State of Design

From 15-25, July, State of Design Festival showcases Victoria’s best designers and creative teams, and businesses using innovative design. Learn how design can lead business, industry and society towards a common future.

The Festival holds four major programs focused around the 2009 theme ‘Sampling the Future’: Design Capital business seminar series, Design For Everyone public events, an industry fair Design:Made:Trade, and the biennial Premier’s Design Awards (next held in 2010). See why Victoria is Australia’s centre for design excellence and Melbourne, its design capital. From sustainable innovation through to new technology and systems, the 2009 Design Capital business and design speaking will present their vision and insights into the strategies and tools that can help businesses respond to shifting, volatile market conditions. Speaker highlights include Nipa Doshi half of design duo Doshi Levien who have worked with global companies Intel, Nokia and Tefal among others. Omar Vulinpari is the Head of Visual Communication at Fabrica the Benetton communications centre will be discussing the vital role design will have for future generations. Oran Catts from SymbioticA will be discussing the future of semi-living biotech products.

Following the success of the inaugural Design: Made:Trade; the 2009 edition will continue showcasing Australia's small manufacturers / product designers and design makers. The event has been purposely created for designers seeking collaboration with manufacturers and retail buyers, who can register for a free trade pass on the website. The popularity of the public days last year means this year’s Design:Made:Trade will have two public days on July 18 and 19. Expect to see exhibitors who possess originality and innovation in the areas of Product Design, Graphic Design, Textiles, Lighting, Furniture, Fashion & Accessories and Hand Made Objects. (Vixen Home pictured)

Located within Design:Made:Trade will be designboom (Milan, Italy) mart with designers from over 35 countries presenting their wares. Previously designboom marts have taken place in Tokyo at 100% Design, New York at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair and the Stockholm Furniture Fair among other key design events. This is an unprecedented opportunity to meet the young avant-garde designers of the future and become familiar with their work.

During State of Design ICOGRADA presents INDIGO- a collective that asks “What is indigenous design?”; a free public forum will be held for indigenous designers, curators, or cultural leaders to discuss the significant role that indigenous language, iconography and design knowledge could play within the contemporary design industry. (July 20th at the Age Theatre, Melbourne Museum)

This forum is also extended to non-indigenous designers and curators in response to the proposition that indigenous language, iconography, or design knowledge can play an integral role within contemporary Australian design projects. Speakers will include Allison Page Merrima Design Unit (Sydney), Adrian Welke - Troppo (Perth), Lee Darroch - Gurranyin Arts - (Gippsland) among others.

Also part of this year’s State of Design Festival will be The Banksia Environmental Awards (July 24th at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre) which are regarded as the most prestigious environmental awards in Australia. The Banksia Environmental Foundation was established in 1989 and is a national not-for-profit organisation that promotes environmental excellence and sustainability through its Awards program and other associated events.

State of Design Festival is an initiative of the Victorian State Government in Australia and is the public face of the Design Victoria Strategy.