Auckland Design Week’s highly anticipated Design Conference is set to captivate audiences on Thursday, 6th March 2025, with an extraordinary line-up of thought leaders and innovators from the design world. Headlining the conference, hosted in Mt Eden, Auckland, is internationally renowned design visionary Karim Rashid, who will deliver the keynote address, The Future of Design, presented by Lexus.
In his talk, Rashid will share his transformative vision of a future where technology, creativity, and humanity intertwine to craft seamless, inspiring experiences. Rashid will explore how the world can navigate the digital age, evolving to shape meaningful human interactions and elevate everyday life.
The conference features an exciting program of insightful panel discussions, including:
Beautiful Business: Why Good Design is Key to Business Success
It’s B-Corp Month in March, and ADW will be celebrating that with a special panel featuring B-Corp-certified entrepreneurs – including Amanda Niu, co-founder of sustainable furniture and homewares brand, Eva and Deadly Ponies co-founder Steve Boyd – who have leveraged design to drive their business success. This session will explore the pivotal role of design in building strong, resonant brands that align with sustainability and social responsibility. Gain insights into how prioritizing design can create value, foster trust, and elevate your business.
Design and Identity: Healing through Indigenous Knowledge and Ritual
How can design heal? Warren & Mahoney’s Te Ari Prendergast explores this question by examining the role of healing, ritual, and knowledge in design. From restoring mātauranga Māori to integrating Indigenous practices with modern technologies, this talk highlights how design can mend past injustices, restore connections to the land, and revitalize cultural traditions. Drawing parallels with Indigenous approaches worldwide, including Australia, Japan, and South America, Te Ari shares how design processes can heal communities and the designers themselves, creating a foundation for a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Beyond AI: Designing with Emerging Technologies
An exploration of groundbreaking tools such as 3D printing, VR, AR, robotics, and more, this panel delves into how these technologies are revolutionizing the design process. Industry experts Matt Watkins (Special Studio), William Harbidge (JPA Design), Martin Varney (MAKE Architects), and Rui Peng (Critical) will discuss the unexpected benefits, sustainability impacts, and global reach these tools enable and how emerging technologies are transforming workflows and redefining client interactions.
Balancing Risk & Reward: Ethics, Cybersecurity, and Emerging Technologies
Presented by Flight Coffee
This compelling session addresses the ethical complexities of adopting new technologies in design. Featuring Dr. Sarah Elsie Baker (Media Design School), Anthony Cooke (Clyde & Co LLP), Frances Valintine (academyEX) and Heath Waugh (Matter Studio). The panel will tackle issues such as intellectual property, cybersecurity risks, and the responsible integration of automation into the creative process, provide practical strategies for safeguarding designs, and challenge attendees to embrace innovation thoughtfully, balancing the potential risks with the productivity needed to meet modern demands.
Designing Futures: Women Shaping Innovation Through Technology
Presented by Fisher & Paykel
Highlighting the contributions of female leaders in architecture & interiors, graphics & advertising, film & animation, and industrial & product design, this panel brings together Laura Heynike (Pocketspace Interiors), Laura Cibilich (RUN Aotearoa), Jennifer Michtavy (HyperCinema), and Lauren Palmer (Fisher & Paykel). Discussions will focus on the interplay of creativity and AI, the ethical use of automation, and practical strategies for designers to embrace innovation and shape the future of their industries.
The day will culminate with the ‘Lexus Evening Soirée’ featuring special guest Karim Rashid. Guests can toast to the future of design while enjoying cocktails and networking in an elegant setting.
Tickets and corporate tables for the conference are selling fast and can be purchased at www.aucklanddesignweek.com – Early Bird pricing expires Wednesday, 5 February.
