As the standout day in the design calendar each year, Saturday Indesign is filled with fun. Professional designers and design enthusiasts traverse the city – this time, Sydney – to meet like-minded people, with the event providing an especially important opportunity for younger designers to network.

Despite the party antics that get going in the afternoon and culminate in the official Afterparty, Saturday Indesign is also about serious ideas. A series of panel talks curated by the Indesignlive editorial team brings together important figures from across the wider industry to give audiences insight into some of the hottest topics of the day.

This year, Winnings hosted a discussion on adaptive reuse. Moderated by Timothy Alouani-Roby, the panellists each had some significant project experience in reuse: John Prentice from Woods Bagot, Sarah Hurst from FK (who also travelled from Melbourne for the event) and Yi-han Cao from Tzannes. Drawing on their international experience, these experts emphasised something of the alchemy of adaptive reuse – just how amazing it can be to successfully reimagine the use of a space from one thing to another. Each drew on some personal anecdotes and design inspiration too, with mention of New York’s High Line project as well as Sydney’s Quay Quarter Tower, all while a packed audience at the showroom listened on.

Over at Kaolin in the afternoon, the question of Australian design aesthetics and their evolution was on the agenda. Having developed significantly, shaped by climate, regional identity and the country’s multiculturalism, the panellists explored whether a singular Australian aesthetic remains relevant today. Connection to Country are of course the most important aspect of this debate, and artist Nicole Monks provided insight from Indigenous perspective. She was joined by Bradhly Le of newly launched RIZEN Atelier and Lorena Gaxiola.

In the world of kitchen design, La Cornue hosted a talk on how heritage and innovation intersect as Australian designers look to European traditions, particularly French cuisine, for inspiration in blending luxury with cutting-edge technology. Harleen Grewal of Alexandra Kidd Interior Design joined Thomas Hamel and Eva-Marie Prineas of Studio Prineas for a discussion hosted, fittingly, by French design editor, Clémence Carayol.

Related: Saturday Indesign was a design lover’s playground

Returning to the theme of sustainability, a discussion at Jardan focused on how considerations of circularity and reuse cannot simply be an afterthought. Instead, the experts explained how sustainability is central to the design process from the very start – before a concept is even sketched. Chris Fox joined Tilt’s Tim Phillips and Nick Garnham from Jardan for this discussion.

At Special Lights, Jan Henderson moderated a discussion on lighting in outdoor space by focusing on the thoughtful balance of light and shadow. These elements influence atmosphere, mood and function, especially in residential settings. Designers are exploring how natural lighting and shade can enhance both aesthetics and environmental sustainability in outdoor spaces, with this panel comprising Alexandra Kidd, Jason Gibney and Sally Evans.

Women designers and circular economy were the topics under discussion at Seeho. This panel explored how female designers have been pioneers in this space, challenging traditional, extraction-based modes of design and offering a more sustainable, long-term vision. Luxury Travel editor Madelin Tomelty moderated the talkm joined by Tracey Wiles of Woods Bagot, Dr Fiona Young of Hayball, and Laura Hamilton-O’Hara of the LFIA.

Lastly, the often-overlooked world of product design, especially hardware choices like door handles and metal finishes, took a welcome position under the spotlight at Savage Design. Specification choices at the level of hardware play a crucial role in the success of architectural and interior design projects, and the panellists here considered the respective strengths of spatial and product designers, as well as how they can best work together. Kate Goodwin led the discussion alongside Cox Architecture’s Ingrid Kelly, Joel Savage of Savage Design, and Dale O’Brien of Gray Puksand.

Saturday Indesign will return in 2025 – get ready to join us (again), and a huge thank you to all those who spoke as panellists, hosted as showrooms, and attended as spectators again in 2024.

Next up: Saturday Indesign official Afterparty celebrates the day in Signature style