THE DATA INFORMED DESIGN CONFERENCE (DiD) was held in March 2023 and convened world leading data, design, engineering and policy practitioners for dynamic conversations that explored the process and methods, emerging tech and data science, and meaningful impacts of data informed design and place based decision making.

Held in the spectacular RMIT Capitol Theatre, Day 1 of the program was a mix of panels and conversations between the worlds leading practitioners in design, tech, data, and civic society. 

We paired leading practitioners for dynamic conversations that mixed data with design, theory with practice, artists with engineers, advanced technology with human centred practice, urgent action with long term thinking.

Participants engaged with curated conversations between industry luminaries like Sarah Williams (head of the Civic Data Design Lab and the Levanthal Centre for Advanced Urbanism at MIT) in conversation with Dan Hill (Head of Melbourne School of Design), and Katherine Maher (outgoing CEO of the Wikepedia Foundation) in conversation with Seb Chan (CEO of ACMI), and many more.

We believe that good design and policy responses in our urban environments can go a long way to addressing some of the significant challenges we are facing now and into the future. To step up to these challenges, our profession needs new tools and skills to support better evidence based decision making. These tools and skills should be informed by practice and generative and robust discussion from diverse and divergent perspectives. 

Our intent with the Data Informed Design conference was to share the inspiration, expertise, and sometimes challenging ideas from leaders from across the world (and sectors) with our colleagues working across the built environment.

In curating the DID we hoped to create a space that allows us to consider the complexity, the tensions, and the amazing opportunities that emerge from the interface of technology and human interaction, and to work together to shape and evolve a practice of data informed design that creates better outcomes for all.