RØDE founder makes $1 million donation to Australian Design Council

Not-for-profit group the Australian Design Council has announced a $1 million donation from Peter Freedman, Founder and Chairman of audio technology company RØDE.

Reported at the weekend in The Australian Financial Review, the council said the donation would be “instrumental in jumpstarting” its activities. The funds would be distributed over two years and see a CEO and essential staff hired.

Freedman will be recognised as the Australian Design Council’s Founding Patron.

“We are deeply grateful to Peter Freedman for his generous donation, which will accelerate our mission to advocate for a design-led future for Australia and champion the next generation of designers,” said Dr Sam Bucolo, who led the relaunch of the council with Dr Brendan Gien, CEO of Good Design Australia.

The Australian Design Council dates back to the 1950s, the group said in a statement on Monday, and was originally known as the Industrial Design Council of Australia before ceasing operation in the mid-1980s. 

It was relaunched in September 2020, outlining three major goals:

• Advocate to government and industry about the role and value of design
• Embed design into Australia’s nation-building agenda and policy settings
• And provide oversight to leverage Australia’s design capability into the nation’s future industry development.

The council has also announced the appointment of a board of non-executive directors to work with its current members to fulfill its mission. The board includes leaders such as Ros Moriarty, Catherine Livingstone and Freedman. Bucolo and Gien will continue as executive directors.

 “Design is not just about aesthetics; it’s a critical driver of innovation and economic growth,” said Freedman. 

“I am honoured to support the revival of the Australian Design Council and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on our nation’s future.”

Picture: supplied

Further reading

Australia’s Good Design Council Re-established

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