design:action! – made up of architects, interior and industrial designers and a lone architecture student – won the Green House Design Challenge at the Queensland Premier’s Design Awards last week.

The design practice group, who are part of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) Queensland branch, won the 1-hour pressure test challenge by creating a ‘handmade trade’ box to encourage social sustainability with young people.

The theme for the challenge was ‘green house’ and each team used the recycled materials provided to create a product that ‘assisted in creating homes that are smarter, stronger, greener, and healthier’.

The winning product – a timber box made from a timber crate and a recycled cloth satchel – could be hung on a front fence, to encourage kids to create toys by using everyday objects and then use the box to swap and share their creations.

Scott Bagnell, Co-President of DIA Queenland Branch and design:action! team leader explained the design: “The green minds of our young people have a pivotal role to play in our sustainable future,” he said.

“This concept looks at building smarter kids by encouraging design-led thinking and strengthening community connection.”

DIA
dia.org.au