other. But the real game-changer? AI and automation. In this talk, we’ll take a deep dive into how these technologies are shaping the landscape of marketing and advertising, and what that means for you as a designer.
Nick McFarlane | Graphic Agitator & Author
Nick operates at the glitchy intersection of art, advertising, and design. As Director of Design at Proximity New Zealand / Raydar he’s responsible for overseeing anything graphic that goes out the door. As co-founder of tech start-up Podium, he’s deep in the world of sports-data, taking an innovative new product to market. Author of Hunting the Killer Idea, Nick’s always keen to go bush, exploring the creative process.
TALK TITLE: Opening the Doors of Perception
Like many designers, Nick’s been quietly experimenting with AI recreationally, testing its effects on creativity. Mind. Blown. From generating a multitude of psychedelic imagery to expand and accelerate the concepting phase. Through to being a habitual user of ChatGPT to solve a technical problems, bounce ideas, or simply ponder the meaning of life. But will we all get hooked on this cheap synthetic? Or does a little micro-dosing help open the doors to a brave new world?
Tickets are FREE for DA Friends – Access tickets with your special code
P.S: If you’re a DA Friend and haven’t received your ticket access code, contact us!
AUCKLAND DA Workshop: Discover Your Designer DNA with Jason Biggs
Workshop Venue TBC
What would happen if we could finally put a name to the things we do best – our innate personality strengths – and access them on the daily to help achieve our personal and career goals?
We all have talents; naturally recurring ways of thinking, feeling, or behaving that can be productively applied. We use them every day to achieve what we are responsible for. The challenge is that talents are innate. We just “do them” without thinking. So it can be difficult for us to describe them to others and even see the value in them ourselves. An example of this is think about the question, “What is one positive word people used to describe you?” Many of us find this difficult to quickly answer.
The truth is in any work we do the HOW’s (thoughts, feelings, behaviours) always come before the WHAT’s (the priorities and delivery of the work). What if we were able to accurately describe our talents so that it:
- Short circuits how your boss, team, and clients can get the best from you
- Supports how you best work together, to make the process of design much simpler
- Be able to ask the right questions to get the best from others
What will I learn?
We all love a personality test. We start by completing a CliftonStrengths profile which helps to identify and describe your talents. The trick with any profile is that it is most powerful when you understand how to apply them uniquely to you. This three hour workshop is designed to help you discover:
- How to get the best out of you Understand your 1 in 33 million point of difference. Be able to confidently voice the unique way you approach your work. What you are good at and why (something that can help boost your portfolio)
- How to get the best out of others Increase empathy for others, how we all do things differently and that through intentional partnerships you can make our work more impactful
- Tools to get right information from those you work with through adapting your style, by leveraging your talents and most importantly by asking the right questions
Who is this for?
- Creative Directors
- Design Directors
- Account Mangers
- Design Studio Owners
- People moving into managing leadership roles which manage teams
- Employees across all functions and roles; whether it be designers or the teams and roles that support them
- Freelance or contractor designers looking to unlock natural strengths and turn them into their unique point of difference.
- Consider more than one person attending from your team to improve the collaboration between you
What will I walk away with?
- A Gallup CliftonStrengths profile and CliftonStrengths Theme Report and CliftonStrengths Insight Guide
- A pre work quick course to debrief the results
- A detailed and personalised reference guide with insights including what you contribute, what you need, how you are best managed
- Debrief with a group of individuals with a process designed to create new connections
- A follow-up programme with additional resources and reminders to apply what was covered in the workshop
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Meet your facilitator: Jason Biggs — The Strengths Collective
Jason helps workplaces and their people hum through coaching, workshops and self-sustaining tools that help you short circuit the process and DIY. His method helps to identify and play to yours, your teams’ and your organisation’s strengths, have better, regular and more impactful coaching conversations, and focus on the important stuff. Jason has worked in the corporate sector for over 20 years, marketing brands like NESCAFE, KLEENEX and HUGGIES. He thrives helping people understand why they do what they do and to leverage this to get what they want. He’s a commercial guy at heart so that means delivering good business outcomes. In the last ten years he’s coached hundreds of people either as individuals or teams and worked with organisations such as Spark, Nestle, Freightways, New Zealand Blood Service, Chapman Tripp, Downer, Fonterra, Kiwicare, The Tile Depot.
