Inspiring Fresh Ideas and New Thinking From A 'Bigger and Bolder' DO23
“The event this year was bigger, bolder, and more ambitious than last year by every measure”
“The importance of embracing one's true self to unlock creativity and personal happiness was also emphasised. Emotional intelligence, visual theory, and designers' instinct were catalysts for further exploration and understanding.”
Design Outlook 23 (DO23) continues to make a significant impact on the Melbourne design community with its energising event wrapping last month.
The event took place at Fed Square in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, following the success of the 2022 version, and brought together designers, creatives, and thought leaders to explore the latest trends and ideas in the design industry.
Attendees like Emma T from Message Media and Sharon L from MRI expressed their enthusiasm and praised the opportunity to reconnect with the design community in person.
‘DO have made such a huge impact in Melbourne Design community and put together a remarkable event,’ said Emma. ‘DO23 was an absolutely incredible experience to reconnect with the design community in person!’ noted Sharon.
DO23 featured a lineup of speakers whose insightful presentations and thought leadership shed light on various aspects of the design process.
They touched on topics such as re-discovering creativity, embracing uniqueness, creating spaces for innovation, and optimising design for productivity.
The festival aimed not only to inspire but also to provide practical insights and guidance for designers.
Grant Show, the Festival Director, initially conceived DO23 as a way to tap into his "designly" anxiety and the state of design in Australia.
The festival witnessed an increase in overall attendance, with over 1600 tickets sold for the week-long event, including open houses, meetups, the conference, and workshops.
Planning and organising such an event requires considerable effort and dedication. Show expressed his deep gratitude to everyone who supported and contributed their time to make DO23 a success.
‘The event this year was bigger, bolder, and more ambitious than last year by every measure. We increased our overall festival attendance from 1200 in 2022 to over 1600 tickets across the week from Monday to Friday for open houses, meetups, the conference, and workshops,’ said Show.
As a Festival Director knows, these events are all about inspiration but also the perspiration that goes into planning and running this type of event.
‘I want to express my deep gratitude for all the support, love, and time
you committed to helping us with DO23, an event that in many ways exceeded my expectations for what a conference could be.
‘Attendees again cherished the connection to the community and the work that Design Outlook does to bring people together and champion design,’ he added.
At DO23, several thought-provoking themes were discussed. Matters Journal particularly enjoyed conversations around defining creativity, divergent thinking intellect, and the ability to transform the mundane into something interesting.
The importance of embracing one's true self to unlock creativity and personal happiness was also emphasised. Emotional intelligence, visual theory, and designers' instinct were catalysts for further exploration and understanding.
The diverse lineup of presenters provided valuable insights. Vinita Israni delved into the concept of courage and its connection to creativity, urging individuals to step out of their comfort zones. Jonathan Lau explored the Japanese concept of "Ikigai" and the pursuit of doing what one loves.
Chi Ryan focused on the creative process, unravelling its intricacies and challenges. Jess Faccin from Canva reflected on optimization, functionality, and productivity, while the ABC's MC Monsalve delved into the scarcity of scarcity and strategic innovation.
In addition to the speakers, the workshops and satellite events at DO23 also added an engaging element to the festival. They provided opportunities for attendees to deepen their knowledge, learn new skills, and network with industry professionals.
Overall, DO23 was a resounding success, not only in terms of the speakers and their insightful presentations but also in creating a sense of community and fostering connections within the design industry.
Design Outlook, through its efforts, continues to bring people together and champion the power of design.
To learn more about DO23 and its impact on the design community, visit the official website. The event stands as a testament to the vibrancy and creativity present in Melbourne's design landscape.
And DO is coming back in 2024, with the organisers aiming to improve on the first two editions.
Next year is set to be ‘more immersive than both DO22 and DO23, and aims to redefine the boundaries of design, technology, and humanity, seeking design excellence in the realms of UX design, service design, and strategic design.’
Learn more about DO23 here