Design Speaks First is an ICON event for the pitch doctors, bids bashers and proposal teams - we know you're out there.
This seminar outlines to professional services marketing/BD teams why design and layout aren’t “cosmetic” extras in new business proposals. Instead, good design can leverage your proposal into a prospective clients final shortlist.
Poorly designed proposals can be confusing, hard to read, and fail to communicate key messages, meaning strong content can be overlooked or wasted. The session explains how evaluators typically skim first, then read, so a clear visual approach and heirarchy reduces cognitive load and helps decision‑makers find what matters quickly.
Panellist:
Janine Morice
Creative Director, BrandOps Creative
Janine Morice is a senior creative director and design leader with a career spanning professional services, not-for-profits, NGOs and government sectors, amongst other industries.
Having led national corporate design teams, Janine has delivered rebrands for prominent professional services firms, template systems for universities and political organisations, and has consulted to federal government in both a visual and strategic design capacity.
In 2022, after years of employment, Janine founded BrandOps Creative, partnering with purposeful organisations to deliver brand, design and Microsoft template solutions that are sustainable, scalable, and beautiful.
Moderator:
Damian Garthwaite
Manager, Markets & Growth – Private Equity, VC and M&A Australia, Ashurst
Damian started his career as an advertising creative, working with brands such as Roadshow Films, Warner Bros., The Body Shop, Ralph Lauren, Best Buy and many others in agency and in-house creative and design roles in the UK, Canada and Australia.
After over ten years in marketing and business development roles in local and global legal and accounting firms, he is just as passionate about the importance and impact of good design in our proposals and capability statements.
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Time: 12:20 pm – 13:30 pm
Location: Grant Thornton, Collins Square, Tower 5, Level 22, 727 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3008
Price:
Members: $40.00 | Non‑members: $90.00
ICON thanks our event sponsor:
