7. Shaping Australia’s Design Identity and Community Action for Electrify 2515

Dr Trent Jansen's take on defining Australian design identity has been likened to what Droog has done for Dutch design identity.

His design anthropology studio in Thirroul explores stories like a shared fear and fascination with mythical bush creatures, that have united indigenous and non-indigenous Australians for generations. Collaboratively designed objects are starkly Australian in appearance, celebrate unique indigenous artisans, bring light to observations of a changing climate in remote parts of Australia and reach thousands in their narrative through exhibitions across the world in Italy, US, China, and locally in the PowerHouse Museum, and National Gallery of Melbourne.

Voted in the top 100 most influential people in Sydney, Trent worked with members of Beyond Coal Coast to spark the volunteer-led organisation 'Electrify 2515' with a 'can we be your feet on the ground?' phone call to Dr Saul Griffith. Creating a groundswell of households (20%) across the 2515 northern suburbs of Wollongong to register to electrify their households in 6 ways, and to hopefully become Australia's first electrified community.

Find out more about Episode 7 on the Blend ESQ Website, with some useful links.

Keen to learn more?
Visit the Trent Jansen Studio website or instagram.

Find out about the community volunteer-led 'Electrify 2515' pilot to electrify your home in 6 ways, and register your interest. Hopefully, via Rewiring Australia, the 2515 northern suburbs of Wollongong will be on their way to becoming Australia's (if not the world's) first electrified community.

Platinum Season 1 Sponsors, check out locals engineering our future, SOTO Engineers.

Photo Credits: Tobias Titz and ocean image by Venture and Gain Agency.
Podcast Production: Relativity.