Derek Hooper LFDIA

Derek Hooper graduated from the RMIT Industrial Design Course in 1954.

From 1955, with the exception of 12 months during which time he worked for Peter Hutchinson & Associates, he has worked as a consultant on the areas of Exhibition Design and Product Development.

In the Exhibition Field he has designed exhibits for the Department of Trade in over fourteen countries. Clients in this field have included Fibremakers, ICI, Containers, the Australian Dairy Produce Board and the Department of External Territories, to mention but a few. His major clients included Mercedes Benz, and he designed many major projects including the Stockman’s Hall of Fame, Great Barrier Reef Aquarium, Townsville, ANZ Banking Museum, Museum Victoria’s Exhibition The Jews of Carlton and the Sydney Opera House Retail Shop.

Derek was also active in product development and worked on retainer with Dow Chemical Australia and developed products for Currie & Richards, Bramac Plastalon and Radio Corporation. Derek contributed strongly to education and developed the Swinburne Industrial Design Course where he was Lecturer in Charge.

He joined the DIA in 1956 and was an active council member for eight years and was Vice President for several terms and was Chair of the Professional Practice Function Board. In 1974 he was elected as Federal President and served in this role until 1978.

A highly significant project for Derek was his work for the Koori Heritage Trust in designing the Koori Cultural Centre in Melbourne. The Centre contains a Library, Retail Space, Exhibition Centre and an Interpretive Centre, and it provides a significant resource for indigenous elders to educate their children in their culture and history.

Derek was recognised with a Fellowship in 1970 and was awarded a Life Fellowship in 1991.