Despite the party antics that get going in the afternoon and culminate in the official Afterparty, Saturday Indesign is also about serious ideas. A series of panel talks curated by the Indesignlive editorial team brings together important figures from across the wider industry to give audiences insight into some of the hottest topics of the day.

This year, Winnings hosted a discussion on adaptive reuse. Moderated by Timothy Alouani-Roby, the panellists each had some significant project experience in reuse: John Prentice from Woods Bagot, Sarah Hurst from FK (who also travelled from Melbourne for the event) and Yi-han Cao from Tzannes. Drawing on their international experience, these experts emphasised something of the alchemy of adaptive reuse – just how amazing it can be to successfully reimagine the use of a space from one thing to another. Each drew on some personal anecdotes and design inspiration too, with mention of New York’s High Line project as well as Sydney’s Quay Quarter Tower, all while a packed audience at the showroom listened on.

Over at Kaolin in the afternoon, the question of Australian design aesthetics and their evolution was on the agenda. Having developed significantly, shaped by climate, regional identity and the country’s multiculturalism, the panellists explored whether a singular Australian aesthetic remains relevant today. Connection to Country are of course the most important aspect of this debate, and artist Nicole Monks provided insight from Indigenous perspective. She was joined by Bradhly Le of newly launched RIZEN Atelier and Lorena Gaxiola.

In the world of kitchen design, La Cornue hosted a talk on how heritage and innovation intersect as Australian designers look to European traditions, particularly French cuisine, for inspiration in blending luxury with cutting-edge technology. Harleen Grewal of Alexandra Kidd Interior Design joined Thomas Hamel and Eva-Marie Prineas of Studio Prineas for a discussion hosted, fittingly, by French design editor, Clémence Carayol.

Related: Saturday Indesign was a design lover’s playground

Returning to the theme of sustainability, a discussion at Jardan focused on how considerations of circularity and reuse cannot simply be an afterthought. Instead, the experts explained how sustainability is central to the design process from the very start – before a concept is even sketched. Chris Fox joined Tilt’s Tim Phillips and Nick Garnham from Jardan for this discussion.

At Special Lights, Jan Henderson moderated a discussion on lighting in outdoor space by focusing on the thoughtful balance of light and shadow. These elements influence atmosphere, mood and function, especially in residential settings. Designers are exploring how natural lighting and shade can enhance both aesthetics and environmental sustainability in outdoor spaces, with this panel comprising Alexandra Kidd, Jason Gibney and Sally Evans.

Women designers and circular economy were the topics under discussion at Seeho. This panel explored how female designers have been pioneers in this space, challenging traditional, extraction-based modes of design and offering a more sustainable, long-term vision. Luxury Travel editor Madelin Tomelty moderated the talkm joined by Tracey Wiles of Woods Bagot, Dr Fiona Young of Hayball, and Laura Hamilton-O’Hara of the LFIA.

Lastly, the often-overlooked world of product design, especially hardware choices like door handles and metal finishes, took a welcome position under the spotlight at Savage Design. Specification choices at the level of hardware play a crucial role in the success of architectural and interior design projects, and the panellists here considered the respective strengths of spatial and product designers, as well as how they can best work together. Kate Goodwin led the discussion alongside Cox Architecture’s Ingrid Kelly, Joel Savage of Savage Design, and Dale O’Brien of Gray Puksand.

Saturday Indesign will return in 2025 – get ready to join us (again), and a huge thank you to all those who spoke as panellists, hosted as showrooms, and attended as spectators again in 2024.

Next up: Saturday Indesign official Afterparty celebrates the day in Signature style

The post Saturday Indesign panel discussions covered a wide range of critical ideas in 2024 appeared first on Saturday Indesign.

That’s right – Saturday Indesign’s full schedule has been announced, and it includes all the product launches, workshops, installations, tours, and hospitality that makes the event industry’s most loved day of the year.

As all Saturday Indesign regulars would know, our annual Design Discussion talk program is one of the hottest program sessions in town. Curated by our Indesign editorial team, the discussions feature panels of iconic and emerging talent exploring the most pressing topics and challenges facing designers today. This year’s lineup includes sessions on everything from adaptive reuse to the evolution of design typologies, and features speakers from across the spectrum of Australia’s architecture and design scene.

All Design Discussions are free to attend but often have only limited seats available, with capacities varied depending on the size of the host showroom. One thing’s for sure, as one of Saturday Indesign’s most loved components, each talk will be quick to fill up and bursting at the scenes. To avoid disappointment, or having to resort to listening in at the door, we recommend getting into the host showroom early and reserving your space for a front row experience.

Want to start planning your Design Discussion itinerary? Read on to see what we have coming up, head to our what’s on page to see everything that’s happening on Saturday September 7.

Saturday Indesign Design Discussions

10:00am-10:30am
Jardan, Paddington
Sustainability From The Start: How Do You Design With Reuse In Mind?

