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About Data Informed Design

A practice evolving.

THE DATA INFORMED DESIGN CONFERENCE (DiD) convenes world leading data, design, engineering and policy practitioners for dynamic conversations that explore the process and methods, emerging tech and data science, and meaningful impacts of data informed design and place based decision making.

Held in the spectacular RMIT Capitol Theatre, Day 1 of the program is a mix of panels and conversations between the worlds leading practitioners in design, tech, data, and civic society. 

We are pairing leading practitioners for dynamic conversations that will mix data with design, theory with practice, artists with engineers, advanced technology with human centred practice, urgent action with long term thinking.

See curated conversations between industry luminaries like Sarah Williams (head of the Civic Data Design Lab and the Levanthal Centre for Advanced Urbanism at MIT) in conversation with Dan Hill (Head of Melbourne School of Design), and Katherine Maher (outgoing CEO of the Wikepedia Foundation) in conversation with Seb Chan (CEO of ACMI), and many more.

We believe that good design and policy responses in our urban environments can go a long way to addressing some of the significant challenges we are facing now and into the future. To step up to these challenges, our profession needs new tools and skills to support better evidence based decision making. These tools and skills should be informed by practice and generative and robust discussion from diverse and divergent perspectives. 

Our intent with the Data Informed Design conference is to share the inspiration, expertise, and sometimes challenging ideas from leaders from across the world (and sectors) with our colleagues working across the built environment.

In curating the DID we hope to create a space that allows us to consider the complexity, the tensions, and the amazing opportunities that emerge from the interface of technology and human interaction, and to work together to shape and evolve a practice of data informed design that creates better outcomes for all.

The DiD is presented by Place Intelligence with leadership and ongoing support from our incredible partners:
- RMIT University and PlaceLab
- City of Melbourne
- Local Peoples
- Stantec
- PEXA and .ID (informed decisions)
- Beam Mobility ANZ
- The Victorian State Government
- Hassell
- ARUP
- The School of Cybernetics, ANU
- Queensland University of Technology
- And many many more amazing industry partners and practitioners.

We can't wait to see you in March!

About Place Intelligence

Big data at a human scale.

Place Intelligence builds software and data products that support built environment practitioners and policy makers with access to dynamic data models for evidence based design and place based decision making.

We are a team of multi-disciplinary designers and storytellers, engineers and analysts, data scientists and policy makers.

We partner with the worlds leading built environment practitioners, policy makers, place based organisations and community leaders.

We service a global market, and our data underpins many of Australia's most significant public realm and infrastructure projects.

placeintelligence.ai

Our Partners

RMIT University

With gratitude.

RMIT is a global university of technology, design and enterprise - world renowned for leading research and innovation programs, and for creating learning environments that support and coach students into ambitious job ready practitioners.

It has been our pleasure to collaborate with the RMIT team to bring this program to life with the support from:

RMITPlaceLab

PlaceLab is a new urban initiative to connect communities, shape place, and take a radically different approach to research.

They are pairing world-class researchers with local government partners and community to identify needs and address vital urban challenges.

They have freed research from the campus and taken it street-side, starting with two shop-front style Research Studios in Brunswick and Melbourne, to invite the community to collaborate in person or online, with RMIT researchers and be part of transformative research that’s going to shape the future of your neighbourhood.

The Capitol Theatre

“The best cinema that was ever built or ever likely to be built.” — Robin Boyd

The Capitol was originally built in 1924 by celebrated architects Marion Mahony Griffin and Walter Burley Griffin. It was restored by RMIT, in partnership with Six Degrees Architects, in 2019.

‘That’ ceiling was created with 33,000 plaster crystals lit by thousands of coloured lights, creating the impression of a crystalline cave of wonder. Today the ceiling displays are controlled by a digital matrix of hundreds of LED bulbs and data points – to the same utterly mesmerising effect.

We think this wildly ambitious data informed design led marvel is the perfect place to host the inaugural DiD conference.

We are grateful to RMIT for their foundational support to bring this program to life.

City of Melbourne

Data informed for better city decision making.

The municipality of the City of Melbourne has been an early test bed for data informed design, has been awarded multiple Smart City awards, and boasts one of the worlds most accomplished data analytics team in local government.

Several city leaders are featured throughout Day 1 of the DiD program (Thur 23).

On Day 2 (Fri 24) the extraordinary Greenline team will be leading a guided "behind-the-scenes" tour to share how data is informing and shaping the design and delivery of this transformational program of work.

We are grateful for the support of the City of Melbourne to bring the DiD program to life.

melbourne.vic.gov.au

STANTEC

Design with community in mind.

Stantec has digital experts across the globe delivering custom approaches to data-informed design. This means better, faster, future-proofed infrastructure for our communities.  

Using data in new and innovative ways means we can optimise our design outputs and balance the competing priorities of our clients. By automating standard elements of the design process, we can innovate and target specific project issues, delivering bespoke solutions and exceeding client expectations. 

