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For many years I have said publicly that it is not appropriate for a design academic to take the role of DIA National President. As the DIA is the organisation that represents designers, the President should ideally be a practitioner.
Obviously I have changed my mind and it might be useful for me to explain the reason for this.
David Robertson was DIA President for 8 years from November 2000 to November 2008. During this time he consolidated and strategised all aspects of DIA operations. Big shoes to fill. As each year of his Presidency went by, the shoes got bigger. There was a distinct feeling within National Council that David’s enormous commitment and successful achievements for the DIA were inimitable. How could any successor ever hope to measure up? Who else could possibly dedicate the same amount of time and methodically set and tick-off tasks at such an astonishing rate? On reflection I think it is because this situation arose that I accepted the nomination to become President Elect in 2007. I see my contribution not only as DIA National President but as providing a period of transition within the history of the DIA.
I can’t replicate David’s mode of operation and quite frankly, I don’t want to. This will be an important aspect of my term as President. I am hopeful that my Presidency will allow other DIA members to see that all sorts of designers can effectively take on the role – even interior designers who have turned their careers to academia. I am particularly hopeful that when my term ends in 2010 there will be one or more prominent DIA members ready to take over.
But enough of my desires. What are the aspirations and priorities for the DIA that can be addressed over the next two years? Before I continue, it is necessary to acknowledge that it is only because my predecessor’s term concluded with the DIA in such a strong position that future strategic directions can be considered.
It will benefit all designers and Australia’s design sector generally if the DIA exercised its voice beyond its own membership. We need to make a concerted effort to speak out regularly in public and government forums locally, nationally and internationally not only on issues of design but also on areas that design expertise can contribute to.
An increased, coordinated and deliberate DIA presence in international forums will be a strategic move and would establish the Australian design sector as being engaged and relevant nationally and internationally.
Another initiative that Australian design can only benefit from is collaboration between the various professional bodies that represent designers. I use the term ‘designers’ broadly here to include architects. The time for the DIA to talk to the AIA is long overdue, as is the time for the DIA to recommence conversations with AGDA. Coming from a state that has one of the smallest design sectors I am a committed champion of design collaboration both in practice and professional advocacy. I have witnessed the results that cooperation and common purpose can achieve when professional organisations work together.
Finally, the DIA should begin to champion and service employed designers. The often unseen and unacknowledged practitioners who work for others – within manufacturing companies, government departments, architectural practices and other organisations. DIA’s strategy here is to provide services and benefits for both design employees and of course its traditional jurisdiction of design employers.
That’s four things in two years. David Robertson’s Presidency achieved hundreds of things in eight years. Someone else should be able to give it a go.
Joanne Cys FDIA
National President
Obviously I have changed my mind and it might be useful for me to explain the reason for this.
David Robertson was DIA President for 8 years from November 2000 to November 2008. During this time he consolidated and strategised all aspects of DIA operations. Big shoes to fill. As each year of his Presidency went by, the shoes got bigger. There was a distinct feeling within National Council that David’s enormous commitment and successful achievements for the DIA were inimitable. How could any successor ever hope to measure up? Who else could possibly dedicate the same amount of time and methodically set and tick-off tasks at such an astonishing rate? On reflection I think it is because this situation arose that I accepted the nomination to become President Elect in 2007. I see my contribution not only as DIA National President but as providing a period of transition within the history of the DIA.
I can’t replicate David’s mode of operation and quite frankly, I don’t want to. This will be an important aspect of my term as President. I am hopeful that my Presidency will allow other DIA members to see that all sorts of designers can effectively take on the role – even interior designers who have turned their careers to academia. I am particularly hopeful that when my term ends in 2010 there will be one or more prominent DIA members ready to take over.
But enough of my desires. What are the aspirations and priorities for the DIA that can be addressed over the next two years? Before I continue, it is necessary to acknowledge that it is only because my predecessor’s term concluded with the DIA in such a strong position that future strategic directions can be considered.
It will benefit all designers and Australia’s design sector generally if the DIA exercised its voice beyond its own membership. We need to make a concerted effort to speak out regularly in public and government forums locally, nationally and internationally not only on issues of design but also on areas that design expertise can contribute to.
An increased, coordinated and deliberate DIA presence in international forums will be a strategic move and would establish the Australian design sector as being engaged and relevant nationally and internationally.
Another initiative that Australian design can only benefit from is collaboration between the various professional bodies that represent designers. I use the term ‘designers’ broadly here to include architects. The time for the DIA to talk to the AIA is long overdue, as is the time for the DIA to recommence conversations with AGDA. Coming from a state that has one of the smallest design sectors I am a committed champion of design collaboration both in practice and professional advocacy. I have witnessed the results that cooperation and common purpose can achieve when professional organisations work together.
Finally, the DIA should begin to champion and service employed designers. The often unseen and unacknowledged practitioners who work for others – within manufacturing companies, government departments, architectural practices and other organisations. DIA’s strategy here is to provide services and benefits for both design employees and of course its traditional jurisdiction of design employers.
That’s four things in two years. David Robertson’s Presidency achieved hundreds of things in eight years. Someone else should be able to give it a go.
Joanne Cys FDIA
National President
