Australian International Design Awards

Responsibilities of the Division

Works closely with key stakeholders in the design industry to demonstrate to Australian businesses the strategic advantages of investment in design.

Integral to Standards Australia’s role is the facilitation of a safe and sustainable environment for all Australians. Supporting professional industrial design helps to foster the development of new products and emerging technologies, which in turn play a part in delivering functional and safe products to Australian consumers.

Key focus areas include:

• Australian International Design Awards

• industry seminars on design and innovation

• national and international exhibitions

• Student Design Awards

• assistance to Australian inventors

• various research activities

Through initiatives such as those above, Standards Australia remains committed to fostering a strong culture of design and innovation and enhancing Australia’s global competitiveness.

Australian International Design Awards

The Australian International Design Awards [ADA] is Australia’s only national design awards program, recognised by the Commonwealth Government for its important role in promoting Australian design both nationally and internationally. The ADA is Australia’s promotional representative for the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design - ICSID. The aims of the ADA are to present to the Australian public and the world the best examples of Australian design and innovation; and the high quality of design expertise available to manufacturers in Australia and overseas.

Standards Australia’s business is built on continuous improvement and working with all industries to help them achieve international best practice. Products entered in the Australian International Design Awards are a tangible expression of the innovative thinking that occurs in our technical committees every day. Through the Australian International Design Awards, Standards Australia continues to help the design industry set and maintain standards of design excellence; and keeps raising the bar to help ensure Australian products remain competitive in the global marketplace.

Since acquiring the program in 1991, Standards Australia has grown the Awards to service an increasing number of design disciplines in Australia. The national interest program exists to raise the profile and significance of professional design in Australia in the development of globally competitive products.

Major achievements

Since the 1950s the Australian International Design Awards has recognised some of Australia’s greatest design icons including the Hills Hoist, Victa Lawn Mower, first Holden Ute, Solar Sailor, Cochlear Ear Implant, Australian Test Series Cricket Helmet and many others.

Products recognised by the program cover a wide range of industry sectors including:

• medical and scientific

• transport and automotive

• business and industrial

• consumer, sport and leisure

• building and construction

• furniture and lighting

• mining and agriculture

• fashion, textiles and interiors

International recognition of design excellence

Companies recognised with an Australian International Design Mark for good design or an Australian International Design Award for design excellence are given the opportunity to licence these registered trademarks for use in the packaging and promotion of their Award winning products. These internationally recognised symbols of good design and design excellence have enhanced the saleability of a wide variety of innovative products. As many innovative companies have discovered, these trademarks deliver real commercial benefits and offer an effective means for product differentiation at the point-of-sale.

For more information, visit www.designawards.com.au