The most effective approaches to sustainability today involve factoring it in from the very beginning of the design process. Instead of playing catch-up once the object is already made, the most forward-thinking designers are already working through reuse, recycling and circular economy before the sketching pencil has even left the page. This panel will discuss the effectiveness of having an in-house research and design team, as well as getting perspectives from designers who work at larger scales and often make specification decisions.

On this panel: Chris Fox (Studio Chris Fox), Nick Garnham (Jardan), Tim Phillips (Tilt)

10:30am-11:00am
Winnings, Waterloo
Adaptive Reuse: A Deep Dive With Leading Industry Experts

It’s the topic and typology on every architect’s lips, but what exactly is adaptive reuse and why is it such an important talking point? This discussion brings together three heavy-hitters with some of the most recent, impressive project experience in this area. Drawing on global and local examples, the panellists will discuss why adaptive reuse is a meaningful approach to sustainability, what they’ve learned from recent projects, and what the future might hold in this space.

On this panel: John Prentice (Woods Bagot), Yi-han Cao (Tzannes), Sarah Hurst (FK)

11:00am-11:30am
Special Lights, Waterloo
Light And Dark In Outdoor Spaces

Light is only meaningful insofar as there is dark, so how do designers approach and deal with questions of shadow, natural light and atmosphere in outdoor residential spaces? This panel will bring together diverse practitioners of design, asking them to consider how their areas of expertise overlap when it comes to creating atmosphere and mood. They will also consider the environmental dimensions of outdoor lighting, as well as the growing distinction between function and decoration in these spaces.

On this panel: Sally Evans (Nexus Designs), Alexandra Kidd (Alexandra Kidd), Jason Gibney (Jason Gibney Design Workshop)

11:00am-11:30am
Savage Design, Surry Hills
Who Designs For The Designers? Product Specifications And The Value Of Hardware

Architects and designers often like to control a project at every scale, from the building facade to the door handle – but what about the expertise of products manufacturers and designers? Do other designers truly value and understand what they do? You might be familiar with how specification decisions are made, but this discussion will explore why. Our panellists will discuss the rationale behind hardware choices and, with a focus on metals, their importance to the success or failure of a project.

On this panel: Brooke Lloyd (COX Architecture), Dale O’Brien (Gray Puksand), Joel Savage (Savage Design)

11:30am-12:00pm
La Cornue, Surry Hills
Timeless Taste: Heritage Meets Innovation In Kitchen Design

Every brand is interested in innovation, technology and new ways of doing luxury — but not every one has a heritage stretching back into centuries-long artisan traditions. France has a long and prestigious tradition of cuisine, and many Australian designers look to Europe for inspiration. This panel will discuss how tradition and heritage affect design in terms of innovation, luxury and technology.

On this panel: Thomas Hamel (Thomas Hamel), Harleen Grewal (Alexandra Kidd), Eva-Marie Prineas (Studio Prineas)

12:00pm-12:30pm
Seeho Su, Waterloo
Women Designers Leading The Charge Towards Circular Economy

Before ‘sustainability’ became a buzzword, some companies were already practising principles of recycling and reuse as standard. This discussion will hone in on circular economy to ask what it really means, what’s new about it, and what it looks like in practice. More specifically, the all-women panel will bring a specifically female angle to a whose roots are all too often tied up with extractive, machismo modes of design. Celebrating the careers of women as experts in design, the discussion will bring a refreshing dynamic to the debate.

On this panel: Tracey Wiles (Woods Bagot), Fiona Young (Hayball), Laura Hamilton-O’Hara (Living Future Institute of Australia)

3:30pm-4:00pm
Kaolin Porcelain Surfaces, Alexandria
The Evolution Of Australian Aesthetics

What distinguishes Australian design aesthetics from those elsewhere? The answer given a century would likely have been very different to today’s. This panel will discuss how the idea of Australian aesthetics has changed, and even ask whether there is such a thing as a single Australian aesthetic. Specificity of place, in terms of climate and regional identity, will crossover with connection to Country and Australia’s contemporary identity as a multicultural, urbanised nation to consider what design aesthetics here mean in 2024.

On this panel: Bradhly Le (RIZEN Atelier), Nicole Monks (Nicole Monks), Lorena Gaxiola (Lorena Gaxiola)

With more speakers to be announced, keep your eyes peeled for updates and register today to be the first to know when new scheduled items or activations drop.

Saturday Indesign returns to Sydney on 7th September 2024. Attend on day and be in with the chance to win over $35,000 worth of prizes. Don’t forget to pick up your official Saturday Indesign X Signature Appliance tote bag to carry all your bits and bobs, available at all participating exhibitor locations.

Want to keep the party going once the showrooms close their doors? Tickets are now also on sale for the Saturday Indesign X Signature Appliances Official Afterparty! Don’t miss out, grab your tickets to the industry’s hottest party here.

The post Saturday Indesign’s Design Discussion Schedule has dropped – and there are some talks you won’t want to miss! appeared first on Saturday Indesign.