Tonight, the 2025 Australian Good Design Awards will celebrate the boldest, most innovative projects shaping the future of design. The international Jury, made up of leading experts, brought sharp eyes and fresh perspectives to every entry submitted.
We spoke with Jurors Cat Burgess, Head of Place, Frost*collective and Sam Lanyon, Co-founder and Director, Planet Innovation, who gave us a glimpse of what makes the annual Awards Ceremony unmissable.
Australia’s Biggest Design Event of 2025
For Cat Burgess, Juror for the Built Environment, nothing compares to the buzz of the Final-Round Judging days. It’s when the world’s leading design minds come together to decide the Winners, setting the stage for the Awards Ceremony.
“It’s fantastic because there are so many people who love design from all kinds of disciplines. You’re alongside fashion designers, graphic designers, architects, industrial designers, automotive designers, and even those working in policy design,” said Cat.
This year, impact was at the heart of every decision.
“When you’re trying to pick the best of the best, you’re often trying to understand what’s going to have the most impact – I think that ultimately drove the Jury this year – the impact of design,” she added.
This year, the Jury was also looking for projects that balance originality with purpose.
“I’m always interested in whether a project has something unique to contribute. Globally, we’re seeing a real homogeneity in design, so I look for work with individuality that fully responds to its brief,” Cat said.
Cat also discussed how meeting the brief is just the starting point. The real impact lies in exploring the space between what’s asked and what’s possible.
“It’s not enough to just deliver the brief. I’m looking for thinking that takes the project somewhere exceptional, beyond what was asked. Design isn’t just about designing the right thing, it’s about asking the right questions about what needs to be designed.”
The judges step into the mind of another creative and see the effort that’s gone into solving a brief.
“I look for things that have a bit of wow factor, but are also human-centred. People need to be able to use things effectively, design should impact behaviour as much as it delights visually.”
Innovation, Societal Impact, and First Nations Contributions
Several themes emerged across this year’s entries, highlighting innovation, cultural significance, and social influence.
“The level of First Nations contribution in entries was incredibly high, and that makes me very proud. Our First Nations people are our first designers, and it’s fantastic to see their work celebrated,” said Cat. “That’s another great reason to join the awards and recognise the impact they make on our culture and design community.”
Australia is demonstrating its strength across multiple disciplines, producing projects that compete on the global stage.
“The concepts and ideation were very strong. Many pieces explored tech innovation, like embedding AI into the experience or creating highly participatory elements. Overall, the standard was extremely high,” Cat noted, referencing standout exhibition design entries.
“There were also diverse entries in placemaking, particularly in public infrastructure, which is excellent. It shows that the government is investing in creating great places, acknowledging the crucial role of design in building vibrant cities and environments for people,” she added.
Standout projects this year also encouraged people to think differently and question societal norms.
“Some of the top contenders encouraged people to question perceptions and a variety of societal issues. That’s when design is at its best, when it helps us interpret the world around us and understand ourselves,” Cat said.
Top designs are also placing sustainability at the forefront. “It’s about solving problems, creating strong meaning for people, and considering the total impact and life cycle of what’s being created, ensuring it’s responsible and sustainable.”
Celebrating Design’s Impact
The 2025 Australian Good Design Awards showcase just how far design can reach.
“Great design is for everybody. It’s everywhere you look, whether people realise it or not,” said Cat.
Design is expanding beyond traditional boundaries, and this year’s Awards highlight that growth.
“We’re seeing the whole definition of design grow. People often assume these Awards are rooted in product design, and that’s the DNA, but what’s really exciting and unique is how broad these Awards are. Some of the Winners are very different from what might have won in previous years,” Cat said.
“I think that’s really exciting,” she added.
”What people will get out of the Ceremony is seeing how broad design is becoming and the social influence it’s having.
“I think that was a very intentional decision by the Jury – to push what design can be.”
“In Australia, we’re so lucky to have so many phenomenal designers working across so many different areas of design. But by and large, design is still a bit under-recognised here compared to other parts of the world.”