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Thanks to our venue sponsor GridAKL
Thanks to our Design Assembly Partners BookPrint, mychillybin, Portfolio, Rocketspark and Streamtime.
Not a DA Friend? Sign-up to help DA help you! We’ve got options for everyone.
If you’re a DA PLUS friend and would like to attend this workshop, email us for your free access code.
AUCKLAND DA Event: DA Women In Design Lunch
Design Assembly was born out of the desire to see more representation and participation for women in the creative industry in Aotearoa—all this time later, we are still fostering this mission. We’re celebrating International Womens Day (everyday) with a private lunch our female-identifying Design Assembly Friends at Orphan’s Kitchen.
Strictly limited to 30 spots.
P.S: If you’re a DA Friend and haven’t received your ticket access code, contact us!
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Thanks to our Design Assembly Partners BookPrint, mychillybin, Portfolio, Rocketspark and Streamtime
“Kaleidoscope” – Yoobee Creative Digital Design Students Exhibition
We are shining light on students work at Yoobee’s upcoming Creative Digital Design Kaleidoscope Diploma showcase
A kaleidoscope creates movement and reflection – with light and change we can bring things together to create magic.
The world is ever changing and it’s through this change, we are given the opportunities to create.
We overlap and adjust how we see things, how we experience the world through different eyes, we adapt and evolve, both as people and as creatives. With every shift, we take in the thoughts and feelings of those around us. Expanding our horizons and inventing a new pattern, one we share and shine a light on with those who have helped us along the way.
The world is ever changing and we are changing with it.
See Kaleidoscope Thursday 8th of December 6pm-8pm at Yoobee Level 4, 3 City Rd
AUCKLAND DA Event: EOY Wrap Party 2022
Join your fellow designers and creatives to share our experiences of this year and celebrate the start of summer! This is a low-key networking event for members of our Design Assembly community and beyond. Your ticket will gain you entry into the East Street Hall courtyard, a tasty pizza that will be warm and on the table at 630pm sharp, and one beverage.
We will also be having a pop-up market stall from Chromacon Indie Arts Festival and Auckland Zine Fest for you to peruse some printed goodies and potentially tick some early Christmas shopping off of the list. We will also have two artists from the Quick Sketch Gang, Ant Sang and Rebecca ter Borg, there to draw your portrait! More details to come.
Tickets are FREE for our Design Assembly friends of all tiers. You can sign up to be a DA Friend anytime—and there’s no time like the present. Check out our membership options here. Not in Auckland? Check out our Wellington and Christchurch equivalent events.
East Street Hall
6pm – 8pm
5 East Street, Auckland CBD
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Thanks to our Design Assembly Partners BookPrint, mychillybin, Portfolio, Rocketspark and Streamtime and to Lindsay Yee and Abhi Topiwala for the incredible and inflatable event artwork.
Media Design School’s Decade Arcade
Media Design School is celebrating 10 years of Game Art and Programming degrees with a free graduate show and free industry conference on 18-19 November 2022 at our Auckland Central campus. There’ll be an opportunity to hear from and network with some of the greatest minds within New Zealand’s gaming industry who happened to get their start at MDS.
They say you should surround yourself with the kinds of people you’d like to be, so what better excuse to network with some of the greatest minds within New Zealand’s gaming industry?
Introducing: Decade Arcade!
Many MDS alumni have worked their way into top studios to work on well-known games, like Call of Duty and Path of Exile; while others have looked to chase their own visions, releasing indie games that have developed huge followings around the globe. This November, we are inviting as many as we can to present at what we think could be one of the most prolific game development events New Zealand has ever seen!
Worry not! We will fill the void left by the cancellation of Auckland Armageddon (too soon?). Not only will you be entertained by the stories and experiences of our veteran elite, but you’ll hopefully be able to pick up a thing or two to guide you toward your own goals.
So, crack those knuckles, study up on your gaming trivia, and get ready to join an event that you’ll be telling your grandkids about.
Friday 18th November – Open to All
5.30pm l Graduate Show
Showcase of 2022 graduate games from the Bachelor of Creative Technologies (Game Art) and the Bachelor of Software Engineering (Game Programming).
Saturday 19th November – Open to All
9.30am l Official Conference Schedule: Loading…
Hear from an array of industry guest speakers, meet our staff, learn more about MDS and play our student games! – Our official website with a list of speakers & games here
Type as Monument
Type as Monument – join the SEGD Tāmaki Makaurau chapter for an evening with Alistair McCready from Monolith.
The Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland chapter of the Society of Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD) and Design Assembly invite you to an evening exploring typographic design and its history with Alistair McCready from Monolith. Meet at the Isthmus Tāmaki studio on Queen Street for drinks and nibbles from 5:30pm, with Alistair’s talk starting at 6pm. Social mixer afterwards.
Register here: Type as Monument: an evening with Alistair McCready brought to you by SEGD Tickets, Thu 17 Nov 2022 at 17:30 | Eventbrite
Wintec School of Media Arts Creative Showcase
NOV – DEC 2022
Fresh talent from the School of Media Arts share their mahi and perform for their peers, whānau and the public. Come celebrate this next wave of creatives at one (or more) of our showcase events in Kirikiriroa Hamilton. The events represent the range of disciplines studied at The School of Media Arts, from Communication, Art and Design to Music and Performing Arts, there is something for everyone!
The events will be held at Wintec city campus and The Meteor Theatre and are open for friends, family and the public.
Hands on a Hardbody
Thursday 17, Friday 18, 7.30pm
Saturday 19 November, 2.00pm and 7.30pm
The Meteor, Tickets available here.
Music and Performance Evenings
Wednesday 23 November Performance Showcase, 7pm
Thursday 24 November Orchestra Extravaganza, 8pm
Friday 25 November 1st Year Character Cabarets, 7pm
The Meteor *FREE Event*
Te Ara Pūtake Exhibition
Thursday 24 November, 5.30pm
R Block Social Space,
Wintec City Campus
Graduate Showcase Exhibition
Opening Night, Thursday 1 December, 4.30pm
Friday 2 December, 10am – 2pm
Secondary Schools Tour, Monday 5 December, 10am – 2pm
Wintec City Campus, R, X and P Block, Kirikiriroa
Film Screening
Thursday 1 December, 6.45pm
Events Room One, The Hub, Wintec City Campus
AUT Art & Design Graduate Showcase
We are very proud to present our showcase of the graduating students from Kura Toi a Hoahoa: School of Art and Design at AUT. The student work represents the culmination of an educational experience, exploring a range of art and design topics, issues, approaches, and technologies. We hope you enjoy viewing the art and design work and helping us to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our students in 2022.
artanddesign.aut.ac.nz – updated website for this event goes live on 17 Nov
Opening Night
17th November · 4pm – 8pm,
Communication Design · WE Level 5
Open: 15th – 19th November
Opening Night Timings: Industry 4–5:30pm · Awards 6pm · Family & Friends 5:30–6pm
Digital Design · WE Level 6
Open: 17th November
Awards: 17th November 7:30pm
Fashion Design · Ticketed Event
Open: 12th November
Industrial Design · WM Level 6
Open: 14th – 18th November
Awards: 17th November 7pm
Interaction Design · WE Level 5
Open: 15th – 19th November
Opening Night Timings: Industry 4–5:30pm · Awards 6pm · Family & Friends 5:30–6pm
Spatial Design · WE Level 3
Open: 17th – 19th November
Awards: 17th November 7pm
Visual Arts · WM Level 1 + Level 3, 4, 5 Foyers
Open: 17th – 19th November
Awards: 17th November 6:30pm
Media Design School EOY Grad Exhibition: Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow
The Bachelor of Media Design End of Year Graduate Exhibition ‘Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow’
Media Design School proudly presents the End of Year Graduate Exhibition 2022 featuring the works from the Bachelor of Media Design (BMD) and the Graduate Diploma of Creative Technologies (Design) (GDCT). These collection of practice-led design work comes from specialist areas of graphic design, interactive design and motion design, and explore concepts of user-experience, collaborative design, community-enriching and interdisciplinary practice.
AUCKLAND DA Workshop: Meaningful Strategy SOLD OUT
This event is sold out! Join the waitlist to be notified if a space becomes available.
Building on the previous success of Raul Sarrot’s strategy webinars and workshops, in this 3-hour hands-on session Raul will offer a deeper dive into the world of strategy focussing specifically on how to translate business purpose into a meaningful strategy that delivers game-changing value and is loaded with potential to positively impact people’s lives.
Tickets:
$249+gst Professional
$149+gst Design Assembly Friend
$49+gst Student
FREE for DA PLUS Friends
(Not a DA Friend? Details on how to sign up can be found here).
What you will learn?
