Australian Production Design Guild

29/05/2026

APDG accreditation is granted to full members who have consistently demonstrated high standards in design and design innovation, as well as having actively promoted design’s value and contribution to Screen and Live Performance industries.

APDG accreditation is considered the highest honour that can be bestowed on an APDG member. There are many designers and design associates in our membership who are worthy of accreditation.

2026 APDG Accreditation Applications are open until midnight on Friday June 5, 2026. Recipients of accreditation will be announced at the APDG Awards in August 2026.

If you require any assistance or further information, please contact [email protected].

For more information visit:

https://apdg.org.au/membership/accreditation

20/05/2026

Did you know that the inaugural APDG Accredited members include two former APDG Presidents? Michael Scott-Mitchell APDG and George Liddle APDG.

The full inaugural cohort (2010) also includes Colin Gibson APDG, Catherine Martin APDG, Steven Jones-Evans APDG, Ian Gracie and Owen Paterson APDG.

Who else has received our highest honour? Visit our Accredited Members page to find out:

https://apdg.org.au/membership/accreditation/accredited-members

APDG accreditation is granted to full members who have consistently demonstrated high standards in design and design innovation, as well as having actively promoted the value and contribution of design to Screen and Live Performance industries.

Applications are open now and close on June 5 2026.

Visit our website for further information: https://apdg.org.au/membership/accreditation

Image caption: 2011 APDG Award Winners with Margaret Pomeranz (can you spot the Accredited members?!)

11/05/2026

The Thelma Afford Award applications are now open. Are you a costume designer or know of someone who you think is deserving of the incredible opportunity?

Sabina Myers was the 2024 recipient of the Thelma Afford Award. She used the $10,000 prize money to travel to Italy where she embarked on a figure drawing immersion. The APDG asked Sabina some questions about her experiences:

What was the absolute highlight of your studies?
”Studying together with artists and practitioners from different industries. Drawing is such a universal foundational skill, but everyone's methods are different - I was able to see techniques I would never have encountered in my usual environment.”

What skills were you able to acquire and/or improve upon, and how does this inform your practice now?
”Figure drawing is the backbone of how I communicate character and costume. Increasing that skill level through concentrated study feels like it's given me more freedom to actually be experimental and expressive with pose and the body as a storytelling device.

Applications are now open.

For further information regarding the award, and to check your eligibility, please visit the Thelma Afford Award page on the APDG website.

Image credits: Sabina Myers' travel photography and drawings.

11/05/2026

APDG was a proud program partner with the Powerhouse for ‘Outfit to Identity: Building Characters for Creative Mediums’ session at the ALT Games Festival in April. APDG members Liz Keogh Palmer and Dan Potra brought their screen and stage design expertise to the session which was attended by game designers and enthusiasts.
This great video explores why so many games feature cute 'little guy' protagonists:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRDiRwr9KpQ

Why Everyone's Obsessed With Cute Little Guys in Games | ALT GAMES 2026

04/05/2026

We welcome you to admire these gorgeous 1930s costume design illustrations by the late and generous costume designer, teacher and theatre historian Thelma Afford.

Applications for the Thelma Afford Award are now open!
Key info about eligibility:

a. aged between 17 and 40 years, by the opening of entries date;
b. a resident of Australia for more than two (2) years prior to the closing date for entries; and
c. students or professionals seeking to further their education to specialise in stage and screen costume design. This includes students of drama or art schools, matriculating high school art students, students of tertiary institutions, or practicing costume designers.

Image credits: Thelma Afford costume design illustrations, courtesy of the State Library of NSW.

04/05/2026

“Designing is such a pleasure to me that I really cannot call it work.” - Thelma Afford (Melbourne Herald, 1937)

Thelma Afford was a talented designer working in 1930s - 1970s in Austraila, who explored the uses of various media for her costume work and was a recognised authority on the history of costume and theatre in Australia.

She designed for large-scale productions including centenary celebration pageants in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney in the 1930s. Thelma’s designs for the 1936 Centenary event included innovative interpretations of technology as well as agricultural products and flora and fauna.

As per Thelma Afford’s wishes, recipients shall use the award monies to further their education or training in Australia or overseas, in visual arts, including the history of period clothes, at any art school or university that has a suitable course. Study may be full-time, part-time, at a summer school or as part of a formal mentorship program.
The prize of $10,000 is awarded biennially.

For further information regarding the award, please visit the APDG website: https://apdg.org.au/resources/thelma-afford-award

The Thelma Afford Award for Costume Design in Stage and Screen was established to promote the further study of theatre, film or TV costume design, in various visual dramatic media, for students from drama and art schools.Professionals wishing to participate in further education in costume design are...

01/05/2026

Accreditation is considered the highest honour that can be bestowed on an APDG member and applications are now open!

Are you an APDG member who has demonstrated high standards in design and design innovation, as well as having actively promoted the value and contribution of design to the Screen and Live Performance industries? Or perhaps you know a member worthy of APDG Accreditation who you can encourage to apply this year?

There are many designers in our membership who are worthy of accreditation. If you are keen to apply, we encourage you to get in touch and we will connect you with a current accredited member to discuss your eligibility and where suitable, endorse your application.

Visit: https://apdg.org.au/membership/accreditation

27/04/2026

The Thelma Afford Award for costume design in stage and screen is now open!

Established to promote the further study of theatre, film or TV costume design, in various visual dramatic media, the award is for students from drama and art schools, and professionals wishing to participate in further education in costume design are also welcome to apply.

The award is an initiative of the late Thelma May Afford, an Australian designer, theatre performer and journalist. Thelma Afford was a talented designer who explored the uses of various media for her costume work and was a recognised authority on the history of costume and theatre in Australia.The Thelma Afford Award for costume design in stage and screen is now open!

For further information regarding the award, please visit the Thelma Afford Award page on the APDG website https://apdg.org.au/resources/thelma-afford-award

24/04/2026

ENTRIES CLOSE THIS MONDAY

Less than 1 week to submit a 2026 APDG Awards entry! Entries are open until this Monday April 27, 2026, 11:59pm.

Any questions about your entry, feel free to contact us:
https://apdg.org.au/contact

24/04/2026

If Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) can stand on a monster truck in the desert, you can get your APDG Awards submission complete by April 27!

Spotlight on the ‘Set Decoration for a feature film or a television production’ award category: this award is for set decoration for a feature film or television production in any format (series, stand-alone show, or documentary).

For a full list of this year’s Awards Categories visit the Awards Entry Guide:
https://apdg.org.au/awards/entry-guide

Credit: 'Furiosa, A Mad Max Saga', winning entry for the ‘Netflix Set Decoration for a Feature Film or Television Production Award’, 2025. Katie Sharrock – Set Decorator, Colin Gibson APDG – Production Designer, Daniel Waring – Lead Man, Ben Howell – Senior Buyer/Dresser.