Stantec’s innovation strategy combines proven ideas with curiosity, creativity, and digital-forward approaches to find new ways to meet client and community challenges.

What does this look like in action?

It looks like our Network Route Selector, which uses data to identify the top ten best options for new pipe networks or road networks, based on cost, community needs, and requirements of each network.

It looks like our Augmented Reality services, which can take you inside early designs, bringing new perspectives and requirements to the design process.

It looks like our Ventilation Modelling analytics services, which inform the safest way to design building interiors to reduce viral transmission.

It’s how we design with community in mind.

Several leading Stantec practitioners will be featured throughout the DiD program on Day 1 (Thu 23) including Louisa Bloomer (Asia-Pacific Digital Practice Lead) who will join Alex Barth (VP of Automotive and Mobility at Mapbox) for a catalytic keynote conversation on the role of data in the future of mapping and mobility.

We are grateful for the support of Stantec to bring the DiD program to life.



stantec.com

PEXA

Making more informed property decisions through data.

ASX-listed Australian prop-tech, PEXA Group, has transformed how Australians settle property transactions. PEXA’s technology is now involved in the safe and efficient settlement of over 85% of all land transactions across Australia.

PEXA’s vision is clear – We’re delivering a new generation of advanced, innovative data solutions that empower businesses, governments and consumers to make more informed property decisions.

We are grateful for the support of PEXA to bring this program to life.

pexa.com.au

BEAM MOBILITY AUSTRALIA

Turning little rides into better rides.

Founded in 2018, Beam is Asia Pacific’s largest shared micromobility company.

Beam are on a mission to turn little drives into better rides and make cities flow better for everyone. Shared micromobility is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and Beam is leading the way in Asia Pacific with operations in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, Thailand and Malaysia.

In collaboration with cities, Beam brings a safe, affordable and sustainable new mode of transport to citizens with their fleets of self-driven small electric vehicles.

Micro-mobility leader and Managing Director of Beam ANZ - Tom Cooper - will be part of Day 1 (Thu 23) of the DiD program, joining a conversation about what data can reveal about the evolution of micro-mobility and changing travel behaviour in Australia.

It is with deep gratitude that we give thanks to Beam ANZ for their support to bring this event to life.





ridebeam.com

HASSELL

Data informed for better city decision making.

Hassell are a leading international design practice with studios in Australia, China, South East Asia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Their vision is to design the world's best places - places people love. Their design values are shared globally across all studios, by the talented people who work in them: architects, interior designers, landscape architects, urban designers, planners and specialist consultants.

Hassell work across a broad range of scales, from the interior design of a boutique retail store through to major public architecture and strategic urban planning for cities. They work together in integrated design teams because they produce the best outcomes for our clients.

Hassell focus on people and how they create better, more meaningful experiences for them. They do that through creative, holistic thinking, a deep knowledge base and a rigorous data informed design process.

We are excited to featured several Hassell leaders throughout Day 1 of the DiD program (Thur 23). On Day 2 (Fri 24) they will join the "once-in-a-lifetime" Melbourne Arts Precinct Tour to share some of their extraordinary work supporting the design and delivery of this city shaping program of work.

We are grateful to Hassell for their support to bring the DiD program to life.

hassellstudio.com.au

Local Peoples

Good people. Good Design.

Local Peoples is a strategic co-design studio, using human-centred design (HCD) to add economic, social and environmental value to organisations and brands.

The team apply HCD methods to address Public Sector challenges, delivering value to government clients and citizens at scale.

Helping to co-design policy, services and products, both digital and for the real world, the Local Peoples purpose is to design healthy resilient and resourceful communities.

Catch Giuseppe (Pino) Demaio - Founder and Creative Director of Local Peoples and Editor In Chief & Publisher of Matters Journal - on stage throughout Day 1 (Thu 23) of the DiD as he leads a series of panel discussions and MC's the main stage.

We are grateful for Local Peoples collaboration to bring this program to life.

GRIMSHAW

Founded on analysis and exploration.

The Grimshaw studio is founded on analysis and exploration. We relish the challenges inherent across a wide range of work, engaging our expertise and agility to deliver lasting, meaningful design that brings value and joy to clients and users.

Founded in 1980 by Nicholas Grimshaw, the firm was one of the pioneers of high-tech architecture. The practice became a Partnership in 2007 and operates worldwide with offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Dubai, Melbourne, and Sydney, employing over 650 staff.

Grimshaw’s international portfolio covers all major sectors, and has been honoured with over 200 international design awards for its commitment to design excellence.

The company’s work is characterised by strong conceptual legibility, innovation and a rigorous approach to detailing, all underpinned by the principles of humane, enduring and sustainable design.

We are grateful to Grimshaw for their support to bring the DiD program to life.

grimshaw.global

Contact / Media
data informed design
conference Melbourne
23-24 March 2023
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