The State of Design festival
dal 14/7/2008 al 23/7/2008
Segnalato da
14/7/2008
The State of Design festival
Melbourne Museum, Victoria
Taking place throughout Melbourne and several regional centres in July, the State of Design explores the ways in which design responds to the changing needs of business and our society. From the creative individuals and their stories that shape our future through to the valuable commercial, ecological and social outcomes that can result, the festival explores and highlights the value that design delivers to all Victorians, breaking down misconceptions, provoking change, and creating opportunities for the future.
The State of Design festival set to boost Victoria as Australia’s design capital.
Recognised as the peak design event of the Victorian calendar, the State of Design (SOD) and the Premier’s Design
Awards (PDA) will return in 2008 under the Artistic Direction of Ewan McEoin with a state wide festival approach that will
create national and international conversations about design in Victoria.
Taking place throughout Melbourne and several regional centres in July, the State of Design will explore the ways in which
design responds to the changing needs of business and our society. From the creative individuals and their stories that
shape our future through to the valuable commercial, ecological and social outcomes that can result, the State of Design
will explore and highlight the value that design delivers to all Victorians, breaking down misconceptions, provoking change,
and creating opportunities for the future.
The festival will have four key event arenas, the Premier’s Design Awards, Design Capital, Design for Everyone and Design
Made Trade, each created to stimulate interest, engagement and inspiration amongst design professionals, business
groups and the general public. Key strategic partner the Melbourne Museum will be the venue for a number of major
events, and with activities also taking place at the nearby Royal Exhibition Buildings, the festival will create a major design
‘hub’ in the northeast corner of the city.
The Premier’s Design Awards, occurring in 2008 and then biennially, acknowledges those who have reached the
pinnacle of excellence in their chosen design field. The Awards will be presented at a gala event at the Melbourne Museum
on 16 July and will coincide with the opening of the major exhibition which will showcase the award winners over the
duration of festival and into August.
Design for Everyone presents a public program for the Festival curated by Fleur Watson that will offer diverse
audiences the chance to visit dynamic exhibitions and public talks as well as experiencing the world of design through 30
events across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victorian locations.
Design Capital, Australia’s first business of design conference, will give design professionals, researchers,
manufacturers and clients the chance to connect. The future focused program, co-presented by Design Victoria and
housed at Melbourne Museum, offers international and local keynotes, panel and breakout sessions, tackling issues
including sustainability, global competition and the role of design in driving successful innovation.
While Design Capital presents the opportunity for leading business’ to network, forecast, and find opportunity, a new trade
element has been developed to add an essential commercial aspect to the Festival. Design Made Trade is a new
breed of trade event, a curated, quality controlled event bringing together 40 of Australia’s most talented designers across a
large range of design disciplines, including lighting, textiles, furniture, industrial, fashion and graphic design in an
unparalleled showcase of forthcoming products and material trends to the Australian and international markets. Housed in
an original, seductive environment at the Royal Exhibition Building, Design Made Trade is geared to attract key buyers,
design professions, design makers, manufacturers and decision makers from national and international creative industries
and manufacturing sectors.
Funded by the Victorian Government through the Design Victoria Program, and commercial partnerships, the State of
Design will be delivered in 2008 by a joint venture of three organisations which together make up the State of Design
Alliance (SODA). The three parties are: Marie Kinsella of Australian Exhibitions and Conferences Pty Ltd, Robyn Winslow of
Winslow Solutions Pty Ltd and Ewan McEoin of Studio Propeller Pty Ltd. Bringing expertise and networks across major
event development and delivery, the design industry, and industry policy creation, SODA has a four-year strategy for the
festival which will cement its place internationally.
Striving to create a truly representative and outcome oriented Festival a Curatorial Panel has been established under the
guidance of the Artistic Director Ewan McEoin. The Curatorial Panel brings together key industry personalities from across
the design disciplines and from design education who can offer the Festival guidance and strategic support for the future.
Represented groups include the Australian Graphic Design Association, the Design Institute of Australia, Craft Victoria,
Melbourne University, Monash University, RMIT, Swinburne University and Museum Victoria.
For further media information including images, please contact
David Renouf
HotHouse Media and Events
P- 03 9682 0222
E- david@hhme.com.au
Melbourne Museum
Nicholson Street (Carlton Gardens) Victoria