Hyperconnectivity – Sydney Design Week 2021
Sydney Design Week 2021 commences on Thursday 16 September for a two-day design summit. Presented by The Powerhouse Museum, the 2021 digital program explores the theme of ‘hyperconnectivity’ and dives deep into the ties that bind contemporary society.
Celebrating design on both a local and global stage, Sydney Design Week 2021 embarks on a journey of conversation, questioning what unites, defines and maintains community. Embodying its own theme, the two-day program will be presented via a digital platform. The summit is curated by Creative Director, writer and editor Stephen Todd. “Although our full vision for Sydney Design Week 2021 cannot be presented, we are excited to be presenting a curated program on our theme, Hyperconnectivity,” explains Stephen. “Sydney Design Week will celebrate the fact that even when we are physically isolated, we can still find ourselves intrinsically connected.”
The summit will showcase a selection of local and international designers, as well as a variety of global design centres. “Sydney Design Week will now be a free program of online discussions,” says Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah, “providing a platform for audiences to connect with Australian and international designers and design thinkers.” Featured participants include Design Museum London, Lindsey Adelman, Ronan Bouroullec, David Flack, Yasmine Ghoniem, Adam Markowitz, Jennifer McMaster, M+ Museum featuring Tina Pang and Gary Chang, Marc Newson, Ivana Taylor and Jonathan Zawada.
On the summit’s first day, a live panel discussion will explore ‘Discovered’ Designers for Tomorrow. The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) and Wallpaper* have partnered with the Design Museum in London to create ‘Discovered’, a project that challenges the ways design can foster a sense of touch and reconnection in an increasingly virtual world. The project facilitates a platform for younger designers to explore, create and celebrate their potential in the design industry.
Other events include Imagining Music with multi-disciplinary designer Jonathan Zawada, where curator Sarah Rees will join the two-time ARIA award-winner – who has created cover art and videos for Flume, Dua Lipa, The Avalanches and Rustie – on exploring creation in digital spaces. On the second day, New York-based lighting designer Lindsey Adelman, YSG Founder Yasmine Ghoniem and David Flack from Flack Studio will discuss the contemporary workplace as a community. Friday will also host the Urban Transformers panel, which will present live from the new M+ Museum in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District. Likewise, Paris-based designer Ronan Bouroullec will share the different ways urban design has the power to transform spaces, as well as insights from his studio practice.
When he Powerhouse Museum reopens, The Sydney Design Week exhibition ‘Graphic Identities’ will be launched, presenting work from eight celebrated designers – Gordon Andrews, Douglas Annand, Frances Burke, Dahl Collings, Shirley de Vocht, Pieter Huveneers (Tooth & Co), Arthur Leydin and Alistair Morrison. Coinciding with the Digital Summit, and as one of the largest digitation projects undertaken within Australia, a selection of recently digitised work from each of the designer’s archives will be presented online through the Powerhouse collection. The Powerhouse is also home to the most extensive curated work by Marc Newson. Marc will reflect on his most recognisable designs to mark the 20th anniversary of his landmark exhibition ‘Marc Newson – Design Works’ at the Powerhouse Museum.
As a way of staying connected and celebrating national and international design, Sydney Design Week 2021 will run on a digital platform from 16–17 September 2021.
