It’s time for debate and discussion at Saturday Indesign

Always a standout of Saturday Indesign, the official Design Discussion series — curated by our editorial team — returns in 2026 as the big day out hits Sydney. In 2025, Melbourne played host to a packed program of similarly thought-provoking discussions, which you can revisit here.

We all know that Saturday Indesign is a day full of fun, connection and, if you make it to the evening, partying (read all about this year’s Afterparty venue, with design by Richards Stanisich, here). It’s also a time for some serious design discussion and debate too. The Design Discussion series will dive into some of the hottest topics in the industry today, such as AI, as well as providing unique insight into specific projects and other themes including lighting, Milan and 1970s fashion!

Schedule your day around them — the full list of Design Discussions is below:

Anterior XL with Krause Bricks
Friday 5.30pm
Alexandria Precinct

SJB Special: Permanence and longevity at Billyard Avenue
Adam Haddow (SJB), Victoria Judge (SJB), Peter Walsh (North East Corp)

Billyard Avenue is a prestigious residential project set amidst heritage 1930s Elizabeth Bay architecture. With multiple angles and perspectives, this discussion will dive deep into the project through the lens of long-lasting materials and questions of permanence. Why does longevity matter, what are the economic arguments for it, how does it help us fight shall, short-term trends? These and more questions will be discussed with thoroughness and insight thanks to the presence of important designers who shaped the project themselves.

CDK Stone
Saturday 9.30am
Alexandria Precinct

Milan and the 1970s resurgence
Bradhly Le (RIZEN Atelier), Michael Drescher (DKO), Maryann Schmidt (Hunt & Design), Lara Patane (CDK Stone)

A designer-led discussion inspired by the key themes emerging from Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone, exploring how international design movements are influencing contemporary Australian interiors. Drawing on observations from Milan Design Week, the conversation will explore the resurgence of 1970s influences, layered materiality and sculptural forms, especially to appreciate the timeless beauty, versatility and longevity of natural stone. Looking at its application across residential, commercial and hospitality projects, the conversation will examine how these ideas are being interpreted locally through thoughtful design and craftsmanship.

Winnings
Saturday 10am
Waterloo Precinct

Where the home meets wellness and hospitality: How are designers blurring typology lines?
Grace Tham (GroupGSA), TBC

As the idea of the Australian home comes increasingly up for debate, projects ranging from house renovations to multiresidential blocks are taking cues from all kinds of different sources. The designers shaping our cities straddle genres like never before. Office projectsmtake are looking to hospitality and hotel design as well as wellness, and this panel asks: what are the non-traditional typologies merging to shape residential design today? Panellists will discuss what specialists can learn from other modes of design, what works best and what to avoid when blurring design lines, and what the future might hold for the home in Australia.

Special Lights
Saturday 10.30am
Waterloo Precinct

Designing with AI: Perspectives from university research to practice
Jet Geaghan (Woods Bagot), Kazjon Grace (University of Sydney), Katherine Turk (SJB)

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way we work and design. From techno-utopianism to predictions of the end of civilisation, we hear about it every day — but this engaging conversation will bring together people with different perspectives and expertise who can actually provide insight based on their design experience. We’ll hear from an academic expert at the cutting edge of research from the University of Sydney as well as practising designers from Woods Bagot and SJB who bring both senior project experience and a more recent graduate point of view. Whatever your place in the design world, this is the hottest of topics and a discussion not to be missed.

Space Furniture
Saturday 11am
Alexandria Precinct

The dream career: Designed or discovered?
Sue Davies (Global Design Citizens), Angela Biddle (FK), Jakob Reh (FK), Sally Campbell (BVN), Mitchell Page (BVN)

What makes a truly great career in design — and how much of it is deliberately designed versus discovered along the way? The Dream Career: Designed or Discovered? brings together design leaders and the standout talent within their studios for a candid conversation about ambition, opportunity and the choices that shape a creative life. Exploring both sides of the career equation — the individual building their path and the leaders creating the environment in which talent can thrive — the discussion will move beyond titles and traditional definitions of success to examine sponsorship, creative fulfilment, career-defining opportunities, knowing when to stay or move on, and what makes someone worth betting on. An intelligent and refreshingly open conversation about the people, decisions and unexpected moments that turn a job into an extraordinary career.

Nook Collections
Saturday 11.30am
Surry Hills Precinct

Lighting as Emotion
Genevieve Wild (Wildly Illuminating), Jason Gibney (JGDW), Ilan El (ILANEL)

How does lighting influence the way we feel? Light shapes atmosphere, emotion, wellbeing and our connection to space arguably more than any other single design element. Bringing different perspectives from the product end of the industry through to architecture and interiors, our panellists will provide insight about how thoughtful lighting design creates atmosphere, tells stories, and transforms both residential and commercial interiors.

More on the official Saturday Indesign website

Photography
From various Design Discussions 2024-2025