In this episode of But Why? A Design Podcast, Eugene and Stirling are joined by Gavin Campbell, a designer and design advocate with more than 40 years of experience across interior design, architecture, project leadership, branding and the broader design profession.
Gavin’s career has included major commercial, healthcare and infrastructure projects, alongside longstanding involvement with the Design Institute of Australia (DIA), including as National President. Throughout that time, he has maintained a strong interest in what defines good design, the responsibility designers carry, and how the profession recognises and promotes quality.
Together, we explore the topics of Why do we need design awards?
Our conversation examines what design awards should be recognising and whether some have become more focused on aesthetics, marketing and commercial opportunity than good design. Gavin challenges awards programs to look beyond the ‘beauty pageant’, arguing for greater honesty, stronger criteria and a deeper interrogation of the design process - including the constraints, compromises and decisions that shaped the final outcome.
This episode touches on:
* The construct of putting the word “designer” in front of a product doesn’t automatically make it good design.
* The idea of ‘award washing’ and whether the term ‘award-winning’ has become devalued.
* The importance of clear criteria, rigorous judging and understanding what an awards program actually stands for.
* Potential conflict between sponsorship, entry fees and maintaining the independence and integrity of awards.
* Why social, cultural and environmental responsibility should be embedded within good design rather than treated as separate award categories.
* The value of asking designers what didn’t work and unresolved challenges.
* How awards programs offer opportunity for design teams to stop, reflect and understand the value they created.
We hope you enjoy.
Keep questioning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep asking, But Why?
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Show Links
* Design Institute of Australia
* Dieter Rams – Ten Principles for Good Design
* Victor Papanek – Design for the Real World
Produced by us.
Music by Jessica Hooks.
