The 12th Annual Diemen Awards, held in Hobart on 28 March, showcased the strength of Tasmania’s print, signage and creative sectors, but also highlighted a growing challenge facing the industry – a constrained pipeline of skilled talent.
The event brought together the breadth of Tasmania’s visual media industry – across print, signage, design, digital and integrated campaigns – and the standard of work reflected a sector continuing to evolve both technically and strategically.
From high-end print production through to complex environmental signage and digital integration, the work demonstrated a clear shift in how success is defined within the industry.
Increasingly, it is not a single output that defines capability, but the ability to deliver consistently across multiple formats and platforms, which reflects a broader industry movement toward integrated, end-to-end service delivery – where design, production and installation are becoming more closely aligned.
This year’s Grand Diemen winners were:
- Print: Foot and Playsted
- Advertising & Communications: Futago
- Design: Demelza Rafferty
- Digital: Honeywagon
- Signage: Flying Colours Group
A key focus of this year’s awards was also the recognition of emerging talent, reinforcing the importance of attracting and developing the next generation of industry professionals.
Emerging talent award winners included:
- Student of the Year: Rosanna Clapp (TasTAFE)
- Young Executive of the Year: Harry Badcock (Abe’s Audio)
- Print Apprentice of the Year: Kirstie Tyson (Impress Print)
- Inclusive Work Award: Rawia Chabchoul (TasTAFE)
These awards highlight the diversity of pathways into the industry and the importance of continued investment in skills development to support long-term sector growth.
A constrained talent pipeline
Alongside the celebration, however, a significant challenge was raised during the event.
Diemen Awards committee member and creative director of Onetonne, Nat Jeanneret, noted that there is currently no local graphic design training available in Lutruwita/Tasmania.
For an industry that relies on both creative and technical capability, the absence of local training pathways presents a structural risk.
Without a sustainable pipeline, businesses face increasing pressure in areas including recruitment and retention, skills development, and long-term capability planning.
While the awards demonstrated what the industry is capable of delivering today, they also prompted a broader question around how that capability will be sustained into the future.
The issues raised at the Diemen Awards align with wider conversations taking place across Australia and New Zealand.
As print, signage and visual media businesses expand into more integrated and technically complex service offerings, demand for skilled professionals continues to increase. At the same time, traditional education pathways are evolving, and in some regions, contracting.
The Tasmanian context brings this challenge into sharp focus, highlighting the need for greater industry collaboration, engagement with education providers and government, and new approaches to training and workforce development.
Beyond recognising excellence, the Diemen Awards also provide a platform for industry discussion and advocacy.
Following the event, early discussions have commenced around forming an industry-led working group to represent the sector’s needs, engage with government, and explore options to rebuild local training pathways.
While these conversations are at an early stage, they represent a constructive step toward addressing a shared industry concern.
The 12th Annual Diemen Awards confirmed that Tasmania’s print, signage and creative industry continues to produce work of a high standard, with strong capability across multiple disciplines.
Sustaining that momentum, however, will depend on addressing the challenges emerging beneath the surface.
The message from this year’s awards is clear – recognising excellence remains important, but ensuring the long-term strength of the industry will require a renewed focus on skills, training and workforce development.
Industry stakeholders interested in following developments or contributing to the conversation can register for updates here.