28 January 2018
Our Pick of Architecture and Design Events for 2018.
To ensure you don’t miss out on any design festivals, fairs and markets that are taking place around the country, we have compiled a list of our top picks for the year. These cover a wide range of design areas, including architecture, industrial design, graphic design, interiors, crafts, fine arts and furniture design.
Make sure you pop these dates into your diaries and get yourselves ready for an exciting year of design ahead!
Banner image – Melbourne Design Week.
The Sustainable Living Festival
Thursday 1 – Wednesday 28 February, Melbourne.
The Sustainable Living Festival raises awareness and provides tools for change by showcasing leading solutions to the ecological and social challenges faced by society.
Sydney Design Festival
Friday 2 – Sunday 11 March, Sydney.
Sydney Design Festival provides visitors with an opportunity to unpack design in all its forms – to understand and explore the processes, functions and narratives within design enterprise and to be inspired by the exhibitions and people involved in creating our futures.
Melbourne Design Week
Thursday 15 – Sunday 25 March, Melbourne.
Created to highlight the best design in Australia, this series of events includes a cross-disciplinary conference, business presentations and educational programmes.
www.ngv.vic.gov.au/melbourne-design-week
As part of Melbourne Design Week, The Design Files are presenting a talk series titled ‘Can Design Make Us Happy?’. With two seperate talks, the series will host a stellar lineup that includes Amanda Henderson of Gloss Creative, designer/illustrator/artist Beci Orpin, Zoe Meagher, experience developer at Museums Victoria, Rob Adams, director of city design at City of Melbourne , Andrew Maynard of Austin Maynard Architects and Rachel Nolan of Kennedy Nolan. Although unfortunately sold out, you can read more about this talk series on The Design Files Website.
The Design Co-op
Friday 23 to Sunday 25 March, Melbourne.
The Design Co-Op will celebrate the blending of unique Australian design brands by uniting 13 local Melbourne design businesses to strengthen the existing design community, encourage the growth of new networks, promote boutique local design brands.
DesignBUILD Expo
Wednesday 2 – Friday 4 May, Melbourne.
The DesignBUILD Expo allows manufacturers and suppliers to showcase new products, to key buyers and specifiers, in the form of architects, building professionals, contractors and designers who operate in the residential and commercial sectors.
Denfair
Thursday 14 – Saturday 16 June, Melbourne.
Thursday 16 – Saturday 18 August, Sydney.
Australia’s leading destination for contemporary design + art. DENFAIR is a boutique trade event and the leading destination for contemporary design in Australia.
AIFF (Australian International Furniture Fair)
Thursday 19 – Sunday 22 July, Melbourne.
Furniture from Australia and New Zealand is on show at this trade-only event taking place this year at Melbourne’s Exhibition Centre, as part of Decor + Design.
Décor Design
Thursday 19 – Sunday 22 July, Melbourne.
Take the opportunity to get inspired, source the latest products, stay up to date on the trends and developments in the industry and network with peers. Decor + Design is co-located with Australia’s largest Furniture tradeshow, Australian International Furniture Fair (above).
Open House Melbourne 2018
Saturday 28 – Sunday 29 July, Melbourne.
Open House Weekend provides everyday Melbournians with a backstage pass to visit significant buildings and sites across their city, which may otherwise be closed off to the public. In previous years the program has included the National Gallery of Victoria, Federation Square, Parliament House, Medibank Place, Cairo Flats and Archiblox’s very own, Balaclava House.
Sydney Architecture Festival
October, Sydney.
The Sydney Architecture Festival brings architecture and design out of the boardrooms and studios, to those who experience it first-hand.
Festival of Architecture & Design
Friday 5 – Monday 8 October, Adelaide.
The Festival of Architecture and Design (FAD) is an event that celebrates and promotes the future of architecture and design in South Australia locally, nationally and internationally.
Finders Keepers Design Market
Friday 19 – Sunday 21 October, Melbourne.
Friday 16 – Sunday 18 November, Brisbane.
Friday 30 November – Sunday 2 December, Sydney.
The Finders Keepers is massive, 3-day, design market, featuring the over 250 stalls filled with work by independent makers and designers from across Australia.
Big Design Market
Friday 30 November – Sunday 2 December, Melbourne.
Friday 7 – Sunday 9 December, Sydney.
The Big Design Market brings together the best independent Australian and International design for 3 huge days of shopping.