The Design Institute of Australia (DIA) has announced Ryan Russell, co-founder and director of architecture and design firm Russell and George, will be taking over the role of chair and president.
Russell’s appointment as the next DIA chair was announced during the organization’s AGM on November 2, 2023. He is set to assume the position at the next DIA AGM on October 31, 2024. As part of the role, Russell will serve as president and lead the National Advisory Council (NAC).
The DIA commented on the appointment in a comminque, which stated that Russell’s “experience as a designer has crossed the fields of architecture and interior design, industrial design, theatre and exhibition design. He has worked on projects as small as the design of a door handle up to the size of skyscrapers, across five continents. In 2007, he won the National Interior Design Award for Emerging Practice, and in 2010 he merged his business with Byron George, creating Russell and George.”
“Described as a strategist, futurist and entrepreneur in the industry, he now ventures into the fields of information technology, augmented and virtual reality and software development. He greatly assisted DIA national office in the transformation of its digital platforms and has a good understanding of the organisation.”
Russell’s most recognizable works are perhaps his interior commercial projects, with projects for Aésop, Ishizuka, Medibank, Society and Yakimono some of his most well known.
Current and outgoing president, Gavin Campbell said Russell was a fitting replacement for leading the DIA forward as he recognizes the “value of design, designers and the contribution the profession makes to a better Australia. He has been part of this process, and will continue the critical work as we move forward as a design community on a journey of advocacy and promotion of all design disciplines.”
Russell expressed his enthusiasm for working with DIA members, the board and the NAC to promote the progression of the design industry.
“Our design industry is at a turning point. I believe that our connections across the different design disciplines makes us stronger together, allowing us to shape our future as a collective within the broader social, economic and cultural contexts we are all experiencing,” Russell said.
