Design Groups Sydney

SydDT #130: The Hidden Performance Skills of Great Designers

Designers spend years learning how to shape products, services, and experiences. But some of the most important design work happens live, in the room: * facilitating conversations * navigating uncertainty * building trust * uncovering perspectives * creating energy * driving alignment * helping people feel safe enough to contribute honestly Great facilitators don’t just run workshops, they shape emotion, attention, participation, atmosphere, and human connection in real time. In this Sydney Design Thinking Meetup, we’ll explore what designers can learn from experts who work at the extreme edge of live human experience design. Joining us will be: [Pamela Pilawa](https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-pilawa-27096baa/) A Sydney-based performer blending clowning, physical theatre, storytelling, and teaching across cultures and languages. [Pamela’s work ](https://pamelapilawa.com/)explores presence, emotional authenticity, courage, vulnerability, improvisation, and audience connection. Pamela will share perspectives from the world of clowning and performance — including: * how to stay present under uncertainty * responding authentically in the moment * reading audience energy * embracing failure and imperfection * building trust and connection quickly * why vulnerability can be a leadership strength Because sometimes the difference between a good workshop and a transformative one isn’t the methodology. It’s the human presence in the room. [Wai Yin Vicente Kwok](https://www.linkedin.com/in/wai-yin-vicente-kwok/) Creative Director and Founder of [Wai Yin Designs](https://www.waiyindesigns.com/), with more than 20 years of international experience across theatre, film, immersive events, entertainment, and experiential activations — including large-scale themed experiences at Universal Studios Singapore. Wai Yin will explore how environment, atmosphere, spatial design, and intentional setup influence participation, behaviour, emotion, and outcomes. Drawing from theatre, live entertainment, and immersive experience design, she’ll share how: * environments shape interaction * atmosphere influences engagement * physical space changes collaboration dynamics * intentional staging can reinforce purpose * experiences can be orchestrated to support desired outcomes Because workshops, co-design sessions, and facilitation environments are experiences too. And like any experience, they can be intentionally designed. Together, we’ll explore: * facilitation as performance * the role of presence in leadership and design * designing environments for participation * improvisation and adaptability * balancing structure with emergence * how designers can become more effective facilitators of human interaction This session isn’t about becoming performers. It’s about learning from experts whose craft depends on understanding people in real time.... **EVENT SPONSORS** This event is brought to you by... contact us if you're keen to support the SydDT community. We take photos and record our events for documentation and promo purposes. Just let us know if you prefer not to be featured.

