Strip out the eco labels. What’s left? 5 things you can do now to act with real impact.
Presented by Authentic Design Alliance with the Design-Made podcast, this talk is generously hosted by Artbank.
Supported by Cultivated with ADA co-founder Cult, the evening includes an exclusive guided tour of the RE:BORN exhibition.
Thursday 16 July 2026, 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm
Artbank, 18-24 Down Street, Collingwood VIC
Tickets: $30 (plus GST and booking fee). Book here via Humanitix
A discussion designers must have
The word “sustainability” has lost its way. Once a serious commitment, it has become marketing-speak. Now it opens the door to greenwashing.
So what conversations should we be having instead? And how do we drive genuine change?
How much of your work does real good for circularity and regenerative outcomes? And how much is performative?
Strip out the “eco” labels, the “sustainable materials palette”, the green photography. What is left? A circular system? A regenerative outcome? Or a story?
We unpack five practical levers. Material choices, product stewardship, nature-positive impact, business behaviour, and advocacy. Small actions count. Personal decisions count. The choices you make at the brief count most of all.
Proceeds go to the Authentic Design Alliance advocacy and education programs.
Speakers
Aleesha Callahan, Founder, About Futures
Nickolas Gurtler, Principal, Nickolas Gurtler Office
Joshua Ellis, Brand Director, Cultivated
Led by Anne-Maree Sargeant (AMS), Authentic Design Alliance and Design-Made podcast
The evening opens with an exclusive tour of RE:BORN. This zero-waste installation comes from Romance Was Born and Cultivated.
What you will take away
- How early project decisions shape the carbon footprint
- Sharper questions to ask before you specify, recommend or buy a material
- A clearer view of stewardship and what circularity looks like beyond the marketing
- A way to talk about your business behaviour without greenwashing or staying silent
- Practical advocacy you can carry into your next brief, project or conversation
Event timing
6.00 pm Arrival and exclusive RE:BORN exhibition tour
6.30 pm Moderated panel discussion
7.30 pm Light refreshments and conversation; second RE:BORN exhibition tour
8.00 pm Event closes
Who should come
Architects, interior designers, furniture and product designers, designer-makers, specifiers, manufacturers, retailers, distributors, sustainability leads, design educators, fashion and design-lovers, and art and design collectors.
RE:BORN exhibition: beauty in reinvention
RE:BORN marks the most expressive iteration of Cultivated to date. It is a maximalist, immersive showcase. Here, fashion, art and design converge in a richly layered environment shaped by transformation, texture and imagination.
It is a powerful reminder. Design can revive, reframe and reawaken what was once overlooked. It gives that material presence, purpose and a new life, one framed in beauty. The setting is an immersive environment at Artbank Melbourne. We invite you to reconsider the value of materials and to discover beauty in reinvention.
The panel
Aleesha Callahan is the founder of About Futures, a digital magazine that traces sustainable residential design and spotlights new materials. She is a renowned writer across leading design and sustainability titles and a former editor of Habitus. Aleesha also co-hosts the Creative or Dead podcast. aboutfutures.co / @about_futures__
Nickolas Gurtler leads Nickolas Gurtler Office, an award-winning interior design studio. It delivers residential and commercial projects in Australia and the USA. The practice advocates for Australian design, emerging makers and local artisans. In 2025, it was shortlisted for Designer of the Year at the IDEA Awards. nickolasgurtler.com.au / @nickolasgurtler
Joshua Ellis is Brand Director at Cultivated. For two decades, Josh has championed design longevity, transparency and enduring craftsmanship. He is an experienced sustainability innovator, leading circular design and material stewardship through Cultivated. He also conceived and produced the RE:BORN exhibition. cultivated.com.au / @cultivated_au
Anne-Maree Sargeant (AMS) leads the Authentic Design Alliance and hosts the Design-Made podcast. She is a former editor-at-large of Belle magazine and a member of the founding team at Space Furniture. AMS works to strengthen Australia’s furnishing and interior design landscape through ADA advocacy. authenticdesignalliance.org / @authentic_design_alliance / @design_made_
Presented by
The Authentic Design Alliance (ADA) is a for-purpose industry association. It leads Australia’s fight against furniture design theft. It advocates authenticity and innovation and promotes sustainability through stronger intellectual property protections.
The ADA unites creators, brands, manufacturers, and specifiers who value original design. Together they work toward a future in which counterfeit designs are illegal, and the environmental cost of copy culture is recognised. Become an ADA Member at authenticdesignalliance.org.
The Design-Made podcast is hosted by Anne-Maree Sargeant (AMS). It shares conversations about thoughtful consumption of objects for home, business, life and living. The ADA presents the platform. It connects creators, makers, retailers, innovators, and distributors with a wider audience, encouraging better questions about what they buy. Choose well and buy once. Find new episodes at @design_made_.
Supported by
Cultivated starts with what already exists. It honours the history, material value and design integrity of every furniture piece it touches. Through restoration and experimentation, it reworks and reimagines each product. New form, texture and value emerge. Cultivated brings forgotten furniture and lighting back to life, restoring and transforming them into something worth keeping. cultivated.com.au
Artbank was established in 1980. It is a public art collection and leasing program, built on a simple philosophy: art is for everyone. Its collection holds more than 11,000 works by over 3,500 Australian artists. Artbank nurtures Australian creativity. It acquires works from living artists and shares them with the public through the leasing scheme. artbank.gov.au
Cult Design is a leading voice in contemporary design. It represents internationally respected and locally celebrated furniture, lighting and accessories for residential and commercial spaces. For thirty years, Cult has worked with architects, designers and design-conscious clients to deliver considered, long-life solutions. It is a co-founder of the Authentic Design Alliance. cultdesign.com.au
RE:BORN was made possible by these partners:
Cultivated and Romance Was Born presented and curated the work.
Artbank hosts it, featuring works from the Artbank collection.
Exhibition design: @studioxus
Facilitated by: @cultdesignau
Supported by: @instyle_au, @loomtex.au, @interiauraau, @tsarcarpets, @yeendstudio, @wildheather_australia, @defy_design, @oslekcoatings. Sound design @noah.mcshanagmunn
FAQ
Who is the panel for? Designers, specifiers, makers, brands, retailers, educators, and design and art lovers.
Who is the Authentic Design Alliance (ADA)? The ADA was founded in 2010 to tackle the rising problem of replica furniture. As an industry association, it supports the furniture and interior design sector. It advocates for and educates about the importance of buying authentic, licensed furniture products.
What is RE:BORN? RE:BORN is a zero-waste exhibition by Romance Was Born and Cultivated. It is on display at Artbank in Collingwood. The evening opens with an exclusive guided tour.
What time is the guided tour of the RE:BORN exhibition? Doors open at 6.00 pm for the exhibition tour. The panel discussion starts at 6.30 pm.
How do I get tickets? Tickets are $30 (plus GST and booking fee). Book them via the Humanitix link. All proceeds go to the Authentic Design Alliance advocacy and education programs.
Will the event be live-streamed? Not at this stage. If you contact the organisers, they can update you if a livestream goes ahead. Contact the ADA.
