A Return of Design – Melbourne Design Week

From May 18 – 28, Melbourne Design Week returns with a variety of emerging and established designers from around Australia and internationally. Presented by Creative Victoria, in partnership with the National Gallery Victoria’s (NGV) Department of Contemporary Design and Architecture, the design event now holds more than 350 programs for visitors to experience throughout the week at the gallery and across Victoria.

As Australia’s largest annual international design event, Melbourne Design Week returns after the 2022 showcase where over 55,000 people attended. Now, in 2023, the week builds upon past ideas with its continued exploration of the theme ‘Design The World You Want’, which has three new pillars – Transparency, Currency and Legacy. Provoking thought and consideration, the new pillars will enhance visitors’ experiences and reignite the passion for design.

Now, in 2023, the week builds upon past ideas with its continued exploration of the theme ‘Design The World You Want’, which has three new pillars – Transparency, Currency and Legacy.

With exhibitions, talks, films, tours and workshops across Melbourne’s metropolitan and Victoria’s regional centres, the wide-ranging program offers many experiences for design enthusiasts and locals alike. Such activities include the exhibition ‘HARD’ by Calum Hurley – a showcase of queer creatives from around Australia. Alongside is Monash Architecture, which presents ‘Design, Unbuild: Autumn Room’, a temporary installation at Collingwood Yards that uses the courtyard’s large Plane trees and presents them in varying states of autumn defoliation. Additionally, a collaboration between Tait, Agency and Numbulwar Numburindi Arts sees the Numbulwar pop-up studio, an exhibition in which Tait’s Tidal chair is reimagined with fishing nets that have washed up along the shores of the Numbulwar community.

To accompany the exhibitions, the design week also incorporates thought-provoking presentations that aim to highlight the diversity of Australian talent. Symphonic Skateboarding, a distinctive display designed by Kirby Clark, captures the uniqueness of skateboarding through an installation and creates music for the audience when skated over. Moreover, ‘The Silo Project’ is a site-responsive exhibition created by Josee Vesely and is housed in an old grain silo in Richmond. The exhibitions and presentations will be joined by showcases from local and international designers, including Coco Flip, Cult Design, Flack Studio, Mud Australia, Modern Times, pépite and many more. Being held throughout part of the week, and presented by NGV, is the Melbourne Design Fair, taking place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 18 – 21, with tickets currently on sale. There will also be the Melbourne Art Book Fair, which brings together publishers, artists and designers to showcase publications and ideas from around the world.

Provoking thought and consideration, the new pillars will enhance visitors’ experiences and reignite the passion for design.

Over the week, Melbourne will host a diverse collection of artists and designers who will showcase their varied talents across different forms of media and exhibitions. By combining strengths, Melbourne Design Week, NGV and Creative Victoria will celebrate the diversity and excellence of Australian design and architecture.