Design for Change – Entries Open!
- Words by Peppermint
Designers – do you want to make a positive, lasting difference in the world? If you’ve got a big design idea and need some assistance making it a reality, we’d love to help! To support creative ideas and help foster global change, Peppermint is offering one up-and-coming Australian designer $500 towards the tuition fees for the course of their choice (across any design discipline, including fashion, graphics, furniture, product, landscape, jewellery, web and more). You might have already started your course this March or you could be planning to do so later this year. It may be degree-length study or a short program that will help you learn new skills. All we ask is that you have a vision for social change or environmental responsibility, and that your chosen course will help you work towards this goal. Entries will be judged by a panel of experts specialising in various aspects of design and sustainability, including Ben Peacock, Founder of Republic of Everyone agency; Kelly Elkin, Fashion Designer and Founder of ALAS sleepwear; Kent Gration, Sustainable Furniture Designer and Creator of Wambamboo and Kelley Sheenan, Designer/Editor of Peppermint.
To enter, please email your answers to the following questions (along with a supporting document containing visual representation of your concept or business idea) to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Design for Change’ by 5pm, Friday 28th March 2014. Hit us with your best pitch!
1) How do you plan to use design to create positive change in the world?
2) What is your background in this area?
3) How will your work stand out from others already working in this field? What will be your point of difference?
4) Which course (at which institution) do you plan to study/are currently studying?
5) What is your five-year plan to bring this idea to fruition?
#peppermintdesigncomp
Need help finding the right course? There are a number of great institutions you can apply to in Australia, including (but not limited to) the following. Check out their design programs and get inspired!
Billy Blue College of Design
Shillington College
Open Colleges
International School of Colour and Design
RMIT University
University of Tasmania
School for Social Entrepreneurs
Centre for Sustainability Leadership
Raffles College of Design and Commerce
University of Southern Australia
University of Queensland
The Permaculture Institute
SEED International
Sydney University
University of Canberra
Terms and conditions: Competition is open within Australia only. Closing date is 28th March 2014. This competition is facilitated and funded by Peppermint Publishing Trust. Prize money is non-transferrable and non-exchangeable. Funds must be paid directly to the institution (or to the competition winner if tuition fee payment has already been made – proof of payment will be required in this instance). Winner will be notified by Wednesday 9th April 2014. Proof of enrolment to the agreed institution (as outlined in your application) will need to be provided within 12 months of the competition closing date, and payment must be made to the institution within this period also. The judges’ decision is final and no further correspondence will be entered into.
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Look, I don’t want to make anyone panic but IT’S DECEMBER!!! If you’re planning to give homemade gifts, you’re going to have to act fast. …
Hang out with us on Instagram
🌻 The Paddington 🌻
This is a much-loved staple, created for Issue 50 in 2021. We love seeing the #PeppermintPaddingtonTop continually popping up in our feeds!
How stunning is our model Elon MelaninGoddessEfon – she told us it was one of the first times she had been asked to come to a shoot with her natural hair. 🌻
We worked with South African patternmaker Sarah Steenkamp of @FrenchNavyNow_ to create this wardrobe essential – the perfect puff-sleeve blouse. Raglan sleeves make it the ultimate beginner sew, plus the gorgeous back buttons let you add your own personal twist.
Pattern via the link in bio! 🪡
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Fabric: @Spoonflower
Model: MelaninGoddessEfon
“In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.”
Crafters have often been at the heart of many protest movements, often serving as a powerful means of political expression. @NeedleAndSkein, a yarn store in Minnesota, are helping to mobilise the craftivists of the world with a ‘Melt The Ice’ knitting pattern created by @Yarn_Cult (with a crochet pattern too), as a way of peaceful protest.
The proceeds from the $5 pattern will go to local immigrant aid organisations – or you can donate without buying the pattern.
Raise those needles, folks – art and craft can change the world. 🧶
Link in bio for the pattern.
Images: @Gather_Fiber @NeedleAndSkein @a2ina2 @KyraGiggles Sandi.204 @WhatTracyMakes AllieKnitsAway Auntabwi2
#MeltTheIce #Craftivism #Knitting #CraftForChange
TWO WEEKS TO GO! 🤩
"The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter."
Only two more weeks until @Life_Instyle – Australia`s leading boutique retail trade show. If you own a store, don`t miss this event! Connect with designers, source exquisite – and mindful – products, and see firsthand why this is Australia’s go-to trade show for creatives and retailers alike. And it`s free! ✨️
Life Instyle – Sydney/Eora Country
14-17 February 2026
ICC, Darling Harbour
Photos: @Samsette
#LifeInstyle #SustainableShopping #SustainableShop #RetailTradeEvent
Calling all sewists! 📞
Have you made the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress yet? Call *1800 I NEED THIS NOW to get making!
This gorgeous green number was modelled (and made) by the fabulous Lisa of @Tricky.Pockets 🙌🏼
If you need a nudge, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint sewists a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern – how generous is that?!
Head to the link in bio now 📞
*Not a real number in case that wasn`t clear 😂
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
8 Things to Know About January 26 - from @ClothingTheGaps:
Before you celebrate, take the time to learn the truth. January 26 is not a day of unity it’s a Day of Mourning and Survival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It marks the beginning of invasion, dispossession, and ongoing colonial violence. It’s time for truth-telling, not whitewashed history.
Stand in solidarity. Learn. Reflect. Act.
✊🏽 Blog written by Yorta Yorta woman Taneshia Atkinson.
🔗 Link in bio of @ClothingTheGaps to read the full blog
#ChangeTheDate #InvasionDay #SurvivalDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #ClothingTheGaps
As the world careens towards AI seeping into our feeds, finds and even friend-zones, it`s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
We just wanted to say that here at Peppermint, we are choosing to not print or publish AI-generated art, photos, words, videos or content.
Merriam-Webster’s human editors chose `slop` as the 2025 Word of the Year – they define it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” The problem is, as AI increases in quality, it`s becoming more and more difficult to ascertain what`s real and what`s not.
Let`s be clear here, AI absolutely has its place in science, in climate modelling, in medical breakthroughs, in many places... but not in replacing the work of artists, writers and creatives.
Can we guarantee that everything we publish is AI-free? Honestly, not really. We know we are not using it to create content, but we are also relying on the artists, makers and contributors we work with, as well as our advertisers, to supply imagery, artwork or words created by humans. AI features are also creeping into programs and apps too, making it difficult to navigate. But we will do our best to avoid it and make a stand for the artists and creatives who have had their work stolen and used to train AI machines, and those who are now losing work as they are replaced by this energy-sapping, environment-destroying magic wand.
Could using it help our productivity and bottom line? Sure. And as a small business in a difficult landscape, that`s a hard one to turn down. We know other publishers who use AI to write stories, create recipes, produce photo shoots... but this one is important to us.
`Touch grass` was also a Merriam-Webster Word of the Year. We`ll happily stick with that as a theme, thanks very much. 🌿