Design Like a Pro: A One-Day Canva Workshop in Sydney

**Overview** Master Canva to create professional, on-brand social media designs with hands-on practice in templates, branding, media, and content planning. **Ready to secure your spot? 🎯 Register now and complete your payment securely via Stripe Checkout!** [Click Here](https://buy.stripe.com/eVq00jgyK46OgOcgCE2oE44) **Program Details** **Duration**: 1 Full Day (8 Hours) **Delivery Mode**: Classroom (In-Person) **Language**: English **Credits**: 8 PDUs / Training Hours **Certification**: Course Completion Certificate **Refreshments**: Lunch, Snacks, and beverages will be provided during the session **Every Confident Designer Has a Day One. This Could Be Yours.** For general enquiries or booking your slot, contact us at: [info@mangates.com](info@mangates.com) +61 (0) 2 80155605 **Course Overview:** **The Design Gap No One Talks About** Their feed looked fine. Not bad, just forgettable. Every post used the same template, the same stock photo style, the same font picked at random months ago. Nothing looked broken, it just never quite looked like theirs. That's the gap most people hit long before they ever open a design tool properly. Not a lack of creativity, just a lack of the right skills to translate an idea into something that actually looks professional. **The Moment Design Stops Feeling Like Guesswork** Picture this: someone opens Canva, pulls up a template, and instead of leaving it as-is, adjusts the colors to match their brand, swaps the font, repositions the text, and exports a post that finally looks intentional. That's not talent. That's a skill, and it's exactly what this one-day workshop is built to teach. **How the Day Unfolds** * **Module 1: Getting Started with Canva** — They explore Canva's interface and workspace, and start recognizing the right formats for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. * **Module 2: Essential Design Principles** — They practice layout, spacing, and alignment, and start noticing why some designs feel balanced and others feel off. * **Module 3: Templates, Branding & Customization** — Through a role-play, they learn how to select and personalize templates, layering in brand colors, fonts, and logos.\ * **Module 4: Creative Social Media Graphics** — A case study pushes them to design posts for real engagement, using effects, transparency, and story formats. * **Module 5: Using Images, Icons & Media Tools** — A simulation has them working with stock photos, icons, and overlays until the visuals feel sharp and intentional. * **Module 6: Editing, Resizing & Content Variations** — A group brainstorm surfaces quick techniques for resizing and repurposing one design across multiple platforms. * **Module 7: Exporting & Publishing Designs** — By the end of the day, they aren't just experimenting, they're exporting polished designs and building an actual content calendar. **What Changes By the End** Attendees leave able to: * Understand Canva's interface and essential tools * Use design principles for professional visuals * Customize templates for brand identity * Create platform-specific social media graphics * Work confidently with media, icons, and effects * Resize and repurpose content for different platforms * Export and publish polished, high-quality designs **Who Finds Themselves Here** * Social media beginners * Entrepreneurs and small business owners * Marketing and communication teams * Students and freelancers * Content creators and influencers * Anyone wanting to design without advanced software **Real Practice, Not Passive Listening** Every attendee works hands-on with real design projects, live, in the room. The scenario above isn't hypothetical, it reflects exactly what happens to most people who walk in without a design background and walk out designing with confidence. **Bring This to Your Organization** Picture an entire marketing team producing consistent, on-brand visuals without waiting on a designer for every post. This workshop is available as a customized in-house session, on-site or virtual, with group pricing for teams ready to build that capability together. 📧 Contact us today to schedule a customized in-house session: [corporate@mangates.com](mailto:corporate@mangates.com) **©2026 Mangates Tech Solutions Pvt Ltd. This content is protected by copyright law. Copy or Reproduction without permission is prohibited.** **FAQs** **1\. Do I need any prior design experience to attend?** No, this workshop is built specifically for beginners with no design background at all. **2\. Do I need to install any software before the session?** No, Canva works directly in your browser, and the workshop will guide you through account setup if needed. **3\. Will I actually create real designs\, or is this mostly a demo?** You'll create real designs throughout the day, working hands-on with templates, branding elements, and export formats. **4\. Can I use this for my own business or brand\, not just generic templates?** Yes, Module 3 focuses specifically on customizing templates with your own brand colors, fonts, and logos. **5\. What if I need designs for multiple platforms\, not just Instagram?** Module 1 covers formats for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and Module 6 teaches you to resize one design across all of them. **6\. Does the course cover video content\, or just static images?** Yes, Module 5 covers working with videos alongside stock photos, icons, and illustrations. **7\. Will I learn how to use Canva's AI tools?** Yes, Module 6 introduces Canva's AI tools for quick adjustments and content variations. **8\. I run social media for my company\, will this help with content planning\, not just design?** Yes, Module 7 covers preparing content calendars using Canva folders, alongside exporting and publishing your designs. **9\. Can this course be customized for our marketing team specifically?** Yes, group sessions can be tailored to your organization and delivered on-site or virtually, with group pricing available. **10\. What do I actually walk away with at the end of the day?** Practical skills across Canva's full toolkit, templates, branding, media, resizing, and exporting, plus a Course Completion Certificate.

