Queensland Industrial Design: Celebrating 50 Years

For 50 years, Queensland industrial designers have helped drive the economy, building businesses, creating jobs, solving design challenges and developing products that compete on a global stage. From medical technology and mining equipment to defence, transport, consumer products and advanced manufacturing, Industrial Design has been a catalyst for success across our state, shaping the education, careers and contributions of generations of Queensland designers.

Industrial Design education in commenced in Queensland in the mid 1970s at Queensland Institute of Technology's (QIT) Gardens Point Campus (now QUT), where the state's first dedicated Industrial Design course launched, laying the foundation for five decades of design talent and innovation.

Join us as we celebrate this legacy, proudly supported by the Design Institute of Australia, QUT and Gregory Meyer Industrial Design.

Our Panellists

Speaking to the Past

Robert Geddes FDIA: DIA Hall of Fame and QIT/QUT Educator
Gordon Stuart FDIA: ID4, Queensland's First Industrial Design Consultancy; worked with Edwin Codd, founder of Industrial Design at QIT

Speaking to the Current State of Play

Jonathan Tighe: Head of Industrial Design, Intellidesign
Sara Pontoppidan: Industrial Design Director, Clandestine Design Group | Good Design Ambassador | Board Member, Norwegian Australian Chamber of Commerce

Speaking to the Future

Rebekah Davis: Director, Queensland College of Art and Design, Griffith University
Shayne Beaver: Lecturer in Industrial Design, Queensland University of Technology

MC: Rebecca McIntosh

When: 30 September 2026, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Where: St John's Anglican Cathedral, Brisbane
Tickets: $45 DIA Members / $60 Non-Members

Tickets include canapes and first drink. Further drinks available at the bar.

For DIA Accredited Designers, attendance at this event is worth 2 CPD Points.

The DIA wishes to acknowledge our supporters of this event: Queensland University of Technology, Gregory Meyer Industrial Design, dotdash and IntelliDesign.

Contact the host of 50 Years of Industrial Design QLD