MELBOURNE DESIGN WEEK PANEL MON 18 MAY 2026
MELBOURNE DESIGN WEEK PANEL MON 18 MAY 2026
How Good Design Can Change the World (Panel)
Design shapes more than just products or spaces - it influences how we live, work, and interact.
This panel brings together leaders from architecture, fashion, product and business to discuss how design thinking can be used to create measurable impact.
We’ll explore practical ways to assess and amplify the effects of design, from environmental outcomes to the way people experience brands and places.
THE DETAILS:
Time & Date: 6pm -8pm (AEDT) Monday 18 May 2026
Location: , Level 1/84 Rupert St, Collingwood
Investment: $19 (Talk only) or $39 (Talk + Signed Copy of Business to Brand )
Duration: 2 hours
Dhiren Das is a strategic designer who bridges urban strategy, regenerative design and materials innovation for major built projects. As director of Relative Projects, and it's innovation arm Relative Systems, Dhiren collaborates closely with developers, government, architects and advanced manufacturers to bridge strategic thinking with complex design and material layers — towards realising future-focused environments that accelerate systems change.
Louise Dyer is Head of Innovation at KeepCup, where she has spent almost two decades leading design-led approaches to sustainability, circular systems and responsible production. Working at the intersection of product design, environmental impact and behaviour change, Lou focuses on how thoughtful design can influence everyday habits and reduce waste at scale. Through her work, she continues to explore how businesses can embed sustainability into design decisions in ways that are practical, impactful and built to last.
Laura Thompson is co-founder of Clothing The Gaps, a social enterprise that uses fashion as a platform for advocacy, education and change. Through design, storytelling and community connection, Laura works to challenge perspectives, spark important conversations and create greater awareness of Aboriginal culture, identity and social justice. Through her work, she continues to push how design can be used not just as expression, but as a powerful tool for impact and meaningful change.
Fiona Killackey is an award-winning author, podcaster and business strategist with more than twenty-five years’ experience across content, brand and marketing. Founder of My Daily Business, she partners with organisations and founders to build businesses that are both commercially strong and deeply human. Working across brand strategy, marketing, systems and financial foundations, Fiona helps clients clarify their positioning, strengthen operations and create sustainable growth.
What would change if design wasn’t just how something looked, but how it worked, felt and connected?
WHY ATTEND THIS PANEL / TALK?
Design is often treated as something visual. Something aesthetic.
But the best design does far more than that. It shapes how people feel, what they trust and ultimately what they choose.
At a time where businesses are fighting for attention and people are craving meaning, good design is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s a critical part of how we connect, communicate and create impact.
In this session, you’ll walk away with:
A clearer understanding of what “good design” actually means (beyond aesthetics)
How design influences trust, perception and decision-making
Real examples of design creating meaningful impact
Practical ways to apply design thinking to your own business or work