Earning Influence: Why Strong Design work doesn't move the room

Welcome Back CCX Sydney to our events for 2026 from myself, Lydia, Sylvia and James and we are planning a bumper selection of speakers for this year. Our next event on August 18th will feature two unique presentations from Designers Dan Whelan and Ariel Blackman both from Commonwealth Bank. We will be hosting by the Team at Hipages special thanks to Carlos Guedes and Natalia Furtado. Our first Talk from CBA Product Design leader, Dan Whelan: **Earning Influence: Why Strong Design Work Doesn't Move the Room** **About Dan's Talk** You're doing great work. Decisions move on without you anyway. Here's why — and what has to be true before that changes. It's easy to assume that if the work is good enough, it earns its own influence. It doesn't. Design gets described, by default, in process terms — what was explored, tested, shipped — while the room is listening for risk, revenue and consequence, meaning how we describe the work to each other isn't the value our stakeholders want to see. Good work can fail to move a decision, because how it's described isn't connected to the decision's value. This talk covers the two things that usually get in the way of making your work land. First, the translation problem: why the same piece of work, described two different ways, gets two completely different receptions from your non-designer stakeholders. Second, the gap underneath: work that fails to land because it was never linked to key behaviour to start with, it was built around untraceable best practice. This talk covers both, so the next time you do good work, it doesn't get ignored. **About Dan** Dan Whelan is a design leader with 20 years across companies including Intuit and CommBank, and some of Australia's most complex financial products. She writes and speaks on decision quality and behavioural design, helping designers close the gap between doing strong work and having it influence the room. Our second speaker also from CBA will Ariel Blackman, User Experience Designer on Neurodivergent Strategies **About Ariels talk** Neurospicy Awareness, Acceptance & Strategies An honest look at life as a neurodivergent designer. Through personal stories and practical strategies, Ariel shares what she's learned about managing overwhelm, working with her brain instead of against it, and embracing self-acceptance along the way. Expect a mix of lived experience, useful tools, and a healthy dose of neurospicy chaos **About Ariel:** Ariel Blackman is a Product Designer with over 10 years of experience creating digital products and experiences. Alongside her design career, she's spent years learning how to navigate life as a neurodivergent person, developing practical tools and strategies to better understand herself, manage overwhelm, and work with her brain rather than against it. Passionate about sharing lived experiences with honesty, humour, and vulnerability, Ariel enjoys creating spaces where people feel seen, understood, and accepted. She believes that while everyone's experience is different, there is immense value in sharing the strategies and lessons we've learned along the way. Please note that we will be back at Hipages for our August Event so please familiarise yourself with The location and Start Time. We hope to See you in August and are really looking forward to Hearing from both Dan and Ariel.

Networking Drinks #30

Join us once again at **The Art Syndicate**, a unique wine bar and gallery nestled in Surry Hills for a relaxed evening blending local drinks and meaningful conversations which should be perfect for a cold winter night. 🍷 **Event info:** ✅ Come discover some amazing NSW wine, beer and spirits. ✅ Expand your network of designers & make connections that last. ✅ No formal talks or speeches - just great conversations in a relaxed, friendly environment. *Check out my reviews on this page to see what others are saying!* **Venue information:**
 You'll find us at this art gallery & wine bar in Surry Hills. They exclusively offer a curated selection of NSW-based wine, beer and spirits! There is even art for sale! **Check them out on socials:** https://www.instagram.com/theartsyndicate.com.au/ **How to find us:**
 We are on Bourke Street, a short walk from Oxford Street or Central Station. **Join our What'sApp group:**
 Since Meetup has removed the event chat feature, [please join this WhatsApp group](https://tinyurl.com/uxad2026) for the latest event updates! Cheers, Josh

EUXSyd - August Meetup

**Excited to have our next EUXSyd kicking off in August with** Snr Product Designer from Nuix, Ermi Mendoza-Isais, speaking on "**Storytelling, Influencing & AI Design."** In this talk, Ermi walks through the three skills she’s discovered has made her standout as a product designer and leader: storytelling that turns data into decisions, influence that moves ideas from Figma (or other no-code tool) to roadmap, and AI fluency that accelerates your craft without ever replacing your judgement. Drawing on real-world experience embedding AI into design practice at scale, you'll come away with practical, actionable ways to sharpen your narrative, build genuine buy-in across teams, and harness AI as a true creative partner. With over 26 years of design experience spanning AI, product, and research, Ermi has driven innovation across fintech, data, retail, and transport, most recently pioneering the integration of AI into design workflows. At Nuix, she championed an AI-first approach — using AI as a genuine design partner to rapidly prototype and validate concepts — while co-leading strategic initiatives, mentoring designers, and partnering across engineering, sales, and marketing to deliver end-to-end product design, research, and branding for SaaS, fintech, and transport products. A regular speaker on design leadership, career growth and AI adoption, Ermi brings a proven track record of leading design transformation and delivering customer-validated outcomes that make a real impact. We are in the process of finalising a venue and will advise you all soon. Networking, drinks and pizzas will start from 6:00 and talk will start at 6:30pm. Look forward to seeing you there!! This event is proudly sponsored by Experience Design "UX" Agency blueegg ([www.blueegg.com.au](www.blueegg.com.au))

