We believe in the power of good design, so we devote as much time as possible to efforts that will elevate the value, perception, and recognition of design across the board. Over the years we’ve worked closely with Good Design Australia, an international design promotion organisation, on a number of design projects and initiatives. We’ve picked up a few design awards ourselves along the way!
Neil Davidson (CDG Founder, CEO and Design Innovation Director) and Sara Pontopiddan (Design Director) are members of the the Good Design Ambassadors program, which recognises pioneers of good design and consists of leading designers, architects, business leaders and changemakers who share Good Design Australia’s aspirational vision for designing a better world.
In 2022, CDG jumped at the opportunity to design Good Design Australia’s Good Design Award ‘Tick’ trophy. The design demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and highlights Australia’s sovereign industrial design and manufacturing capabilities.
In terms of sustainable criteria, the mission was to design and fabricate the trophy in Australia from 100% locally sourced recycled and recyclable materials. Through the design refinement process, the ‘slabset’ concept emerged as the favourite. Its authentic interpretation of the Good Design Australia logo combined with its ability to accommodate a wide range of recycled materials bound together by a precision extruded aluminium ‘tick’ embodied the meaning, value, presence and purpose the design team was looking for.
The trophy was designed and manufactured in collaboration with Defy, Bespoke Aluminium and Vert Design.
See the video below for the complete process.
The Australian Good Design Awards showcase the very best in design and innovation to a worldwide audience. Originally established in 1958 under the banner of the Industrial Design Council of Australia, the Awards have been setting the international standard for good design for more than six decades.
Recognised by the World Design Organisation (WDO) as Australia’s peak international design endorsement program, the Awards have a proud legacy of recognising, rewarding and celebrating the projects, people and brands behind great design.
BEST IN CLASS RAPIDAIM
WINNER AUDEARA
GOLD FIELD ORTHOPAEDICS
GOLD MAXTRAX XTREME
GOLD CSIRO BLEAT SYSTEM
GOLD CERES TAG
GOLD MONTY
GREEN MAXTRAX RECOVERY SYSTEM
By Design is all about 'design entertainment'. The TV series' explore the amazing worlds of industrial design, architecture, interior design and landscapes & gardens. ByDesign is a globally recognised brand, presenting design from around the world, curated specifically for multiple and varied markets.
Australia ByDesign: Innovations features a selection of Good Design Award Winning projects across each half-hour episode and is a real game-changer for the design industry in Australia and internationally. The series celebrates Australian design heroes remains true to its original mission to showcase design innovation at every level – product, digital, communication, service, systems and society.
Our very own Design Director, Sara Pontoppidan has been a regularly recurring host on the series, check out her featured episodes below!
Good Design Australia launched the COVID-19 Design Taskforce – a platform for the Australian design community to help in our uncertain times - in April of 2020. The Taskforce helped address immediate challenges being faced by people and organisations in relation to the impacts of COVID-19. Neil Davidson was one of a few Design Directors selected nationally to provide assistance and mentoring to companies in distress as part of the Taskforce.
The COVID-19 Design Taskforce focused on response and recovery by engaging directly with businesses, government agencies and the wider community. The core purpose was to provide strategic design-led input into the challenges faced by Australian businesses and organisations and to champion the importance of design as a tool to help address the multitude of complex social, economic and environmental challenges as a result of the pandemic.
CDG is honoured to have received the 2018 Design Institute of Australia’s ‘Design Team of The Year’ award. The DIA is a national organisation that enables Australian designers by providing knowledge, thought leadership, access and inclusivity. They have represented Australian design and designers domestically and internationally for over 80 years.
