NOMINATE NOW FOR SPECIAL ACCOLADES

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: 2025 SPECIAL ACCOLADES 

The Australian Good Design Awards Special Accolades, were established to recognise achievements beyond the main design disciplines. These accolades honour exceptional projects, people and practices that are sparking positive change. 

This is your chance to be part of the next wave of design excellence. Submit your entry or nomination via the online portal before Friday 2nd May to be considered for a Special Accolade and other internationally-recognised Awards. 

Keep reading to find important details on each accolade and inspiration from the 2024 Winners, and don’t forget to check out the specific evaluation criteria on our website!


AUSTRALIAN DESIGN PRIZE

The Australian Design Prize recognises an individual designer who has made or is making a significant contribution to Australian design. It celebrates visionaries who leave a lasting impact on design practices and the broader design community.

2024 Winners: Vince Frost & Professor Livio Bonollo AM

Vince Frost, renowned designer, author and host of Design Your Life, was recognised for his lifelong commitment to using design as a force for good. We sat down with Vince Frost to explore his remarkable career.

He told us, “I think design has got us into the messiness of this world. A lot of bad things in this world are through design. You know, anything that’s not nature has been designed. I also believe that design is helping us solve the real problems of the world for the better. So, I think design is incredibly powerful and has so much potential. I really wish that each and every one of us is utilising its potential for good.”  

Design Your Life by Vince Frost. Image: Vince Frost

The late Professor Livio Bonollo AM was also honoured for his pioneering influence in industrial design education and practice. His impact extended beyond academia and Bonollo’s legacy continues to shape the design community.

Product Design: A Course in First Principles by Elivio Bonollo. Image: supplied


AUSTRALIAN GOOD DESIGN TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD

Awarded to a design team whose collective work embodies the principles of design excellence, this accolade encourages organisations to cultivate a design-led culture. Winners in this category have demonstrated how design can be integrated across all levels of an organisation, helping to set new industry standards and create impactful design solutions.

2024 Winner: Cobalt Design

The Cobalt design team. Image: Cobalt

Cobalt’s founders have created a space where failure is transformed into learning, students grow into mentors and respect is afforded to all. 

“At the executive level, our job is to create space for our team to be their best,” Steve Martinuzzo, Co-founder of Cobalt shared.


INDIGENOUS DESIGN AWARD

In recognition of Australia’s First Nations designers, the Indigenous Design Award honours projects that showcase the unique contributions of Indigenous design practices.

Proudly presented by RMIT, the Award welcomes nominations of Indigenous individuals as well as projects where at least one member of the design team identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. 

2024 Winners: 

Blaklash – Queensland Health First Nations Design Framework 

The Blaklash team behind the Framework – Winner of the 2024 Indigenous Design Award Image: Blaklash

This framework ensures healthcare infrastructure is culturally safe and co-designed with First Nations communities.

“If you involve people in the conversation, you can be sure not to repeat past mistakes,” said Tahlia Steadman, Principal at Blaklash

mili mili – Signal Fire

Winner of the 2024 Australian Good Design Award Indigenous Design Award | Team. Image: mili mili

This project honours Indigenous storytelling through landscape, and public art.

“This project was about connection – to land, community, and history. The headland itself was the true feature, and we worked to weave its stories into every element of the design,” said mili mili Creative Director, Nicole Monks.


ROBERT PATAKI AWARD FOR HEALTHCARE DESIGN 

The Robert Pataki Award for Healthcare Design encourages the next generation of designers and innovators to create conceptual design solutions aimed at improving the quality of life for people living with a disability, those in aged care environments and individuals working within the healthcare system.

Named in honour of Robert Pataki, OAM, recipient of the 2022 Australian Design Prize, the Award promotes the importance of embedding design-led innovation into all areas of Australia’s healthcare system. Aiming to foster a culture that leverages the power of design to create meaningful change for the most vulnerable members of society.

2024 Winner: ARIA – Augmented Reality in Audio

The intricate details of ARIA. Image: Aria Research

This wearable device converts visual data into 3D sound, enhancing accessibility for visually impaired individuals.

“As a recipient of the Award, I would be pushing for other designers to be thinking about solving big but practical problems, and getting to the nitty-gritty of what the end user really, really wants and needs,” said Robert Yearsley CEO and Co-Founder of ARIA Research.


