Design Assembly is delighted to present our Spring Conversations panel discussion series for September 2022. Design For Everybody will invite 3 local creatives, (or creative adjacent individuals) to engage in an authentic discussion and Q&A about inclusion in the creative industry;

What does it mean to be inclusive in design?
What is 'lived experience' and how does it affect our work?
How can we collectively make better design for everyone?

Our Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) panellists:

Red Nicholson — Curative

Red is a proud disabled person, a father of three young boys, and a long-suffering Warriors fan. He started his career in the education sector, working across a range of teaching and leadership roles. These experiences helped develop a persistent curiosity and a passion for social justice. He now works as Innovation Director at Curative, a boutique creative agency inspiring positive social change. Red believes strongly in the vision of an equitable and diverse Aotearoa, where all people are valued and supported to live extraordinary lives. As both a media consumer and producer, Red is a firm believer in the power of stories to combat stereotypes and shift societal assumptions about what people are capable of.

Adeline Salkeld — RUSH

Adeline is the Design Director at RUSH where she drives a culture of design excellence, applying her pragmatism and empathy to help further the company’s purpose of designing and building technology to better serve humankind. Her 20+ year career as a digital experience specialist draws from a foundation in graphic design coupled with a fascination for how technology can impact and influence human behaviour. This impressive skillset has contributed to the success of many clients including Z Energy, Auckland Transport, ASB, and Maori Television. Adeline is an advocate for inclusivity, diversity and female leadership which she champions and celebrates within her industry.

Jason Biggs — The Strengths Collective

Jason helps workplaces and their people hum through coaching, workshops and self-sustaining tools that help you short circuit the process and DIY. His method helps to identify and play to yours, your teams’ and your organisation’s strengths, have better, regular and more impactful coaching conversations, and focus on the important stuff. Jason has worked in the corporate sector for over 20 years, marketing brands like NESCAFE, KLEENEX and HUGGIES. He thrives helping people understand why they do what they do and to leverage this to get what they want. He's a commercial guy at heart so that means delivering good business outcomes. In the last five years he's coached hundreds of people either as individuals or teams and worked with organisations such as Spark, Nestle, Freightways, New Zealand Blood Service, Chapman Tripp, Downer, Fonterra, Kiwicare, The Tile Depot.

Daphne Haurua — Pohewatanga

Daphne is an inspiring designer based in Tamaki Makaurau, Aotearoa who work alongside businesses, organisations and a diverse range of communities to design creative and meaningful solutions that whakapiki te mana o te kaupapa. As a practising designer, Daphne focuses on how we can weave together Māori and Pacifica ways of thinking and inclusive practices within contemporary settings. Her design skills include branding, visual communications, publications, corporate design, documentary and videography.

Thanks to our Design Assembly Partners BookPrint, mychillybin, Portfolio, Rocketspark and Streamtime. Event artwork by Lindsay Yee and Abhi Topiwala

Not in Auckland? Check out our Wellington and Christchurch Spring Conversations.
Not a DA Friend? Sign-up to help DA help you! We've got options for everyone.