Blue sky dreaming as Metricon’s inaugural design summit took over Tasmania

Metricon's inaugural Masters of Design Summit, Mo.D \ 24, brought together the brightest minds in Australia’s design industry with Metricon’s visionary leaders in the picturesque city of Hobart, Tasmania.

Over four transformative days, participants immersed themselves in a series of captivating talks, engaging workshops, and enriching events set against Hobart’s breathtaking backdrop.

Day one of the summit involved a tour of MONA, the renowned Museum of Old and New Art, founded by entrepreneur David Walsh. This architecturally striking institution sparked profound discussions and inspired new perspectives on the potential of creative expression in design.

Reflecting on the experience, Lisa Goodsall, Metricon’s National Display Home and Studio M Retail Manager, shared her enthusiasm: “Visiting MONA was an amazing experience. It was thought-provoking and encouraged us to explore the possibilities that creative minds can achieve together.”

Hosting Mo.D \ 24 epitomises Metricon’s dedication to unlocking the boundless opportunities of exceptional design, underscoring our commitment as Australia’s leading home builder. Led by Metricon’s 50-strong cohort of creative leaders and collaborating with luminaries such as Peter Maddison, Archier and Candour's Chris Gilbert and Jas Johnston, alongside valued partners like Dulux, COLORBOND® steel, Reece, and James Hardie, we are pioneering the future of home innovation and sustainable building practices.

With one eye firmly on the future, Katie Rigg-Smith, Chief Strategy Officer at WPP, delivered the keynote address, enlightening attendees with her view on exciting new avenues we can all follow that foster a spirit of forward-thinking and creative collaboration.

“There are lots of different connections and types of thinkers that you can bring together in this environment, and getting to see, hear from and talk first-hand to these designers has been an absolute delight,” Katie said, underlining how impressed she was with Mo.D \ 24.

Reflecting on the event's impact, Metricon Design Director Adrian Popple remarked, "After navigating through challenges from COVID lockdowns to changes in the National Construction Code and a cost of living crisis, Mo.D \ 24 was a vital shot in the arm for industry professionals needing a breath of fresh air."

This is a goal embraced by our industry attendees, like Christine McCoy, New South Wales Design and Colour Consultant at Bluescope. “COLORBOND® steel is always really excited to work with designers,” she said. “It’s exciting to witness the linchpins of a company in action - it’s untapped territory”

After sharing his profound insights, Grand Designs' Peter Maddison reflected on the summit's impact, "The most valuable aspect of this design summit is gathering everyone in the same room, free from phones and distractions. The luxury of being able to get out of your own town and immerse yourself with like-minded professionals is invaluable."

Lucas Grace, Design and New Product Innovation Lead at James Hardie, added, “I found it so inspirational. Everyone’s got a unique perspective, and we’ve all got valuable insights to bring to the table. We’re learning from each other.”

Set to establish itself as an biennial must-attend event for Australia’s most discerning design professionals, Mo.D promises to be a game-changer, according to Shane Bickel, National Product Manager at Metricon. "By paying close attention to the evolving needs of Australians, we can empower them to truly love where they live," he emphasised. "A recurring theme we encountered is that Australia is evolving - its people and their needs are changing too. We need to change along with that.”

Brad Duggan, Metricon’s forward-thinking CEO, echoes this sentiment, "Metricon remains steadfast in our commitment to lead in design innovation, with significant investments aimed at shaping the future," he affirmed.

To learn more about Mo.D \ 24 and the future of housing in Australia, click here.