3 minute read
From the President & CEO
From the President
By Ingrid Hornung, President, Design Matters National, 2020-2022
About six months ago, on 16 December, the amalgamation of Design Matters National with the BDAWA occurred. A week before that, the pool of talented, NT-based colleagues at the BDANT also voted unanimously to join Design Matters National.
We haven’t looked back since - when you have a shared vision (and values) and you’re focused on moving towards its manifestation, there’s no time for gazing into the rear-vision mirror.
Our vision for a truly national body with the capability, capacity and standing to represent the best interests of Building Designers, Thermal Performance Assessors, Interior Designers, and associated professionals, is coming to fruition.
The signs are everywhere. Entries into the 2021 Awards are coming in from all corners of Australia. Webinars are streaming into offices in every state and territory. Face-to-face events are seeing Members gather in NSW, WA, NT, and Victoria every other week. Publications are being perused in tropical Darwin and frigid Melbourne. And the conversation and camaraderie on the Member-only Facebook group has no boundaries.
Of course, six months is just a small fraction of the 37 years that we’ve been around; we have always valued our Members’ diverse voices and ideas and honoured their work ethic, professionalism and commitment to enhancing their clients’ lives with their skills.
What has become apparent in recent months is the collective openness to welcoming change and embracing the benefits of drawing on 2,000+ colleagues’ expertise all around Australia.
If you could do with some support to thrive and survive in these challenging times, and you are not yet a member, please join us on this exciting journey. There’s plenty of room inside this deep talent pool.
While our members are changing lives for the better, Design Matters National is committed to securing their future, and a better future for the next generation of built-environment professionals.
From the CEO
By Peta Anderson, CEO, Design Matters National
As the entries for this year’s DMN Building Design Awards #DMNAwards pour in, I cannot express how exciting it is to see more and more participants from NSW and ACT ‘throwing their hats in the ring’ and showcasing their incredible work.
The Awards are a time to show the world the exceptional work of Building Designers. Not only the big projects but also the smaller projects that really make the biggest difference to peoples’ lives are all presented to display the full breadth of our Members’ expertise. From magnificent homes to alterations and additions, there’s a category for every Building Designer right across the country.
Some participants have entered one large project across multiple categories; others, a stunning bathroom, kitchen, alteration, or multi-residential project, or one of my favourites - materials excellence. So, if you have a project demonstrating how steel, glass, bricks, timber, concrete, lighting, natural stone, or light-weight or recycled materials can be beautifully used, now is the time to get your design out there.
Most (if not all) Building Designers are extremely time poor and in the past we have found Members have not entered the Awards because of the work it takes to pull an entry together, mainly in writing the brief. We’ve made that part easy this year by offering a free service to all entrants, whereby they simply tell the DMN team (in a meeting or over the phone) about the project, and the team will send back a transcript ready for editing then entering. After that, all that’s left to do is collate the photos and you’ll be ready to submit by 2 August.
The DMN Awards are Australia’s biggest awards celebrating Building Designers. I look forward to sharing this spectacular event with all of our Members, their families, colleagues and friends. And remember, all entrants receive a free ticket to the gala evening.
Best Kitchen Design is one of the 24 Residential Design Awards in the 2021 Building Design Awards. There are a record 51 Awards on offer this year.