WOMEN IN DESIGN AWARD

The Women in Design Award addresses the gender imbalance in design leadership by celebrating the contributions of female designers who have made remarkable impacts on the Australian design industry. 

The Award aims to encourage a more diverse and equal representation within leadership roles and the design industry in general – supporting the next generation of women in design. 

2024 Winner: Dr. Caroline Butler-Bowdon

Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon. Image: supplied

A leader in cultural experience design, Dr. Butler-Bowdon now serves as the State Librarian of NSW.

“Good design is about how something makes you feel. Does it uplift you? Does it bring you joy? Does it bring you comfort? Does it function well, and therefore make your life easier? That’s where good design in cities can make a massive, massive difference, ” Dr Butler-Bowdon shared. 


AUSTRALIAN GOOD DESIGN AWARD FOR SUSTAINABILITY 

Since 2007, the Australian Good Design Award for Sustainability has recognised projects that embody excellence in design through sustainability and circular economy principles. This accolade rewards design that cares for our people and planet. 

2024 Winner: Onvol – VolDrive

The award-winning VolDrive by Onvol. Image: Onvol

VolDrive harnesses kinetic energy to power sensors using an environmentally and economically sustainable method, making wind energy even cleaner.

In our interview with Clinton Hopkins, CEO of Onvol, we received valuable insights into the sustainability considerations behind the design. 

“… Our product is part of the circular economy… It’s made of metals, aluminium and steel and copper, and it has a life of about 40 years. It’s the heart of the product so we can just refurbish it and give it four times its lifespan. 

We’ve also tried as much as possible to source recycled materials. Then, we have a supply chain where the customer hands back the product to us whenever there’s an issue and we just refurbish the unit and send it back out,” said Clinton Hopkins.


MICHAEL BRYCE PATRON’S AWARD

Named in honour of Michael J.S. Bryce AM AE KStJ, the Michael Bryce Patron’s Award is presented to the best Australian-designed product, service or project with the potential to ignite positive change on economic, social, cultural and environmental levels. This Award pays tribute to Michael Bryce’s lifelong dedication to the Australian design community and the significant contribution he made to Good Design Australia. 

2024 Winner: Clean Grow Lick Block by Sea Forest & Olsson’s

Sea Forest CEO, Sam Elson, with Clean Grow. Image: Clean Grow

This innovative product helps reduce methane emissions from livestock by up to 98% using SeaFeed™ derived from native seaweed.

“Everyone’s input was critical in ensuring the best outcome and we’re stoked to be recognised with this Award. It’s testament to the hard work and contributions that everyone made,” said Dr. Louise Edwards, Head of Product Development & Regulatory Affairs, Sea Forest. 


POWERHOUSE DESIGN AWARD

The Powerhouse Design Award is given to a project that has potential to make a significant improvement to the quality of health, wellbeing or the environment. The Award champions the important role of design in harnessing the challenges of science and technology to enhance our lives. 

2024 Winner: Kosmosuit® Kernel360™ – Metakosmos

A Kosmosuit®Kernel360™ by Metakosmos. Image: Metakosmos

The software captures real-time biometric data to improve astronaut training and safety. Backed by Moon to Mars and NSW MVP Grants, Kernel360™ is a leap forward in human spaceflight.


AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN AWARDS

The Automotive Design Awards celebrate outstanding design within the Automotive and Transport Category, recognising excellence in both automotive design and styling. This category considers factors such as functionality, durability, and security while also celebrating aesthetic design.

2024 Winners:

Best Exterior: Polestar 3 – A reimagined electric SUV with cutting-edge aerodynamics.

Polestar 3 – Winner of the 2024 Good Design Automotive Design Award (Best Exterior Design) Image: Polestar

“I think [Polestar 3] will have a big impact… I mean, now designers have a big responsibility. It’s not just about creating a beautiful object that can take you from point A to point B. We also have to be very conscious of the decisions we’re making,” shared Senior Exterior Designer, Nahum Escobedo.

Best Interior: Volvo EX30 – A compact SUV blending Scandinavian aesthetics with sustainability.

Volvo EX30 – Winner of the 2024 Automotive Design Award (Best Interior Design). Image: Volvo

Volvo’s Senior Manager of Design, Color and Material, Rekha Meena, spoke about the sustainable elements of the vehicle. 

