Congratulations to the NIDA alumni recognised in the 2026 Australian Production Design Guild (APDG) Awards nominations across screen, live performance and events. We are endlessly proud of our graduates working at the forefront of design and look forward to cheering on these creatives at the awards ceremony on 22 August.
DOCKLANDS STUDIOS MELBOURNE ART DIRECTION FOR A FEATURE FILM OR TELEVISION PRODUCTION AWARD
Kate Saunders (Technical Production, 1984) – Supervising Art Director for War Machine
THE JENNIE TATE COSTUME DESIGN FOR A LIVE PERFORMANCE OR EVENT AWARD – SPONSORED BY HLA MANAGEMENT
David Fleischer (Design, 2009) – Costume Designer for Turandot
CATHERINE MARTIN COSTUME DESIGN FOR A TELEVISION PRODUCTION AWARD
Gypsy Taylor (Design, 2003) – Costume Designer for All Her Fault
Rita Carmody (Design, 2007) – Costume Designer for Sunny Nights
Lauren Hunter (Costume, 2016) – Buyer/Dresser for Watching You
AAA FILM FREIGHT COSTUME SUPERVISION FOR A FEATURE FILM OR TELEVISION PRODUCTION AWARD
Edie Kurzer (Design, 1978) – Costume Designer for Kangaroo
TOP TECHS MANAGEMENT DESIGN FOR A COMMERCIAL AWARD
Gypsy Taylor (Design, 2003) – Costume Designer for Kleenex’s Go With Confidence
Nicholas Dare (Design, 2001) – Art Director for Rugby World Cup’s Go All Out
NEXT PRINTING GRAPHIC DESIGN AWARD
Jacqui Schofield (Design, 2013) – Graphic Designer for All Her Fault
CREATIVE CRUNCHERS MULTI-DISCIPLINE DESIGN FOR A LIVE PERFORMANCE OR EVENT AWARD
Isabel Hudson (Design, 2015) – Designer for Aphrodite
Eamon D’Arcy (Design, 1976) – Multi-disciplinary Designer for Chasing the Sun
Penny Challen (Design, 2001) – Multi-disciplinary Designer for Little Shop of Horror
MYRIAD STUDIOS PRODUCTION DESIGN FOR A TELEVISION PRODUCTION AWARD
Tuesday Stone (Design, 2004) – Art Director for Good Cop Bad Cop
Nicholas Dare (Design, 2001) – Production Designer for The Artful Dodger (Season 2)
KRANK’D PRODUCTIONS VIDEO AND VISUAL TECHNOLOGY DESIGN FOR A LIVE PERFORMANCE OR EVENT AWARD
Morgan Moroney (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2021) – Video Designer for Aphrodite
Susie Henderson (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2019) – Video Designer for ENDLING
NIDA FOUNDATION TRUST EMERGING DESIGNER FOR A LIVE PERFORMANCE OR EVENT AWARD
Ella Wilkinson (Design for Performance, 2025) – Production Designer, Thomas Shepherd (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2025) and Lighting Designer Taylah Crouch (Technical Theatre and Stage Management, 2025) – Video Designer for Peter Pan
AFTRS EMERGING DESIGNER FOR A SCREEN PRODUCTION AWARD
Kiarna Strauss (Specialist Make-Up Services, 2022) – Hair and Make-up Designer for The Lounge
EVENT ENGINEERING SET DESIGN FOR A LIVE PERFORMANCE OR EVENT AWARD
Dan Potra (Design, 1991) – Production Designer for The Magic Flute
Hailley Hunt (Design for Performance, 2021) – Set Designer for Phar Lap: The Electro Swing Musical
Keerthi Subramanyam (Design for Performance, 2019) – Set Designer for The Wrong Gods
Hailley Hunt (Design for Performance, 2021) – Set Designer for Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
DOCKLANDS STUDIOS MELBOURNE PRODUCTION DESIGN FOR A FEATURE FILM AWARD
Nicholas Dare (Design, 2001) – Production Designer for Together
Visit the APDG website for the full list of nominees.
Header: Opera Australia’s Turandot. Costume design by David Fleischer. Photo: Keith Saundres.