:: The State Of Design 2008 - Victoria’s Design Festival

By: Carmine Pascuzzi

From July 16- 24, 2008 the State of Design Festival is 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 July 16 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.

KEY DETAILS
Premier’s Design Awards: July 16 - August 3, 2008
Design Capital: July 16 - 18, 2008
Design for Everyone: July 16 - 24, 2008
Design:Made:Trade: July 17 - 20, 2008

Taking place in Melbourne at the Melbourne Museum and other locations, as well as in regional centres across
Victoria, the STATE OF DESIGN has something for everyone – awards, exhibitions, lectures, walks, talks, shows
and parties – offering conversations on design: what it does and what it means to us all.
For more details click here