Education Programme

The Festival of Design Aotearoa Education Programme brings together students, educators, creative practitioners and industry leaders for two inspiring days exploring how design can transform the way we learn, create and respond to the world around us.

Through keynote presentations, conversations and panel discussions, the programme will examine the future of design education, creativity, technology and learning. International and Aotearoa-based speakers will share perspectives spanning Indigenous design, learning through play, artificial intelligence, digital creativity, immersive experiences, design thinking and new pathways into the creative industries.

Presenters include education and design leaders Mikael Sorknæs, Yeoh Guan Hong, Lee Erihāpeti Williams, Jared Forbes, Astrid Visser, Nicola Devine, Stephen Cicala, Lin Yew Cheang and Tom Eslinger.

Designed for secondary and tertiary students, teachers, educators, industry professionals and anyone interested in the future of creative learning, the programme offers an opportunity to discover new ideas, connect across sectors and consider how design can help build more imaginative, inclusive and resilient futures.

The Education Programme forms part of Festival of Design Aotearoa, a new national festival celebrating how design shapes our lives—from the objects and spaces around us to the systems, technology and stories that shape our future.