
AUTHENTIC DESIGN ALLIANCE®
HELP STOP DESIGN THEFT!
ABOUT
Authentic Design Alliance® is a social enterprise leading the fight against furniture design theft in Australia.
Advocating for improved intellectual property (IP) protection for designers and brands, we help drive policy amendments in Australian law via ongoing consultation with Government agencies.
As an education platform, we create awareness about the damage caused by the fast furniture industry, communicating the importance of investing in the brands and individuals that create, make, sell and promote authentic design.
DESIGN THEFT
Design theft occurs when someone profits by making copies of original furniture, lighting or architectural products. Everyone buying, selling, or specifying replicas and knock-offs becomes part of the problem.
Short-lifespan furnishings end up in landfills at such an alarming rate that it is now a critical environmental issue.
VISION+MISSION
Our vision is that design is valued. For customers to consider what they buy and for original products hold a meaning that transcends a purchase price.
Our mission is to see the replica furniture sector criminalized as it has been in Europe and the UK.
Australian law also allows a designer’s name to sell fakes if used with the word ‘replica’. Using the designer or product name to sell knock-offs misleads customers into thinking products are connected to the original brand. They’re not.
“A successful product employs a network.
A successful collection creates a sub-economy.”
WHAT WE DO
As an independent for-purpose association, we drive awareness about the cultural, societal, and environmental damage caused by what we call ‘disposable decorating.’
We strive to shift the dial towards consumers valuing authentic products and long-term purchases over cheap short-lifespan copies to support a stronger future for our industry.
JOIN THE ADA
ADA® members directly enable our ongoing work with Government agencies for IP reform, and help fund our national education program.
Discover more about ADA® membership here (or here if on mobile/device)
Lets get real.
6 Facts About Design Theft.

BECOME A MEMBER
ADA Members enable our program
As a member-funded association, we are supported by designers, makers, manufacturers, distributors, importers, and retailers of authentic products.
We’re also supported by interior designers, architects, interior stylists, photographers, digital influencers, building industry brands, and landscape design professionals.
- Join here & see ADA member benefits (desktop view)
- And head here (if on phone or tablet)
LATEST NEWS

Following our Melbourne event last month, we met with ADA Stakeholders and sincerely thank the 48 individuals and brands who have since contributed vital feedback on the next [...]

HAVE A SAY :: Post Event Update, Share Your Thoughts
Thank you to everyone who joined us in person and online for our event last week, jointly presented by the Authentic Design Alliance with IP Australia in Melbourne! Your [...]

EVENT :: ADA Members x IP Australia, July 11th Melb
Have your say on the design rights system. Invited ADA Members and stakeholders will join us for an exclusive event with IP Australia on Tuesday, July 11th, at the Cult [...]

HAVE A SAY :: IP Australia Fee Review Closes July 02
A one-in-four-year opportunity to contribute to the IP Australia fee review closes Sunday, July 02. Public comment on existing and proposed fee structure and associated [...]

MILANTRACE 2023 :: Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne
MILANTRACE is undoubtedly the ultimate Milan experience for everyone who didn’t attend the world’s biggest design event, IRL! . Presented by Yellowtrace founder [...]

Pre-registrations :: Design Show June 15-17, Melbourne
Held each June, alternating between Sydney and Melbourne, this year Design Show will be colocated with a new building materials event ArchiBuild Expo from June 15-17 at [...]

ADVOCACY UPDATE :: IP Australia more legislation reforms
As part of our ongoing consultation with IP Australia on further proposed amendments, we have been invited to review suggested changes to simplify the design registration [...]

Why Buy Authentic? Feature for Cult’s Design Icons Exhibition
As part of Cult’s 25th-anniversary celebrations, we were invited to write a feature to unpack why designer furniture costs what it does. And why we must support original [...]

ADA to Lead Gender Equality Mentor Program for Design Fringe
ADA director Anne-Maree Sargeant will lead the gender equality mentor program for Design Fringe. The Naomi Milgrom Foundation powers Design Fringe for Gender Equality with the [...]

DOWNLOAD ADA 09 :: Outdoor Issue, Icons & Milestones
Celebrating ADA outcomes 2016-22, read about our advocacy and the improvements to design protections against copies. Highlights include ADA Award winners at vivid design comp [...]

ADA Outcomes : Finally Legislation & IP Improvements!
We have had our biggest year since the ADA was founded by Cult, Living Edge, Euroluce, Ke-Zu and Stylecraft in 2010! Aside from an action-pack event and award program, we [...]

ADA in 2022 :: Awards, Partnerships and Events
From Denfair to Melbourne Design Week, Design Show to vivid, around 15,000 design lovers visited our exhibitions, awards and talks in 2022. Download our newspaper and learn [...]