About the author

David Whitbread  

Blue tone image of author David Whitbread in a suit with a short beard

Australian graphic designer David Whitbread runs his own design consultancy. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design (Swinburne, Melbourne).

Professional career

David was Design Director of the Australian Government Publishing Service. In 2004, he was Director of Corporate Communications, then Web, Design and Video for an Australian Government department. Later he was the Corporate Communications Manager and Marketing Team Leader for the Australian Government Solicitor for 10 years.

He teaches graphic design at the Canberra Institute of Technology. He was also the Head of Graphic Design at the University of Canberra. And he has spoken at conferences, seminars and workshops on design and communication in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

He was art director and one of the co-authors of the Australian Government’s Style manual for authors, editors and printers (6th edition, Wiley, 2002) and an expert adviser on StyleManual.gov.au (2020). He wrote a monthly ‘Design’ column in Australian MacWorld for 11 years. He also wrote Made in Australia on innovative Australian agribusinesses for 2 years.

Recognition and awards

His work has received recognition in the Australian Book Publishing Association Design Awards, the National Print Awards and the Australasian Reporting Awards. And an Industry Award for Excellence from the Printing and Graphic Excellence (PAGE) Awards.

He has been a member of the Australian Graphic Design Association since its foundation in 1989, most recently as a Board Member from 2018 to 2022. He facilitated the AGDA Awards juries for the Print and Publications categories in 2021 and 2022.

David is also a professional musician, playing both bassoon and piano. He has played bassoon in orchestras in Canberra and Melbourne. He regularly plays with the Australian Wind Symphony and Weston Winds and is the founding bassoonist in the Aeolus Wind Trio.

On piano, he accompanied the Woden Valley Youth Choir for 10 years. He was also musical director and associate artist in 11 seasons of cabaret at the School of Arts Café in Queanbeyan.