agIdeas is the largest annual international design event held in Australia. Comprising of an international design conference, studio visits, workshops, competition, secondary school forum, business breakfast, gala dinner and a huge after party.

Anyone looking to be inspired or expand their knowledge about the creative industries.
Students, design educators, design professionals and members of the business community.

Yes, all students and new graduates are eligible to enter the NewStar competition. This awards young designers with international travelling scholarships to either South Africa, Italy, UK, USA or Europe. Please see agIdeas NewStar for competition details.

The event seeks to provide inspiration.  It seeks to put designers in contact with other designers and other creative professions. It seeks the interaction of young designers with the more established members of the profession.  It seeks to offer opportunity to those with special talent. It’s about people who have something to say who have done great work, and are prepared to share their insights, experiences and opinions through that work to inspire others and perhaps lead others into new arenas. It seeks to bring designers from all over the World just a little bit closer together.

agIdeas began in 1991. It was once a small forum for students and is now one of the largest design events in the world. 2010 marks the 20th year of agIdeas. The Design Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, runs the event.

agIdeas is run by the Design Foundation. The Design Foundation was established to run the event as a not for profit event and each year a committee of design students is formed to help organise the event. The Design Foundation is overseen by its Chairman, Ken Cato and a Board of Directors.

Each year a committee of creative students is formed to help organise the event with representatives from all the major Australian design colleges and some international students. Committee members are interviewed and selected from their peers based on their ability to work under pressure, in a demanding role that requires a high degree of professionalism and motivation.

The committee is responsible for all aspects of agIdeas from pre production including design, print management, promotion, ticket sales, office administration, event design and organisation, to production including audiovisual, exhibition set up, speaker hosting, presentations, and of course post production clean up and evaluation that guides the future of the event.

The program with times and days of speakers is not available until two weeks prior to the event.

Not at this time. Unfortunately we do not have the authority to reproduce the speaker presentations nor provide transcripts.

Ken Cato the Chairman and Creative Director of the Design Foundation carefully selects all speakers in the agIdeas programs. His aim is to include people from a diverse array of the creative industry, those who have excelled in their area and pushed the boundaries of creativity. This event is not interested in presenting people who want to show portfolios. It’s about people who have something to say who have done great work, and are prepared to share their insights, experiences and opinions through that work to inspire others and perhaps lead others into new arenas.

ONLINE:  Registrations can be made on this website. Please select the new agIdeas year and then click on Purchase Tickets in the navigation bar.

PHONE:  +61 3 9416 2966

REGISTRATION FORM: Fill out a registration form from our brochure or download it from our website and mail with payment to 

Design Foundation, 10 Gipps Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 Australia

or Fax to +61 3 9415 1604

Yes. Please email contact@agideas.net or fax +61 3 9415 1604, the list of groups names and payment details.

New graduates are those student who completed their studies at the end of the previous year. Eg, a new graduate going to agIdeas 2010 must have completed their studies at the end of 2009.

Ticket collection depends on the selection of delivery method when purchasing tickets.

There are 3 options:

- POST: please allow at least two weeks from registration for ticket to arrive, longer if you do not live in Melbourne.

- COMMITTEE: The committee representative from your University or Tafe will return the ticket to you at school.

- COLLECT AT THE EVENT: On the first day of the International Design Forum tickets will be available for collection on lower level of the venue. The tickets will be held in alphabetical order by surname.

There are no single day tickets available.

This is a sell-out event. It is best to purchase tickets prior to the first day as you may miss out. If there are any tickets left, you will be able to purchase them at the reception desk at Hamer Hall. However it is very unlikely that there will be tickets left.

We do not issue replacement tickets. If you left your ticket at home you will be asked to return home to get it. This event is like all other ticketed events. No ticket, no entry!

All delegates of agIdeas events will receive the exclusive annual publication, The agIdeas Book, free with their ticket. We feel it’s important to be able to take a piece of the event home with you. This book will showcase the speakers presenting at agIdeas, essays with designers, provide information about events and has a section for suppliers and organisations that service the design community. The agIdeas Book is a wonderful resource and a great place to continue to find inspiration, motivation and ideas.

agIdeas 2010 will be held at Hamer Hall, the Arts Centre. 100 St Kilda Rd Melbourne 3000. VIC