This year marks the APDG’s Awards 10th Anniversary, to which emerging designers have notably contributed. The category for APDG Award for Emerging Designer has changed titles over the years. Still, it has always been a way to recognise the creative achievement, unique perspective and exceptional potential of new talent within the industry. For emerging designers, this acknowledgment has been a professional stepping stone to continue to excel and progress in their careers.


However, this past year has been incredibly confronting for our design community. 2020 brought additional challenges to an already competitive industry. The pandemic challenged us mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially. We want to recognise all emerging designers and all the hard work and opportunities that was lost during that time. And more importantly, we want to celebrate the immense strength and perseverance to continue working and being creative even under these circumstances.

We look forward to coming together and supporting this community in our journey of rebuilding our industry.

The Emerging Designers’ Committee celebrate the previous APDG Emerging Designers Award Recipients.

2012
‘LOOT’ 
Lauren O’Flaherty

2013
‘SPIRIT HARBOUR’
 
Laura Murray

2014
‘BO MI’
 
Sally Addinsall

‘THE GREEKS’
 
Isabella Andronos

2015
‘THE BEST WAY TO KILL YOUR MOTHER’ 
 
Sarah Hopper

‘THE CRUCIBLE’
Anna Gardiner

2016
‘KAWAKI AND SHARP’ 
 
Shelley Williams

‘A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM’ 
 
Sabina Myers

2017
‘THE SOUND OF LOVE’ 
 
Laura Curtis

‘EURYDIKE AND ORPHEUS’ 
 
Genevieve Graham

2018
‘THE HORRIFIC MURDER OF GRIGORI RASPUTIN OR; HOW I STOPPED WORRYING AND LEARNED TO LOVE THE TSAR’  
Gabrielle Rowe, Clare Staunton, Heather Middleton, Kyle Jonsson, Christopher Baldwin, Ella Butler, Damien Egan

‘WAITING FOR GODOT’
Gabrielle Rowe

2019
‘SWEET TOOTH’
Emma Bourke, Sabina Myers, Barry Jarrot

‘WAKE IN FRIGHT’
Brianna Russell

The APDG Emerging Designers’ Committee was formed to give a formal voice to the already active and strong community of up-and-coming Australian designers. 

The committee seeks to enhance the representation of emerging designers within our industry, advocate for their issues, encourage opportunities through our guild and create a strong and diverse support network of emerging designers across Australia.

This committee aims to promote and cultivate the work and achievements of new designers and learn from the achievements of our peers. We want to create a supportive space for designers in the industry to develop and be recognised as part of Australia’s long-standing design tradition.

Thank you, Courtney Westbrook & Laura Anna Lucas.