DIA announces new Victorian fellows

The Victorian branch of the Design Institute of Australia recently announced twelve new fellows.

DIA fellow Geoff Fitzpatrick was granted a life fellowship by the DIA National Council and was presented with a certificate for his distinguished service to the profession and his outstanding contribution to the DIA. 

Professor Lyndon Anderson, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design at the University of Canberra, was presented with a fellowship certificate for his service to the DIA in his current role as the DIA ACT president and his former role as a member of the Victoria Council (2009 to 2011). Anderson studied and practised in industrial and furniture design in the UK before completing a PhD at RMIT in 2002. He is past acting dean of the Faculty of Design at Swinburne University of Technology and a former member of the steering committee of Design Victoria. 

Sally Armfield, a textile designer with over twenty years’ experience, was presented with a fellowship certificate for her membership of the DIA since it merged with the Australian Textile Design Association in 1994 and her active involvement with the Textile Design Practice Group. 

Fiona Austin, an interior designer and founder and director of Austin Design Associates, was presented with a fellowship certificate for her membership and active support of the DIA since 1982. 

Merell Browne, a well-respected interior designer, sadly passed away on 30 January 2011. DIA Victoria was honoured that her husband Marshall attended the dinner to receive the fellowship certificate as a posthumous acknowledgement of Merell’s contributions to the DIA. 

Matt Gibson, an architect and interior designer and the director of Matt Gibson A+D, was presented with a fellowship certificate in recognition of his success as a recipient of numerous design awards. He has received awards in a variety of categories in the Australian Interior Design Awards and also received the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers’ World Award for Retail Design in 2009. 

Carl Habal studied graphic design and has worked for many years in the fields of exhibition design and retail fitout. Habal was presented with a fellowship certificate for his membership and active support of the DIA Exhibition Design Practice Group since 1990. 

John Perperis, an interior designer and director of Teo + Perperis Architects, was presented with a fellowship certificate in recognition of his countless projects in and around Melbourne, and his services to design education through his lectures in Design Influences and Social Context at the RMIT University School of Design TAFE. 

Stuart Rattle, one of Melbourne’s most influential interior designers and decorators over the last two decades, was presented with a fellowship certificate for his membership and support of the DIA since 1994. 

Amanda Richmond studied interior design at RMIT and now runs her own successful practice, Amanda Richmond Interior Design. Richmond was presented with a fellowship certificate for her membership and support of the DIA since 1996 and for her services as a past Victorian president and national director. 

Textile designer Ute Ronacher, founder and creative director of Camilion Designs, established in 1995, received a fellowship certificate for her contribution to the textile design industry and the DIA. Ronacher has been a judge for many DIA awards programs and is an active participant in the Textile Practice Group. 

Russell Kennedy is a graphic designer and currently a research fellow at Swinburne University of Technology. Kennedy was presented with a fellowship certificate for his active participation in promoting the design profession through numerous design organizations. Russell is a past president of the International Design Alliance Congress, ICOGRADA.