August Education Sessions:
Ask Us Anything and IP 101 – Design Registrations
Join us for two education sessions this August: Ask Us Anything on Tuesday, September 1st, and IP 101: Design Registrations on Tuesday, September 8th, both held online.
ADA Director Anne-Maree Sargeant (AMS) hosts the Ask Us Anything session for Vivid Design competition finalists, alumni and early career design professionals.
It leads into Session 2, IP 101: Design Registrations, where we are joined by IP Australia on Tuesday, September 8th.
SESSION 1: Ask Us Anything – Tuesday, September 1st (Online)
This free online session is led by ADA Director Anne-Maree Sargeant (AMS) and open to Vivid Design competition finalists, alumni and early career design professionals.
The format is a moderated live Q&A, covering:
- Definitions: Understanding the difference between copies, knockoffs, dupes and replicas
- Due diligence: making sure your product is original and doesn’t mimic something already on the market
- Award programs: the springboard to career development
- Media: Pitching to media and how to get published
- IP Introduction: A basic introduction to intellectual property, including first steps on what not to do
- Commercialisation: sourcing retail partners and how to monetise your product
- Mentorship opportunities: how to get help when you’re stuck
- Understanding the ADA: what we do, and how to support our advocacy
- Joining the ADA with Foundation Membership: Get bonus membership extension for no extra charge
📍 Tuesday, September 1st – 12.30-1.30 pm (Online)
📍 Tickets: Free to attend, registration essential
📍 Reserve your seat at Humantix – here
About AMS
Anne-Maree Sargeant has worked in the design industry for more than 30 years as an advocate, curator, journalist and speaker, with a background that spans both law and interior design.
She has held contributing editor roles at Monocle, Surface USA and Surface Asia, and was editor-at-large at Belle magazine, whilst running her own design-led communications agency for two decades.
As a Good Design Ambassador for Good Design Australia, AMS led the Design Fringe mentor program for 5 years, and has joined the jury of vivid Design Comp, Design Fringe, Good Design Awards and The Design Files Awards.
AMS became Director of the Authentic Design Alliance in 2015 and hosts DESIGN-MADE, a podcast launching next month, presented by the ADA.
Send Questions for Both Sessions
Specify SESSION 1 or 2 – here
SESSION 2: IP 101 Design Registrations – Tuesday, September 8th (Online)
IP Australia joins ADA for a session on design rights in Australia, what they mean and how to use them.
It’s built for anyone who wants to build IP strategy into their business plan, not just understand it in theory. IP Australia will explain how design rights work and how registration can protect original work.
Topics include the grace period, disclosure rules, and how to lodge a design application yourself. You’ll also hear how long the process takes, what it costs, when it’s worth engaging a lawyer, and how to defend a registered design.
IP Australia will walk through how the design rights system works, followed by a live Q&A.
📍 Tuesday, September 8th – 6.00-7.00 pm (Online)
📍 Tickets: $20+gst/bf ADA Members or $30+gst/bf General Admission
📍 Register now via Humantix – here
What the session covers
The session is built for anyone who wants to build IP strategy into their business plan, not just understand it in theory. IP Australia will explain how design rights work and how registration can protect original work.
Topics include the grace period, disclosure rules, and how to lodge a design application yourself. You’ll also hear how long the process takes, what it costs, when it’s worth engaging a lawyer, and how to defend a registered design.
Key facts on design registration
Design right registration in Australia is a two-part process: you register first, then choose whether to certify. Only a certified design right can be legally enforced.
Registration takes at least two months, and costs start at $250 and scale according to how many classes (categories) the registration covers.
Before applying, you need to search existing designs, since a design that’s already been published elsewhere can block your own registration.
Who this is for
Both sessions suit Vivid Design competition finalists and alumni, early-career design professionals, furniture, lighting, object and industrial designers, designer-makers, small design studios and brands, manufacturers, and anyone specifying or selling original design work.
It’s equally useful if you’re weighing up whether to register a design or wondering how to defend one you already hold.
About the ADA
The Authentic Design Alliance advocates for original design, education against replica furniture, and stronger respect for designers’ intellectual property.
ADA works across industry reform, sustainability, and membership support for the design community, including the NEW ADA Foundation Membership tier for early-career designers, solo practitioners and small brands with three or fewer team members
About IP Australia
IP Australia is the Australian Government agency responsible for administering intellectual property rights, including trade marks, patents, design rights, and plant breeder’s rights.
Send Questions for Both Sessions
Specify SESSION 1 or 2 – here
Images courtesy IP Australia, by Jackie Winter Group
Questions answered in Session 1:
What’s the difference between an original design, a copy, a knockoff, a dupe and a replica?
We’ll walk through the practical differences between each, and why the distinction matters for your business and your legal protection.
How do award programs work, and how do I enter?
AMS covers how award programs work and how entering can help launch or build a design career.
How do I get my work in front of media, or get published?
We cover how to pitch your work to media, and what makes a story worth publishing.
How do I check my product is original and not too close to something already on the market?
You’ll get the basics of due diligence, checking your product against what’s already out there before you launch.
What is intellectual property, and what shouldn’t I do before I understand it?
A plain-language introduction to IP, including the first steps to avoid before you understand your position. This leads into Session 2, IP 101, for a deeper dive.
How do I find retail partners and start monetising my product?
We cover how to source retail partners and think through commercialisation options for your product.
Where can I find mentorship as an early career designer?
AMS outlines mentorship opportunities available to early career designers through ADA.
What does the ADA actually do, and is Foundation Membership right for me?
You’ll hear what the ADA does day to day, plus details on the new Foundation Membership tier for early-career designers, solo practitioners and small brands with three or fewer team members.
Questions answered in Session 2:
How long does design registration actually take?
At least two months. It’s a two-part process: you register first, then choose whether to certify.
What does it cost to register a design in Australia?
Costs start at $250 and scale according to how many classes, or categories, your registration covers.
What’s the grace period, and how does disclosure affect my application?
IP Australia will explain the grace period and how publicly disclosing your design before applying can affect your registration.
Can I lodge the application myself, or do I need a lawyer?
You can lodge a design application yourself. IP Australia will also cover when it’s worth engaging a lawyer to file on your behalf.
How do I defend my design once it’s registered?
Only a certified design right can be legally enforced. We cover how to defend a registered design.
Why does supporting the Authentic Design Alliance matter for my business?
ADA’s position: stronger IP protection for designers depends on designers understanding and defending their own design rights, which is what this session is built to support.