You will get the chance to work alongside others as well working by yourself to design your own Meaningful Strategy Framework. You will explore techniques to find clarity and alignment for your or your client’s business, understanding how to clearly articulate vision and purpose, better identifying and understanding audiences, clearly defining how your product or service proposition could deliver tangible and meaningful value in ‘real life’. Be ready to challenge and be challenged.
Who is the workshop for?
- Anyone working with –or being in charge of– business or brand strategy.
- Intermediate/Senior Designers
- Brand and Marketing Managers
- Entrepreneurs
- SME directors
What to bring with you?
A sharpie, a pen, your curiosity and lots enthusiasm. We’ll provide the rest!
About the facilitator
Raul Sarrot is a multi-disciplinary designer, strategist, educator and design coach who specialises in helping enterprises incorporate design into all areas of their organisations, from strategy to brand creation and communication. His international experience has been forged over 30 years working alongside a wide range of commercial and not-for-profit clients in many countries the world. Raul is the Director and Founder of Freshfish, his boutique studio specialised in strategy, branding and innovation and is a part time Senior Lecturer in a variety of design-related papers at AUT. After working hours, Raul is a music composer, drummer and bass player and a proud father of three ‘wild on Waiheke’ kids!
AUCKLAND DA Event: Spring Conversations — Design For Everybody
Design Assembly is delighted to present our Spring Conversations panel discussion series for September 2022. Design For Everybody will invite 3 local creatives, (or creative adjacent individuals) to engage in an authentic discussion and Q&A about inclusion in the creative industry;
- What does it mean to be inclusive in design?
- What is ‘lived experience’ and how does it affect our work?
- How can we collectively make better design for everyone?
Tickets:
$30+gst Professional | FREE for Design Assembly Friends
Not a DA Friend? Sign-up to help DA help you! We’ve got options for everyone.
Our Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) panellists:
Red Nicholson — Curative
Red is a proud disabled person, a father of three young boys, and a long-suffering Warriors fan. He started his career in the education sector, working across a range of teaching and leadership roles. These experiences helped develop a persistent curiosity and a passion for social justice. He now works as Innovation Director at Curative, a boutique creative agency inspiring positive social change. Red believes strongly in the vision of an equitable and diverse Aotearoa, where all people are valued and supported to live extraordinary lives. As both a media consumer and producer, Red is a firm believer in the power of stories to combat stereotypes and shift societal assumptions about what people are capable of.
Adeline Salkeld — RUSH
Adeline is the Design Director at RUSH where she drives a culture of design excellence, applying her pragmatism and empathy to help further the company’s purpose of designing and building technology to better serve humankind. Her 20+ year career as a digital experience specialist draws from a foundation in graphic design coupled with a fascination for how technology can impact and influence human behaviour. This impressive skillset has contributed to the success of many clients including Z Energy, Auckland Transport, ASB, and Maori Television. Adeline is an advocate for inclusivity, diversity and female leadership which she champions and celebrates within her industry.
Jason Biggs — The Strengths Collective
Jason helps workplaces and their people hum through coaching, workshops and self-sustaining tools that help you short circuit the process and DIY. His method helps to identify and play to yours, your teams’ and your organisation’s strengths, have better, regular and more impactful coaching conversations, and focus on the important stuff. Jason has worked in the corporate sector for over 20 years, marketing brands like NESCAFE, KLEENEX and HUGGIES. He thrives helping people understand why they do what they do and to leverage this to get what they want. He’s a commercial guy at heart so that means delivering good business outcomes. In the last five years he’s coached hundreds of people either as individuals or teams and worked with organisations such as Spark, Nestle, Freightways, New Zealand Blood Service, Chapman Tripp, Downer, Fonterra, Kiwicare, The Tile Depot.
Daphne Haurua — Pohewatanga
Daphne is an inspiring designer based in Tamaki Makaurau, Aotearoa who work alongside businesses, organisations and a diverse range of communities to design creative and meaningful solutions that whakapiki te mana o te kaupapa. As a practising designer, Daphne focuses on how we can weave together Māori and Pacifica ways of thinking and inclusive practices within contemporary settings. Her design skills include branding, visual communications, publications, corporate design, documentary and videography.
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Thanks to our Design Assembly Partners BookPrint, mychillybin, Portfolio, Rocketspark and Streamtime
Event artwork by Lindsay Yee and Abhi Topiwala
Not in Auckland? Check out our Wellington and Christchurch Spring Conversations.