Zed Talks / Notes

Jason will be giving a talk and hosting a public panel for 4ZZZ in October at the Brisbane Powerhouse.

Zed + Design: 50 Years of Design in the Margins is part of the station's 50th birthday Zed Talks series. Tickets are free but need to booked here.

Jason's talk will be drawing from an introduction he wrote for a new book "The Edges of Graphic Design" by Anja Lutz, published by Set Margins'.

He'll be joined by George Levi, Phoebe Paradise and John Willsteed.

They'll be asking if the margins — often places of exclusion and repression — can also be reimagined as radical spaces for resistance and creative possibility? As Australia's first community broadcaster, 4ZZZ has long amplified and nurtured artists and designers working on the edges of mainstream culture, creating a vibrant, independent community that thrives beyond the reach and control of oppressive centers.

The event will delve into how this mutual support has fostered an independent culture, and what role artists connected to 4ZZZ see for themselves on the periphery. Discover the stories behind the posters, the evolution of design, and the enduring power of graphic activism in shaping a rebellious, creative spirit.

All are welcome to explore the intersection of art, activism, and community in this special discussion.

Presented by 4ZZZ and Brisbane Powerhouse.

Phoebe Paradise is a multi-disciplinary artist, musician, and designer based in Brisbane, Australia, known for her illustrations, murals and public art installations. Whilst Phoebe’s early work often illustrated the grimy subcultures within Australia's underground punk scene, recent years have seen a shift into large scale, fantastical architectural sculptures and installations. She colourfully interprets the concealed worlds that exist within our suburban environment, capturing the beauty and tension between our built and natural worlds.

John Willsteed is a musician and academic. He toured the world through the late 80s in The Go-Betweens, has recorded and performed with many bands and has been a member of award-winning Brisbane group Halfway since 2011. He has produced work examining Brisbane’s punk and post-punk scene, has written numerous pieces for The Conversation and contributed to academic journals and books as both writer and editor. He won the inaugural Letty Katts Award at the State Library of Queensland in 2016 and was awarded the 2024 John Oxley Library Fellowship for his project, Dive For Your Memory – Queensland music stories.

George Levi is a multidisciplinary creative based in Magandjin/Brisbane. They work primarily in illustration, film and photography; assembling art across multiple styles with a focus that ambles between and amongst native flora & fauna, environmental protection, regenerative agriculture, natural winemaking, community radio, trans rights and beyond. Their collaborative projects strive to brighten the corners of the efforts of other makers, growers and creatives.

ZED + DESIGN
50 Years of Design in the Margins

Reserve free tickets here

Saturday 18 October 2025, 1.00-3.00pm
Underground Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse

September 2025 / Zed Talks