design foundation

The Design Foundation is a not for profit organisation established to encourage excellence in design by supporting, promoting and enhancing the professional development of designers by sharing ideas and insights of some of the world's creative leaders. Founded by Ken Cato in 1991 and run by a board of directors, the Foundation was established to run the agIdeas International Design Week. With support from, Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI), the world’s most prestigious industry body, and its members, agIdeas is run annually by the Design Foundation.

Philosophy - Design is Difference

Good design makes a difference to the way we interpret and create new solutions and concepts to meet the challenges of today and the future.
To interpreting business strategy and to business performance
To our quality of life
To how we reflect our cultural sophistication and cultural identity
To the visual presentation of our world
To our ability to communicate within and between industries and with clients.

Celebrate the Difference within Design

Since 1990 agIdeas has demonstrated that design excellence is inspired by creativity in the broadest sense. For this reason the agIdeas program explores a diverse perspective of the creative industries and celebrates what this diversity has to offer.

Increasingly design is an essential component of all industries. This ranges from the visual presentation of business to the increased efficiency and effectiveness of products and services. Excellence in design is crucial to our competitiveness and status on the world stage in the present climate of rapid globalisation.

agIdeas is endorsed by Alliance Graphique Internationale, and is now one of the largest events of its kind in the world.  The event is organised by a committee of young designers under the aegis of Ken Cato, past AGI president and presently AGI Education Director. Ken is the founder and chairman of the Design Foundation.  The committee provides a core group of students each year with an exceptional opportunity to develop the skills necessary to stage a world class design event. These young people act as ambassadors to visiting designers and establish networks around the world from which many have gained employment and work experience.

Core Objectives

To encourage innovation, creativity and excellence in design
To inspire, motivate and generate world class designers
To create a bridge between the design academies and the profession
To assist designers in building professional skills and networks
To bring together designers from all over the world and reduce the geographic isolation of Australian Design in an international industry
To promote young designers from Australia to the industry both nationally and internationally
To promote the benefits of design within the broader business sector and community