“So what a great thing it is to be able to celebrate design and attend a fantastic Ceremony like this. There will be some surprises on the night, and I think some people will be surprised. But I also think it’s very enriching, because it helps people start understanding that the influence of design goes beyond just aesthetics.”
Designing for People and Purpose
For Sam Lanyon, Juror in Product Design with a focus on Medical and Scientific products, the Awards offer a lens on the intersection of function, safety, and beauty.
“Human centered design has to be at its core, but they also need to have some unique market insight, or some clear depth of understanding of both the users and, in medical device land, the payers. There’s this innate understanding of what the value of the product is and what it’s contributing to the ecosystem,” Sam said.
“The top entries had that. You could tell they were solving really valuable problems. That’s what I was delighted to see. We’re seeing the absolute best of the best.”
Growing up on a farm shaped Sam’s practical, highly functional perspective on design.
“I grew up on a farm, and so I tend to be on the very functional side of design. And I think one of the things about my space is that in medical design there’s a compliance element to it as well. So it’s got to be highly functional, highly valuable, and demonstrate safety and efficacy. Then it’s going to pass through regulation,” he said.
But as Sam explained, ticking those boxes is only the beginning.
“As industries mature and competition increases, you can’t afford to treat design elements as an afterthought. A holistic approach is essential. In medical devices, yes, safety, efficacy, and compliance are critical. But, they also need to be highly usable and visually appealing.
“There’s a lot to consider, and in a competitive environment, you have to address all of it. The standout products are the ones where every element – function, compliance, usability, and design – has been carefully considered. That’s why they rise to the top.”
For him, the Australian Good Design Awards highlight this balance, celebrating not only function but also form.
“There’s this hyper tactical side, which is, you know, it’s got to be safe and effective. And I think one of the things that I love being part of things like the Australian Good Design Awards is the aesthetics and the human factors piece.
“You can come in and see the guys looking at automotive design and you go, ‘Well, that is beautiful.’ Or digital and service design, the amount of thinking that goes behind it, the complexity. I’m always astounded when I hear the Jury talk about products in their space. That’s what I love the most, because I actually learn a lot. Aspects of other people’s industries that are really important are sometimes weaknesses in ours.”
Sam also highlighted the pride of representing Australian design on a global stage.
“There’s pride that comes from representing our local industry. But there are also international entries that see Australian design as worth the effort to be judged against peers. So we should all be very proud of that.”
Stimulating industry Growth
Reflecting on the Product Design Medical and Scientific category winning the 2024 Australian Good Design Award of the Year for the Da Vinci Surgical System, Sam spoke about the broader impact of the Awards.
“I think any Award Ceremony or initiative should stimulate the industry to participate. I’m really proud to be part of Good Design because its long history has shown that it gets bigger and better every year, and the entries get bigger and better every year.”
Looking ahead, he believes design will continue to evolve.
“Design is dynamic. It has to adapt and change to a whole bunch of factors, whether environmental, market trends, or people’s behaviours. AI can’t replicate human ingenuity. It’s human ingenuity that drives entries. In 2030, when we’re looking at entries for these Awards, it won’t be purely AI-based. Human creativity will still be at the core.”
Sam encourages people to be part of the Awards to celebrate the industry’s achievements.
“We all work in our industries and compete with each other, which is a good thing. I’m very proud of some of the entries, even from people I sometimes compete against, because they represent the industry. When we go to the Ceremony, we go to celebrate each other and the industry itself. It’s much bigger than the day-to-day competition.”
Tonight is the night for Good Design!
Those attending the Awards Ceremony will witness the projects shaping the future of Australian design and celebrate sustainable-led innovation, holistic design, cultural impact, and exceptional talent. With surprises in store and a wide range of disciplines represented, the 2025 Awards promise a Ceremony as dynamic and inspiring as the work itself.
Tickets to attend the 2025 Australian Good Design Awards Ceremony are now sold out. Winners will be announced online after the Ceremony.
