Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon – 2024 Women in Design Award

Published on: 20 September 2024

THE WOMEN IN DESIGN AWARD WAS ESTABLISHED IN RESPONSE TO THE SIGNIFICANT GENDER IMBALANCE WITHIN LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE DESIGN INDUSTRY.

THE AWARD SEEKS TO RECOGNISE AND CELEBRATE WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE NOTABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INDUSTRY AND ENCOURAGE MORE DIVERSE AND EQUAL REPRESENTATION ACROSS DESIGN AND CREATIVE SPACES.

Dr. Caroline Butler-Bowdon is a vibrant force in the Australian design community, enriching our cities with dynamic experiences and deep connections. This year, we celebrate her extraordinary career, marked by her passion for integrating locals and visitors into our cultural tapestry. As a trailblazer, she not only revitalises our spaces but also inspires women to shine in creative fields.

Her career features groundbreaking exhibitions, influential books, and innovative projects as a dynamic cultural leader. As the former A/Deputy Secretary of Cities and Active Transport at Transport for NSW, she led efforts to enhance urban wellbeing and vibrancy. From 2019 to 2022, she championed the $400 million Greener Public Spaces initiative, transforming public spaces and improving accessibility through a range of programs including Streets as Shared Spaces, Safer Cities, NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program and Places to Swim and Places to Play.

Now, as the State Librarian at the State Library of New South Wales, she’s turning a new page, bringing her flair for designing extraordinary experiences and deepening community connections to this iconic institution.

[Winner of the 2024 Women in Design Award – Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon. Image: supplied]

We recently had the opportunity to discuss with Dr. Butler-Bowdon how exceptional design cultivates meaningful connections, amplifies joy, and improves both the functionality and connectivity of urban spaces.

“I’m very interested in design because of the difference it can make to everyday life for citizens,” said Dr. Butler-Bowdon.

“What interests me is the connections across cities, the way we design cities.”

“I’m very interested in the walkability of cities, in the connections between places, the role of major public institutions like the library, but equally in the importance and value of people being close to well-designed playgrounds, swimming pools, town halls, or street centres that encourage people to dwell and sit and enjoy life, the kind of social aspects of cities that good design brings.”

For Dr. Butler-Bowdon, elements such as walkability and the strategic placement of public amenities are not just important – they are fundamental to a vibrant, thriving city. Good design, she believes, goes beyond aesthetics.

“Good design is for everyone. It needs to be as democratic as it possibly can.”

“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.”

“The design of our places has a considerable effect on how we use them,” she added.

[Winner of the 2024 Women in Design Award – Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon]

Building on this philosophy, Dr. Butler-Bowdon is now redefining the future of the NSW State Library, showcasing the crucial role of design thinking in transforming and activating library spaces and enriching user experiences.

“Design thinking is fundamental, from the way we design services, the programs that we offer, and the kind of deep creativity that goes into the development of everything from exhibitions to public programs. It’s a finely tuned program that is connected to the audience,” she explained.

“Like all great design thinking, it’s not a linear process. There’s a lot of the team that work on all sorts of innovative solutions to make sure we meet the expectations of our visitors, and our readers.”

“We need to approach how we think about the site, programs, and services by focusing on the needs and perspectives of our users and audiences. It’s essential that we keep things fresh and contemporary, while still honouring the immense value of the history of organisations like this.”

[Winner of the 2024 Women in Design Award – Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon – State Librarian at the State Library of New South Wales . Image: supplied]

With her extensive background as a published author in architecture and urban history and 20 years of leadership experience in public institutions, Dr. Butler-Bowdon brings a rich perspective to her role.

“Libraries are at the heart of cultural heritage, and I think that’s what attracts me to design in many ways, is the history of architecture, the history of our cities and of course design too, and understanding forerunners and what happened in the past to inform the present,” she said.

Her vision for the State Library of NSW is centred on deepening its ties with the community through emphasising the breadth of the collection and partnerships.

“At the heart of everything I’ve done in my career is the belief that we need to be as open and welcoming as possible, which I think is a core principle of public institutions, ” Dr. Butler-Bowdon added.

“I’m also a huge believer that these places should bring attachment and joy into people’s lives. They’re trusted and deeply meaningful spaces.”

“How do we ensure we’re open and welcoming to everyone in the community? It starts with the design of our spaces, how we welcome people to our building, the type of programming we offer, and how we connect with our neighbourhood and right across the state and country.”

“It’s about enhancing the user and visitor experience of our site, sharing our extraordinary collections online with the widest audience, and collaborating with the 364 libraries across the state.”

This year’s Good Design Awards theme, ‘The Design Effect,’ highlights the profound ripple effects of exceptional design on individuals and communities. Libraries, through their thoughtfully designed spaces, programs, and experiences, play a crucial role in people’s lives.

“Libraries play a really major role in our town centres, cities, and regions. People also love coming to a place that is tangible and local to them. The difference that libraries make in local communities, from the very simple to the most comprehensive and extraordinary new designs, is profound,” she explained.

“The ripple effect of libraries is so massive, probably more massive than any other institution because they’re trusted. They’re places for information, social connection, and at the heart of communities, enduring and evolving over time,” she added.

[Winner of the 2024 Women in Design Award – Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon – State Librarian at the State Library of New South Wales . Image: supplied]

Dr. Butler-Bowdon highlights the importance of encouraging young designers, stressing that supporting their creativity boosts the positive impact on design and community spaces.

“To become a creative person, working in creative design fields and others, the path is often not straight, and I think all of us as leaders need to play that role to encourage the next generation.”

“We all rely on good design. And society relies on that too. It’s actually a really important role, and that’s why I always encourage people. It’s an important career. They are careers that can make a difference.”

She also passionately advocates for increasing the involvement of women in the design and creative industries.

“We want to see women, more and more women involved in design, become leaders in design,” she said.

“If me winning this Award assists in any way, then that’s a win”.

“I’m the daughter of an architect. Good design was really profound for my father. He was an artist and an architect. I was one of the lucky ones, growing up in a family that valued good design”.

“If I can add even something of value to this industry, that’s where the ripple effect kind of really comes into play. For me, the greatest joy I have is in working with other people. I get a lot of nourishment, excitement, and energy from working with people right across the creative industries.”

Rachel Wye, Managing Director of Good Design Australia congratulates Dr Butler-Bowdon for receiving this year’s Women in Design Award.

“Good Design Australia is thrilled to recognise your personal dedication to creative and place leadership. Your work connects citizens and visitors to special places, culture, and heritage through a broad range of public investment and citywide public engagement programs, including festivals, exhibitions, and books.”

“Your innovative approach to design has significantly enhanced our sense of place and community, making public spaces more vibrant and meaningful for everyone.”