Join us for an exclusive Monday evening walking tour of the new IKEA store at Sylvia Park. This guided experience offers an insightful look at the history of the iconic brand and how it translates its philosophy to life in Aotearoa. We’ll hear directly about the New Zealand research that shaped the store layout and product localisation, addressing the unique needs of our people and place. Discover how thoughtful design and the concept of democratic design influences everything from furniture to store strategy. Finish the tour with networking and a taste of Sweden, complete with IKEA snacks at the café.

Join Bec Snelling (Snelling Studio) and Emma Fox (Studio Emma Fox + Massey University) for a vital dialogue on place-based making in Aotearoa. Bec shares her journey of transitioning a global brand to entirely local, regenerative production, prioritising material integrity and generational longevity. Emma brings her perspective as a researcher and educator, exploring how interdisciplinary collaboration can radically shift existing production frameworks toward sustainability. Together, they examine how combining traditional craft with modern innovation fuels authenticity and elevates our national identity. Discover how a commitment to “The New Local” creates enduring commercial, cultural, and ecological value.

Join journalist and Creative Director of NZ Fashion Week Dan Ahwa and Porter James Founder Joshua Heares (ex-advertising) for a cross-disciplinary fireside chat. They explore the transition from media strategy to tangible product, asking: How does the “editorial eye” for composition and cultural narrative translate to building an enduring brand? This conversation delves into how a love for art, fashion, and the local landscape informs the creation of intentional objects and spaces. Discover how curating the modular wardrobe or the garden demands the same clarity of purpose and commitment to a truly well-designed life.

This session delves into the essence of place and craft. Through rigorous research and evocative storytelling, Briar Hickling demonstrates how to create unique spatial experiences that transcend disciplines, encompassing architecture, interiors, product, and graphic design. Drawing on her extensive work across the Asia-Pacific region, Briar will showcase projects deeply embedded in culture, context, and history. Her approach focuses on crafting immersive, richly layered environments that nurture a strong sense of community and connection to place.

This panel dives into the transformative power of design and urban development in shaping our cities. We explore how visionary project leadership and cultural strategy drive social impact. The discussion will focus on the difference between mere development and true community building, examining the vital role of Māori design principles and public art, and active open spaces in embedding narrative and identity into the urban fabric. Featuring experts in arts policy, cultural placemaking, recreational environments, and large-scale project vision, the session explores how storytelling through play can strengthen social connection. Ultimately, we are challenged to measure design not by aesthetics, but by its ability to build a deeper sense of belonging in our urban centres.

Waka Moana by Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei), created with support from LandLAB for Auckland Council. Image by Jay Farnworth courtesy of Auckland Council.

Join Vincent Lowe, former Global Art Director for Nike Running, for a strategic look at how design creates a universal yet authentic sense of “Place” for global brands. Drawing on experience with Apple, Google, and adidas, Vinny explores how creative strategy, digital experiences, and retail design build cohesive brand identity across continents and communities. This keynote demonstrates how designers move beyond aesthetics to ensure large-scale, commercial efforts are rooted in purpose and cultural resonance, effectively bridging the digital and physical worlds to foster genuine human connection.

In 2021, Whanganui was designated New Zealand’s sole UNESCO City of Design, placing its unique creative identity on a global stage. This session explores what it means to be a City of Design, and how Whanganui’s rich cultural heritage – from centuries of Māori design to contemporary practice – offers a blueprint for human-centered futures. We will challenge the traditional notion of design by examining how indigenous perspectives, sustainable practice, and a sense of collective purpose can be woven into our work, strengthening both local community and global connections.

Discover why Whanganui is Aotearoa’s only UNESCO City of Design on an exclusive day-long trip. 30 design professionals will be flown to Whanganui for an immersive journey into the city’s unique creative identity. Hosted by locals, you’ll experience a selection of design, arts, and culture sites firsthand, including industry tours and talks that explore how the city is shaping its future while honouring its rich heritage. We’ll delve into the diversity of design and learn how co-design principles are creating an inclusive and innovative community. This is a rare opportunity to connect with a city where design thinking drives development.

Itinerary, Saturday 7th March 2026

• 8.15am Arrive Auckland Domestic Terminal, Check in with Air Chathams
• 9.15am Depart Auckland
• 10.15am Arrive Whanganui
• 11.00am – 3.00pm Visit Sights
• 4.15pm Depart Whanganui
• 5.15pm Arrive Auckland Domestic Terminal

This event is free to attend. Expressions of interest open 18th December and close 18th January. Invitations extended in February.

This case study explores the vital role of culture and community in shaping an authentic national identity through design. Pallavi will detail the process of creating the destination brand for the Kingdom of Tonga, focusing on how thorough research into local motifs, language, and history guided the outcome. Discover how feedback from the Tongan community ensured the brand remained rooted in its deep purpose. The showcase will include the cohesive identity across logo, typography, and digital collateral, demonstrating how respectful representation and cross-cultural links can create a welcoming, contemporary brand that is a lasting expression of national pride.

Explore how sustainability and design converge to shape a resilient future for Aotearoa. Drawing on twenty years of practice, this session invites designers to move beyond linear, extractive models toward cyclical, regenerative systems. Using Te Takarangi as a strategic compass rather than a visual symbol, we will examine how to anchor creative work in whakapapa and ecological context. Discover how this dynamic framework provides a shared language for collaboration, guiding diverse disciplines toward ethical reciprocity and long-term impact. Learn to navigate complexity by orienting your practice toward the enduring care of both people and whenua.