Semi Permanent Aotearoa 2022
19 — 21 October 2022
St James Theatre
2022 marks the 20th anniversary of Semi Permanent — a demarcation in the evolution of both our purpose and our organisation. A milestone like this triggers a moment of reflection, imploring us to look back on our achievements and mistakes as the things that helped shape where we are today. It begs us to look forward, too, challenging us to think about where we might be in another 20 years’ time, or at the least where we hope to be. After all, the future is a destination we can only get to by acknowledging where we come from, and deciding what to bring with us and what to leave behind.
Each year, Semi Permanent takes the opportunity to explore a universal idea that we feel is most relevant to the challenges and opportunities of the time. For 2022, we introduce the platform ‘PERSPECTIVE’. After two years in which our lives were disrupted by the pandemic, so too has our perspective on the future completely shifted. The way we look at the world has changed, and with this foresight comes a different approach to engaging with the world around us. Fittingly, the year marks the 50th anniversary of art critic John Berger’s seminal television series and essay, Ways of Seeing, which exposed the hidden ideologies that exist in visual images, arming generations since with the tools to understand and dissect imagery. At a time when traditional binaries are being dismantled — whether sexual, political, cultural or creative — the year ahead seems a timely moment to reassess the lens that we place on our past, present and future, and to make room for new and varied perspectives. All talks are live and in person.
Highlights
Speakers & Artists
Schedule (Local Times)
9:00 AM
Workshop ∙ 2 hours
Idea Champion
Develop your unique design DNA, elevate your inner champion of bold ideas, explore your memories and trusted intuition with acclaimed industrial designer Danny Coster.
11:30 AM
Workshop ∙ 2 hours
Investing for Designers
Think you’re not the investing type? Think again. Learn about the basics of investing and how good design is making the share market accessible for everyone, including you.
2:00 PM
Workshop ∙ 2 hours
Lean UX: Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls
Join Silverstripe creative director James Ford to dive into best lean UX practice, fast prototyping, making the right kind of assumptions, and validating with user testing.
9:00 AM
Opening Titles & MC Welcome
9:20 AM
Talk ∙ 30 minutes
Ethan Eismann — Slack
Translating workplaces into work spaces with Slack’s SVP of Design.
9:50 AM
Talk ∙ 30 minutes
Karen Walker
On building a global profile whilst remaining true to home.
10:20 AM
Talk ∙ 30 minutes
Tim Harper — Glorious
More than just NFTs, this is the future of creativity, commerce, and identity as we know it.
10:50 AM
Talk ∙ 30 minutes
Mikaela Jade — Indigital
Connecting cultural knowledge and digital skills with Cabrogal Woman, Mikaela Jade, of Australia’s first Indigenous edu-tech company.
11:40 AM
Panel ∙ 1 hour 30 minutes
Future State: Brand Utopia — Presented by Deloitte Digital
From changing corporate practices & consumption habits, to having an empathetic voice on issues that matter, we’ll offer a blueprint for the future of brand engagement. Featuring Lucy Blakiston, Dan Wright, Ahmad Salim, Hector Ouilhet & Shantel Wetherall.
2:10 PM
Panel ∙ 1 hour 30 minutes
Future State: People & Planet — Presented by BNZ
To protect our planet for future generations we must reshape our way of doing business. Learn sustainable pathways and demonstrate how thinking creatively is crucial to instigating change. Featuring India Korner, John Holt, Roman Jewell, Shantel Wetherall.
4:00 PM
Talk ∙ 30 minutes
Brooke Roberts & Elaina Hamilton — Sharesies
The journey from building strong design foundations as a startup, to growing a design culture that scales.
4:30 PM
Talk ∙ 30 minutes
Tony Bradbourne — Special Group
On the value in searching for left-of-centre perspectives that can then be applied to the many.
5:00 PM
Talk ∙ 40 minutes
Todd Yellin — Netflix
Netflix’s Vice President of Product on creating easy, compelling ways for audiences to find something great to watch.
9:00 AM
Opening Titles & MC Welcome
9:10 AM
Talk ∙ 40 minutes
Hector Ouilhet — Google
How can we make tech + art + design = happiness?
9:50 AM
Talk ∙ 30 minutes
Johnson Witehira — IDIA and Waahi Wairua
Get to know Māori artist, designer and academic Johnson Witehira and his incredible work that fuses traditional culture with contemporary practice.
10:20 AM
Talk ∙ 30 minutes
Liz Ham
The Sydney-based photographer and author on notions of punk and portraiture, fashion and feminism.
10:50 AM
Talk ∙ 30 minutes
Jess Johnson
The New Zealand-born, New York-based artist will discuss the concept of world-building in her animation, music, fashion, VR and textile art.
11:40 AM
Talk ∙ 40 minutes
Ben Dalgleish & Ian Valentine — Human Person
Human Person co-founders Ben Dalgleish and Ian Valentine will discuss how they bring human ideas to life through creative direction, and lighting and production design, for clients including The Weeknd, Swedish House Mafia, SZA, Billie Eilish and more.
12:20 PM
Talk ∙ 40 minutes
Yah-Leng Yu & Arthur Chin — Foreign Policy Design Group
The most acclaimed brand and design bureau in Southeast Asia will join the stage with unique insights into their independent creative practice.
2:00 PM
Talk ∙ 30 minutes
Tony Holzner — Art Processors
Inventing intuitive visitor experiences that inspire curiosity by inventing new realities of human experience.
2:30 PM
Talk ∙ 30 minutes
Steve Dunstan — Huffer
A homegrown brand built through community.
3:00 PM
Talk ∙ 30 minutes
Kris Sowersby — Klim Type Foundry
Talking type design with one of the world’s most masterful creators.
3:30 PM
Talk ∙ 30 minutes
Briar Grace-Smith, Patricia Grace & Miriama Grace-Smith
Three generations of creative talent come together to discuss the ways in which their practices and processes converge and diverge.
4:20 PM
Talk ∙ 30 minutes
Rik Campbell — Resn
Learn how brands can stand out through digital development, design and immersive experiences.
4:50 PM
Talk ∙ 30 minutes
Ten Keys to Unlocking your Creative Genius with Danny Coster
The acclaimed product designer and former design leader for Apple and GoPro shares insights into his creative process.
5:20 PM
Talk ∙ 40 minutes
Wade Jeffree & Leta Sobierajski — Wade and Leta
Combining purposeful eclecticism and performative design to create satisfying and emotional visuals.
Information
- Home of the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the St James Theatre is the jewel in the crown of Wellington's flourishing theatre scene.More than just a venue for performing arts - although it plays host to a variety of dance, drama, opera, comedy and cabaret every year - the theatre’s proscenium arch and historic decorative interior also make for a unique and memorable venue for functions, conferences and onstage dinners.Located in the heart of Wellington's entertainment district this venue has the capacity to stage music & theatre performances and host conferences of great magnitude.
- Semi Permanent is an industry-recognised event, attended by people working in the fields of design, advertising, media, marketing, technology, entertainment, government and more. If you would like to purchase multiple tickets for your team, get in touch and we'll look after you direct. We also offer a reduced rate student ticket.Contact: tania@semipermanent.com
Partners
