Australian Production Design Guild

APDG accreditation is granted to full members who have consistently demonstrated high standards in design and design innovation, as well as having actively promoted design’s value and contribution to Screen and Live Performance industries.

APDG accreditation is considered the highest honour that can be bestowed on an APDG member. There are many designers and design associates in our membership who are worthy of accreditation.

2026 APDG Accreditation Applications are open until midnight on Friday June 5, 2026. Recipients of accreditation will be announced at the APDG Awards in August 2026.

If you require any assistance or further information, please contact [email protected].

For more information visit:

https://apdg.org.au/membership/accreditation

The Thelma Afford Award applications are now open. Are you a costume designer or know of someone who you think is deserving of the incredible opportunity?

Sabina Myers was the 2024 recipient of the Thelma Afford Award. She used the $10,000 prize money to travel to Italy where she embarked on a figure drawing immersion. The APDG asked Sabina some questions about her experiences:

What was the absolute highlight of your studies?
”Studying together with artists and practitioners from different industries. Drawing is such a universal foundational skill, but everyone's methods are different - I was able to see techniques I would never have encountered in my usual environment.”

What skills were you able to acquire and/or improve upon, and how does this inform your practice now?
”Figure drawing is the backbone of how I communicate character and costume. Increasing that skill level through concentrated study feels like it's given me more freedom to actually be experimental and expressive with pose and the body as a storytelling device.

Applications are now open.

For further information regarding the award, and to check your eligibility, please visit the Thelma Afford Award page on the APDG website.

Image credits: Sabina Myers' travel photography and drawings.

The Thelma Afford Award for costume design in stage and screen is now open!

Established to promote the further study of theatre, film or TV costume design, in various visual dramatic media, the award is for students from drama and art schools, and professionals wishing to participate in further education in costume design are also welcome to apply.

The award is an initiative of the late Thelma May Afford, an Australian designer, theatre performer and journalist. Thelma Afford was a talented designer who explored the uses of various media for her costume work and was a recognised authority on the history of costume and theatre in Australia.The Thelma Afford Award for costume design in stage and screen is now open!

For further information regarding the award, please visit the Thelma Afford Award page on the APDG website https://apdg.org.au/resources/thelma-afford-award