2023: Sustainability, Social Responsibility and Design Excellence

As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good time to reflect on the progress and accomplishments of the past 12 months. For DesignInc studios in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Nguluway DesignInc, it has been a year of community engagement, growth and celebration.

One of the standout features of the year has been the studios’ commitment to social and cultural activities that contribute meaningfully to the community and the environment. Through various initiatives, DesignInc has demonstrated its dedication to giving back to the community it serves. 

Adelaide raised funds for Hutt St Centre – which has supported South Australians experiencing homelessness for nearly 70 years – and collected unused workwear from wardrobes to gift to Dress for Success, an organisation that empowers women to break the cycle of poverty. Sydney hit the streets and joined World Pride celebrations. Brisbane participated in Loud Shirt Day 2023 – which raised over $210,000 for Hear and Say, a charity that provides services for children and adults with hearing loss. Brisbane also participated in the Dining for Dementia event, which raised over $500,000 for the Qld Brain Institute.

All studios have been actively involved in Reconciliation activities and are in various stages of their Reconciliation Action Plans. Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne studios gained endorsement for their first ‘Reflect’ RAP through Reconciliation Australia, and our Perth studio is close to achieving the same. As part of their ‘Innovate’ RAP, Sydney launched a ‘Designing from Country’ methodology and, together with Nguluway DesignInc, hosted a NAIDOC week event on Cockatoo Island and a panel discussion hearing the voices of young First Nations designers. Perth attended a community day at Winjan Aboriginal Corporation to assist with landscaping improvement activities, and their whole team participated in a Walk for Reconciliation in Kaarta Koomba (Kings Park).

Another notable achievement has been DesignInc’s commitment to sustainability. Melbourne and Sydney launched their first Sustainability Action Plans. DesignInc Melbourne has been a carbon-neutral studio since 2019. Our other studios have taken significant steps to reduce their carbon footprint and minimise their impact on the environment, and in 2024, we will move toward achieving carbon neutrality nationally.

DesignInc is committed to employee wellbeing with initiatives promoting physical and mental health. The studios recognise that a healthy workforce is essential to their success, and they have taken proactive steps to support their team members to thrive and grow professionally. DesignInc Sydney moved to a new studio to accommodate their growing team, and the Property Council of Australia’s Innovation + Excellence Awards shortlisted them for the Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Award. We celebrated the contributions of long-standing members of our team. Richard Stafford celebrated 15 years since Stafford Architects merged with DesignInc Adelaide. Melbourne’s Rohan Wilson marked 30 years at DesignInc! This year, we also welcomed three new directors to the team. Cameron Martin was appointed as a director in our Sydney studio, and most recently, Ben Luppino and Sonya Montgomerie were appointed as directors for Adelaide.

DesignInc has celebrated a spate of award-winning projects this year. PHIVE—Parramatta Civic Hub graced the cover of Jan/Feb issue of Architecture Australia and collected numerous awards and accolades over the year, including the prestigious Holdmark Innovation Award. Wulanda Recreation + Convention Centre won Public Architecture and a Commendation for Sustainability at the South Australian Architecture Awards and Community Facility of the Year in the Parks and Leisure regional awards. Glenroy Community Hub received a Commendation for Sustainability at the Victorian Architecture Awards. The Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership in East Melbourne received a Commendation at the Learning Environments Victoria/Tasmania Chapter and Australasian Awards. It was among the finalists at the Victorian Premiers Design Awards. These awards testify to DesignInc’s commitment to design excellence and innovation and serve as a source of pride for everyone involved.

As we wrap up the year, DesignInc would like to sincerely thank our clients and suppliers for their continued support and collaboration. We are grateful for the opportunities that have allowed us to pursue our passion for sustainable and socially responsible design, and we look forward to continuing our work together in the future. We would like to express our gratitude to our team members for their dedication and hard work throughout the year. We recognise this has been a challenging time, and we appreciate your resilience and commitment to our shared values. As we head into the holiday season, we wish everyone a safe and restful break.