[1]: 10 Here Higgs drew on the Sydney environment for her textiles designs, especially nearby Bondi Beach, resulting in patterns featuring sailing boots, water skiers, surfers, seashells and sun umbrellas.
[5] As in Australia Higgs drew on her surroundings for her work, creating designs based on native plants, flowers, and taonga held at the National Museum.
[1]: 70 In 2001 her life and work was the subject of a survey exhibition and publication by design historian Douglas Lloyd-Jenkins, Avis Higgs: joie de vivre.
1945: Commonwealth Government commendation from the Australian Federal Treasurer and Prime Minister Ben Chifley, received for her work designing textiles for the war effort with Victory Loan campaign slogans.
[5] Higgs was inducted into the College of Creative Arts Toi Rauwharangi (Massey University) Hall of Fame in 2010, along with ceramicist Manos Nathan.