Desi Chai Meetup

Hi everyone. This event will be a relaxed, low stakes get-together where we can have chai and socialise. Please be considerate and show up if you RSVP as attending. If you have trouble finding the venue, you can call/msg me at 0490012096

Placeholder with Satya Chunduru #85

In this Lunch & Learn, **Satya Chunduru** will explore why **AI is the missing link in modern architecture**. Most organisations don’t struggle to build AI pilots — they struggle to **scale them** and turn them into **measurable business value**. Satya’s **3A™ Framework (Adoptive AI Architecture)** was created to bridge that gap. It connects **strategy, data, enterprise knowledge, decisions, operating models, and AI‑enabled actions** into a coherent architecture that delivers real outcomes. The framework acts as both a **reference architecture** and a **thinking model**, designed to complement existing enterprise delivery, governance, and transformation practices. Over the coming weeks, I’ll share more about the thinking behind the framework and the practical components that support **scalable, accountable AI adoption**.

Syd HUG @ FIN

**The Houdini HIVE weekend kicks off right here — grab a drink, meet fellow Houdini artists, and settle in for an evening hosted by FIN at their Pitt Street studio.** Tickets will be limited so please RSVP to secure your spot \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **PRESENTATIONS** **Houdini 22 Highlights & Overview \- Adam Lee \| Technical Consultant at SideFX** Adam Lee will showcase the latest features in Houdini 22, highlighting his top favourites. Get a quick insider’s look at what’s new and why it matters to your workflow. **Presentations by artists at FIN** More details coming soon. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **SCHEDULE** 6.30pm: Doors open, networking 7.00 to 8:30pm: Presentations and Q&A 8:30 to 10:00pm: Networking and refreshments \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **PRIZES AND GIVEAWAYS** * Wacom is offering a chance to win one of their newest tablets. * SideFX has great merch and Houdini Indie licences up for grabs.

DENISON STREET NEWTOWN

COVE DELI MANLY

Houdini Day @ UTS

**PLEASE NOTE: This is not a sign up page, you must visit the following link for event details and to register:** **https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/houdini-day-uts-tickets-1991121795891?aff=oddtdtcreator** Welcome to the very first **Houdini HIVE + Ignite Workshop Day at UTS**! Please join us for an exciting in-person gathering where creativity meets technology. Dive into the world of visual effects, animation, and more with industry professionals and experts. Select from one of our 4 hands-on workshops in the morning , then stay for our inspiring lineup of presenters in the afternoon as well as our expert discussion panel. Prizes and Swag sponsored by **SideFX.** * **Lab 1 Create Blue Mountains Landscapes, Mark Flanagan, RMIT University** *Attendees will look at setting up a USD workflow, with Solaris and RenderMan. From research to render... Building a Blue Mountains landscape from DEM data, working with Copernicus and Terrain tools, for adding detail and textures. Scattering trees, rocks and biome relevant assets. Finishing off with volumetric clouds and the signature blue haze which gives the area its name.* * **Lab 2 Learn to Animate with KineFX, Garrick Rawlingson, Floating Rock** *Ever wanted to animate in Houdini? Here’s your chance. Join us for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn the fundamentals of animation by bringing the classic bouncing ball to life — and take it a step further by animating the cutest kiwi character.* * **Lab 3 Motion Graphics in LOPS, Matt Tillman, Pixel Ninja** *This hands on workshop guides participants through the process of building and rendering a short product-focused motion graphics sequence. Working from the ground up; starting with modelling the asset in SOPs, before blocking and assembling the sequence in Solaris and finally lighting and rendering with Karma XPU.* * **Lab 4 The Key to SOPs: Attributes, Fraser Shiers, ILM & Hipflask** *To wield Houdini's true power and potential, you need to master attributes — and that's exactly what you'll be doing here. In this beginner-friendly workshop, you'll unleash attributes to drive parameters and scatter and distribute geometry. You'll gain a solid understanding of how attributes work, and come away with production-proven tools and techniques for bending them to your will.*

Chau Chak Wing Museum & The University of Sydney