“If it’s from the recycled world, the feel and look should be honest, not trying to hide it. We are proud to achieve 17% recycled/natural content, 17% recycled steel, and 25% recycled aluminium for the EX30.”


WHO WILL CLAIM THESE TOP HONOURS FOR 2025?

Submissions for the 2025 Australian Good Design Awards are closing soon. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of Australia’s leading design recognition program. Submit your entry before Friday 2nd May via the Good Design Entry Portal.

NEW CONCEPT DESIGN DISCIPLINE ANNOUNCED

Every breakthrough begins with a bold idea – one that challenges conventions and dares to shape the future. This is the essence of the new Concept Design discipline.

New for 2025, we’re excited to introduce the new Concept Design discipline, which aims to recognise the pivotal role innovative ideas play in driving progress. This new discipline celebrates the innovators and creators that push boundaries and explore new possibilities in design, technology, materials, and user experiences.

Enter now and put your design concept on the world stage!


A SPACE FOR GAME-CHANGING IDEAS

Concept Design welcomes early-stage concepts from concept cars and pre-production projects to forward-thinking designs across all fields.

“We’re excited to spotlight innovators who are challenging the status quo, with ideas that blend form, function, and feasibility to create lasting, meaningful impact across industries,” said Rachel Wye, Managing Director of Good Design Australia.

“Design thinking should be thoroughly researched, carefully structured, and should demonstrate a high level of rigour and attention to detail.”

“We want to explore whether these concepts, if realised, have the potential to work in the real world – are they actually feasible, do they have potential to set a new standard and will they inspire progress,” she added.

Good Design Australia is excited to highlight concepts that demonstrate vision – from leveraging new materials and technologies, to employing new approaches that help address global issues. Concepts should not only be sustainable but also scalable, with the potential to inspire change and shape future markets.

The Jury will be looking for concepts that set the benchmark for creativity and innovation and have the potential to make a tangible positive impact. 

Entrants will also have the opportunity to mark which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), align with their project, highlighting where the concept aims to have impact. 

“It’s about more than just creative ideas. It’s about getting designers to use their skillsets to start tackling real-world challenges with solutions that can create positive change for people, place and planet,” Ms Wye added.

[REVR,  2024 Next Gen Gold Winner]


THE POWER OF CONCEPT DESIGN

Think of some of the world’s most transformative innovations – electric vehicles, biodegradable packaging, AI-driven healthcare. Each one began as a concept. Concept Design is the first step in bringing these ideas to life, and provides designers an opportunity to dream big and generate ideas that eventually evolve into solutions that could change industries.

“At the core of great concept design is the willingness to experiment, take risks, and push the boundaries of possibility. It’s about asking, ‘What if?’ and dreaming big,” said Rachel. 

“This category is for those who don’t just imagine the future – they actually create it.”

[Crysosack: Independent Hospital in the Home Recovery. 2024 Next Gen Gold Winner] 


WHAT MAKES A GOOD DESIGN CONCEPT?

Judging will focus on four key areas:

  • Good Design – The concept’s form, function, feasibility and safety. Is the concept design well-researched? Does it have potential for development?
  • Design Innovation – The extent to which the concept challenges traditional thinking, explores new materials or technologies, and sets new benchmarks in creativity, user experience, or industry practice?
  • Design Impact – Its potential to drive change, inspire industries, and create impact.

Click here to view full evaluation criteria.


[Cadence: Assistive Wearable for Parkinson’s Disease, 2024 Next Gen Award Winner]

LEAVE YOUR MARK ON THE FUTURE

The Australian Good Design Awards offer a platform for transformative ideas that redefine how we live, work, and interact. Recognition is a chance to gain exposure, credibility, and support from industry leaders. Your concept could attract investment, forge collaborations, and inspire future advancements.

“At Good Design Australia, we believe design is a catalyst for change. It’s a force that shapes the future. The Concept Design discipline embodies this vision, recognising bold ideas that defy constraints and open the door to better solutions,” concluded Rachel Wye.

If you have a concept or pre-production project that deserves recognition, start your project now.

Concept Design welcomes entries from individuals and companies from around the world. There is no age restriction to enter.

ENTER NOW