Attend this event
Now is the time for our creative community to leave our Adobe abodes and show this region our creative inertia. The more people who come, the more of these we can do!
Queenstown / Wānaka — Vol. 5
/The Deep
South
Design
Summit/
We bring together like-minded creatives in the south with events that inspire, challenge and connect.
November 2025
Source Material
Breakfast, design, too much c000ffee, pastries and friends at The Sherwood. We’re back for the fifth instalment of the Deep South Design Summit. Join us at The Sherwood to meet some of the most creative people in Queenstown & Wānaka for a morning of breakfast snacks, good conversation and (as always) an irresponsible amount of caffeine. This time we’ll be exploring “Source Material” and what it means to escape the blandification of creative material. This informal “jam” format is built to inspire and connect you with other regional creatives.
Brought to life by Te Atamira, QLDC Economic Futures, and Te Wāhi Toi.
Join Us/What
What is this design summit?
The Deep South Design Summit aims to connect Queenstown and Wānaka based designers, artists, writers, creatives, photographers and illustrators. The goal is to bring the creative and design community together to meet, learn and connect.
This event is DIY, ad hoc, impromptu and non-profit. Feel free to get involved by filling out the form at the bottom of this page.
/Help
How you can help.
Tell your friends
Repost. Mention it over your next latte. The more people come, the more refreshments we can afford.
Tell your enemies
Although they are less fun than friends, they get us closer to that refreshment goal.
Share on social media
Morally, socially and ethically, we’re opposed to Meta but we won’t stop you from sharing. We welcome any and all forms of digital support.
/Why?
5 reasons to attend
- Meet other creatives
- Learn something
- Find new opportunities for collaboration
- Help us strengthen non-tourist industries
- Share ideas
/FAQ
Not so frequently asked questions
Why has the price gone up?
Inflation is crushing everyone and to keep this thing going we’ve had to increase our prices — but fear not, you can get cheap tickets if you buy early.
How long has this been running?
This is #4, baby!
Who did the design?
James did! View his LinkedIn at the bottom of this page. Endorse him for a skill because he donated his time.
Why the cone theme?
The cone represents the collective struggle of the South Island creative proletariat… just kidding. The cones are literally what connect Queenstown to Wānaka. Who would we be without cones?
Where does my money go?
The cost is purely to cover the rental costs from the venue and for future events. This is 100% volunteer run and we literally make 0 dollars.
/Support and thank you
Thank you to Design Assembly, QLDC Economic Futures, Film Otago Southland and Central Lakes Trust for supporting the Deep South Design Summit.
Want your studio or business involved? Get in touch via the newsletter form above.