Concrete Playground’s Guide to Semi-Permanent 2013

Like a mid-year Christmas, Semi-Permanent is here on our shores again. Bundled up in this year's stocking are designers and creative geniuses hailing from every corner (including our own) with ideas, designs and platforms to inspire and challenge our own native doers and shakers of the design world.

In preparation for one of the world's ultimate creativity symposium, we've put together our own wee outline of the speakers that will be sharing their wisdom at this year's event. Oh, and if you haven't gotten your mittens on some tickets yet, we might be able to hook you up. If you don't end up being one of the chosen few to win a free pass, you'll still get 15% for being a friend of ours. When you buy your ticket just use the promo code 'friend' and presto.

Annie Sperling

With productions that surpass the land of Oz in terms of hyperbolic colours and magic-realism mise-en-scene, Annie Sperling is an auteur of production design. Based in the city of dreams, Los Angeles, California, Sperling, who's worked for the likes of Katy Perry and David LaChappelle has a ton of commercials, music videos, feature films under her belt. She also works as a photographer, painter and muralist.

Aaron Rose

One of the pioneers of the beautiful losers art movement, Aaron Rose is a film director, artist, musician, art curator and writer based in Los Angeles. He's the co-editor of ANP Quarterly and was the owner/director of Alleged Gallery for a decade (1992-2002).

Askew

From kiwi shores, the multi-talented multi-disciplinary self-taught artist who's best known for his graffiti work, has almost 20 years of experience and two consecutive Write 4 Gold world titles as part of the undefeated TMD crew. An interesting perspective outside of the usual pay-your-way education.

Curious Films

With a truckload of recognition from Cannes, Sundance, NYF Awards and Adshow (to drop a few names), this Australasian company are storytellers across multiple platforms who challenge the assumptive norm.

Digital Kitchen

Digital Kitchen is a design, motion graphics and animation agency from the States that focuses on authentic content and brand integrity. Speaking from the agency is Mark Bashore, partner and head of creative who's work has raked up 11 emmy nominations (2 wins) as well as a Gold Lion and Cannes Cannes Lion Design Grande Prix to date.

Dominic Hofstede

With over 20 years of experience, Australian graphic designer Dominic Hofstede looks at the most appropriate and engaging ways to connect with a defined audience.

Kelly Thompson

Photographer, illustrator and art director, the Rotorua-born artist brings an air of nonchalant sexiness to her art.

March Studio

Architects with a digital edge, March Studio has had their work in built in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Singapore, Zurich, Paris and New York for clients like Baker D. Chirico, Damir Doma, and Aesop.

Niklas Roy

Calling himself 'the inventor of useless things' (artistic robots, machines and devices), Roy found Royrobotiks after working as a 3D animator and visual effects supervisor in the film industry.

Random Studio

Hailing from Amsterdam the founder of this digital agency and technology workshop produces work at the intersecting point between digital installation, mobile, online and moving image.

Sandra Dieckmann

German artist Dieckmann's work explores the disquieting but oddly comforting elusiveness of folk art.

Stab

Run by a rogue lot of narcissistic and morally corrupt humans, this surf magazine talks to the the suited-and-booted stockbrokers. The university students who’ve smelt the roses and don’t swallow the evening news. The just-18-year-olds whose trunks end above the knee, who like socks that pop and who don’t mind clamping the top button. The empowered women who ain’t adverse to a Brazilian cut, but it’s also finner-270s and bigspins.

Steve Ayson

Famous for saving a lot of drunken non-driving lives, Steve Ayson spins video gold with his off-beat comedy and intuitive sense of storytelling and casting.

Toko

Ex-Rotterdam Sydney-based designers Toko follow design practices based on critical thought, experimentation and potential collaboration.