A Gold Coast Design Thinking talk
About

A community meetup, run by working designers.

Free or low costCommunity-runEvery discipline

Our mission

Give designers, product people and the wider tech community on the Gold Coast a place to meet, learn from each other's work, and build a local industry worth staying for.

The format

Free or low costNo membership. Most nights are free, and ticketed ones stay cheap.
Community-runOrganised by local designers in their own time. No agency owns it.
On the CoastHeld here, not in Brisbane. Local venues, local speakers, local work.
Every disciplineProduct, brand, web, motion, research — plus students and career switchers.
The crowd at a talk
In the roomCome for the talks, stay for the people.
Ash Donaldson on stage

Co-organisers

Tam Nóbrega
Tam NóbregaSenior Designer at Risepoint
Ash Donaldson
Ash DonaldsonService & Behaviour Design Principal at Tobias.
Robert Napier
Robert NapierSenior Product & Brand Designer at Cloudcase

Current and ongoing partners

Cohort Innovation Space
Venue partner
Griffith University
Education partner
just digital people
Community partner
Burleigh Brewing
Drinks partner
Four ways in: venue, food and drinks, community, or event sponsor. What we need is scoped per event.Let's talk partnership

Questions

What is Gold Coast Design Thinking?

Gold Coast Design Thinking (GCDT) is a community meetup for designers, researchers and product people on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It runs talks, workshops, design challenges and casual dinners so designers, product people and the wider tech community on the Coast can meet, learn from each other’s work, and build a local industry worth staying for.

Who can come to Gold Coast Design Thinking events?

Anyone with an interest in design. Members work across product, brand, web, motion and research design, and students and career switchers are welcome too.

How much does it cost?

There’s no membership fee. Most events are free, and ticketed ones stay cheap.

Where are the events held?

On the Gold Coast, not in Brisbane. Talks are often held at Cohort Innovation Space, with dinners, drinks and outdoor events at other local venues.

Who runs Gold Coast Design Thinking?

It’s community-run by local designers in their own time. No agency or governing body owns it, but GCDT is part of Australia Design Thinking (AusDT), a national collective of place-based design communities that also includes Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Byron Design Thinking. GCDT joined AusDT in September 2025. The co-organisers are Tam Nóbrega, Ash Donaldson and Robert Napier.

How do I find and register for the next event?

Upcoming events are listed on the Events page and on the Gold Coast Design Thinking Luma calendar (luma.com/GoldCoastDesignThinking), where you can register. You can also follow GCDT on LinkedIn for announcements.

How can my business partner with or sponsor Gold Coast Design Thinking?

There are four ways in: venue, food and drinks, community, or event sponsor, with what’s needed scoped per event. Email events@goldcoastdesignthinking.com.au to talk partnership.