Design Academic Penrith, New South Wales 2751

Welcome to Design Academic, located in the beautiful city of Penrith, New South Wales, Australia. As an establishment and point of interest, we are dedicated to providing a platform for design education, research, and community engagement.

At Design Academic, our founder, Jonathon Allen, brings over 30 years of experience as a design academic. Having taught at universities in three different countries, he is passionate about making a difference through teaching, researching, and empowering his students.

Through his own design work, Jonathon has focused on addressing social issues and improving the human condition. From empowering people with disabilities to exploring the ethical use of materials, designing for our future selves, and tackling concerns related to population growth, an aging population, and food security, his work is driven by a genuine desire to create positive change.

One of Jonathon's notable contributions to the design field is his use of Augmented Reality. By overlaying digital elements onto physical objects and spaces, he creates hidden galleries and brings the stories of things to life, providing additional information and enhancing the user experience.

Designing for people with disabilities has been a significant focus of Jonathon's work, as evidenced by his Honours and PhD research in this area. Through this website, you will have the opportunity to explore some of his and his students' design projects that aim to empower individuals with disabilities.

The exploration of materials and their properties is another area of fascination for Jonathon. His research delves into the ethical implications of material sourcing and usage, raising important questions about human rights and environmental impact.

As the head of The Academy, an interdisciplinary program at Western Sydney University, Jonathon is passionate about nurturing high-performing students and fostering ethical leadership, community engagement, global citizenship, and creative and critical thinking.

Design Academic is a platform where you can explore Jonathon Allen's work, publications, and musings on materials. We invite you to delve into our website and discover the innovative and thought-provoking world of design.

Designed and developed by Jonathon Allen, based on the work of Peter Finlan, we extend our gratitude to Peter Steele, Roman Goik, and Matt Batterton for their contributions to this project.