Melbourne Design Week, Australia’s premier annual design festival, is gearing up for its eighth edition, set to captivate audiences with an expansive program featuring over 300 exhibitions, symposiums, and talks across Melbourne and regional Victoria. Among the highlights of this year’s event is the keynote presentation by acclaimed Nigerian architect Toshin Oshinowo, promising an insightful exploration into socially responsive urbanism.
Themed “Design the world you want,” the 2024 Melbourne Design Week aims to spotlight the critical role of design in addressing contemporary global challenges, with a specific focus on energy, ethics, and ecology. This year’s program endeavors to inspire positive change and innovation, offering a platform for emerging and established creatives to showcase their diverse perspectives and groundbreaking solutions.
Toshin Oshinowo, founder of Lagos-based Oshinowo Studio, will take center stage at the festival with a keynote lecture delving into architecture and urbanism across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Renowned for her socially conscious approach to design, Oshinowo’s insights promise to offer fresh perspectives on meeting cultural and climatic needs in the 21st century. Her previous contributions as co-curator of the Lagos Biennial and curator of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial underscore her commitment to advancing discourse within the architectural sphere.
In addition to Oshinowo’s keynote address, Melbourne Design Week will feature a diverse array of programming, including a symposium exploring speculative riverside designs for the Birrarung (Yarra River), presentations by international design luminaries such as Visnja Brdar and Jessie French, and the highly anticipated tenth edition of the Melbourne Art Book Fair.
The festival will also serve as a platform for celebrating Australian design excellence, with events ranging from the Melbourne Design Week Award ceremony to exhibitions highlighting the work of local designers and studios. Satellite events held in regional Victoria will further extend the festival’s reach, engaging communities beyond Melbourne’s metropolitan borders.
Tony Ellwood AM, Director of the National Gallery of Victoria, expressed excitement about the upcoming event, stating, “Since 2017, Melbourne Design Week has become an important event for design practitioners throughout the country, providing a crucial platform for their work and encouraging critical thought that will help shape the future.”
Melbourne Design Week is presented by Creative Victoria and delivered by the National Gallery of Victoria, showcasing Australia’s leadership in design innovation on a global stage. The festival is set to take place from May 23 to June 2, 2024, with the full program and booking details available online from April 11, 2024.
As Melbourne prepares to host this unparalleled celebration of design, anticipation is high for the transformative insights and creative inspiration that will emerge from Melbourne Design Week 2024.
For more information and updates, visit designweek.melbourne.
