DIA Hall of Fame

For over 25 years, the DIA Hall of Fame program has celebrated the work of eminent design visionaries, and leaders. It is the enduring record of the pioneers and ambassadors, and their significant contribution to Australia’s economic development and cultural identity.

Induction into the DIA Hall of Fame signifies an outstanding body of work, contribution to the Australia design industry or achievement in furthering the profession. It is the ultimate industry recognition for design leaders across all design disciplines.

Over 140 designers have been inducted since the program’s inception in 1996. Their citations are in alphabetical order and can also be viewed by year and discipline. Inductees include Susan Cohn, Collette Dinnigan, Garry Emery, Grant and Mary Featherston, Akira Isogowa, Khai Liew, Marc Newson and many more.

Nominations and Eligibility

Anyone can nominate a member of the design community for the DIA Hall of Fame. Nominations are open for Australian designers who have made a significant contribution to Australia’s economic development and cultural identity. Nominations to the DIA Hall of Fame are not required to be current or past DIA members though membership is always encouraged.

In ensuring that the DIA Hall of Fame is representative of our diverse design industry, the DIA welcomes nominations of individuals from various geography, cultural, age, gender and ability backgrounds. All nominations are strictly confidential, and the person being nominated should not be advised of the nomination or approached for information.

To find out more about the nomination process please email community@design.org.au

Nominations for 2026 opening soon.

2025 Hall of Fame Inductees

Professor N'arwee't Carolyn Briggs AM

DESIGN EDUCATION
Professor N'arwee't Carolyn Briggs AM is a highly respected Boonwurrung Elder, cultural leader, and spatial design collaborator whose lifelong contribution has significantly influenced Australian design thinking. Her practice merges Indigenous knowledge systems, language reclamation, and spatial storytelling to advance both cultural revitalisation and contemporary design discourse.
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Paul Charlwood

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Paul Charlwood is an influential industrial designer based in Melbourne, recognized for his substantial contributions to design practice, education, and advocacy in Australia. Passionate about design in all its facets, he has engaged with many areas of design culture during his career.
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Paul Huxtable

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Paul Huxtable has made a significant contribution to industrial and engineering design, product development, design export, and design business development in Australia during a career spanning five decades. Paul’s work has been recognised by Powerhouse Museum Selections (2005 and 2008), a Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award (2008), Korean Design Council Selections (2005 and 2008), and multiple Australian Good Design Awards.
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Geraldine Maher

INTERIOR DESIGN
Geraldine Maher is an outstanding Australian interior designer whose career has made a sustained and influential contribution to interior design practice in Australia. She is the founder and director of Maher Design and is widely respected for her intellectual rigour, design integrity and commitment to excellence across complex civic, institutional and cultural projects.
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Cal Swann

GRAPHIC DESIGN
Cal Swann is a distinguished design academic and typographer with a career spanning over fifty years, notably impacting graphic design education in both the UK and Australia. His books, including Techniques of Typography (1969) and Language and Typography (1991), are considered influential in design education.
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