Woods Bagot’s Rosina Di Maria made DIA Fellow

The Design Institute of Australia – the peak design professional body steering Australia’s design industry – celebrated on April 10 the exceptional contributions of distinguished members of the South Australian design network.

Fellowship appointments acknowledge industry figures who help the institute to deliver its strategy and engage designers within its open governance structure. Fellows are recognised for their exceptional abilities within industry, their commitment to the design community, and their achievements through the realm of design or associated professions.

Woods Bagot Principal and Adelaide Studio Chair Rosina Di Maria has been made a Fellow of the DIA in recognition of her outstanding leadership and continual advocacy for South Australian design.

Di Maria’s projects include Deloitte workplace; SAHMRI; Journey Beyond Gold Premium and Platinum luxury train fleets; Tarrkarri Centre for First Nations Cultures; and BHP’s global workplace transformation.

“I love Adelaide for its entrepreneurial spirit, it’s history of innovation, and its culture of craftsmanship,” says Di Maria. 

“From viticulture to architecture, our humble state is a heavyweight on the world stage for producing world class projects that enrich people’s lives.”  

Di Maria is an internationally renowned interior designer backed by a portfolio of award-winning work spanning Australia, Europe and Asia. 

As a recognised industry leader, Di Maria is a regular design juror, panellist and speaker, and an ambassador for good design, frequently contributing to critical discourse and promoting industry excellence through her board and industry positions.

Notwithstanding her global experience and outlook, Di Maria is a proud Adelaidean and a staunch champion for South Australian design. 
An advocate for the arts and culture, Di Maria is on the board of South Australian institution JamFactory and Carclew Youth Arts. 

Image: SAHMRI / supplied

She also holds a position on the Property Council of Australia SA Division Council and as a national judge for their Innovation and Excellence awards progam. In 2023, Di Maria was nominated as South Australian ‘Woman of the Year’, and was given an honorary title as a Good Design Ambassador.
Woods Bagot’s roots date back 155 years in South Australian soil, founded in Adelaide in in 1869. 

In it’s century-and-a-half history, Di Maria is the Adelaide studio’s first female principal and studio leader. Today, Woods Bagot is still a local name, backed by the collective intelligence of 17 studios around the world.   
This lifetime achievement acknowledges Di Maria within the upper echelon of Australian design, whose continued support for local individuals, organisations and industry has helped to drive innovation, promote awareness, and progress excellence within South Australia.

Images: Di Maria joins her peers Csilla Csabai (2023 Fellow) and Kirsti Simpson, who this year was admitted into the DIA Hall of Fame / supplied