From high density living to life-changing Australian innovations, iconic furniture to locally crafted jewellery, the first Melbourne Design Week presented by the National Gallery of Victoria will explore the broad reach and impact of design in Victoria. Part of the Andrews Labor Government’s strategy to strengthen the state’s growing design industry, the program will showcase local and international design innovators and explore the value of design. Running from 16-26 March 2017, Melbourne Design Week will feature talks by leading design experts, design-focused exhibitions, tours, panel discussions and industry events held at NGV International and partner venues throughout the city. During the Week 15 businesses across Victoria will open their doors to the public to reveal how they have used design to transform how they work and add value to their business. Called Open State, the new initiative is presented in partnership with Open House Melbourne. • Innovators – Australian Design and Innovation – an exhibition celebrating design and innovation from Australia including Wi-Fi, the bionic ear, polymer banknotes and their innovators
• Going Dutch: Can Dutch Design Values Improve our Living? – a panel of Melbourne-based Dutch designers will explore how Dutch design approaches could help tackle big issues facing Melbourne • Creating the Contemporary Chair – an exhibition at NGV International celebrating creativity and innovation in chair design • Does blak design matter? – The Koorie Heritage Trust and Indigenous Architecture and Design Victoria will host a panel discussion about contemporary Indigenous design, moderated by journalist Daniel Browning • Contemporary Jewellery Trail Walking Tour – a guided tour through the studios and galleries of Melbourne jewellery designers The full program for 2017 Melbourne Design Week is available at designweek.melbourne Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley “Being a creative state isn’t just about having great arts and cultural events – it’s about applying creative thinking and approaches to all aspects of our society.
Design is central to this.” “Melbourne Design Week will explore the value design can and does bring to Victoria – to our lives, communities, businesses and industries. It’s a growing part of our $23 billion creative and cultural economy.” Quote attributable to NGV Director Tony Ellwood “Melbourne Design Week will reinforce Melbourne’s reputation as a city of great design and architecture. The 2017 event will inspire audiences with innovative design projects and concepts from around the world.” Please provide verification code The spectacular and avant-garde creations of Dutch fashion designers Viktor & Rolf are on display in Australia for the first time in an exhibition (now through Feb. 26, 2017) organised by the National Gallery of Victoria in close collaboration with the designers. Viktor&Rolf: Fashion Artists explores Viktor & Rolf’s radical conception of ‘wearable art’. Since forming their creative partnership in 1992, Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren have gained critical acclaim for their cerebral and witty approach to couture.
The exhibition, which coincides with the luxury fashion label’s twenty-fifth anniversary in 2017, explores the elements that make Viktor & Rolf designs unique in the contemporary fashion world. Viktor&Rolf: Fashion Artists features some of the Dutch design duo’s most show-stopping and innovative works, drawn from the Viktor & Rolf archive as well as museum collections in the Netherlands. In addition to showcasing over 40 signature ensembles from the designers’ haute couture and ready-to-wear collections and early installations, displayed throughout two fashion galleries are 21 exquisite dolls, traditionally handmade by a Belgian doll maker each wearing an intricately crafted miniaturised version of a key collection work. The first dolls were created for The House of Viktor & Rolf (2008, Barbican Art Gallery, London), and the designers have celebrated each major collection since with a new doll dressed in an emblematic design. Visitors can also access a video gallery of runway footage, illustrating the complexity of Viktor & Rolf’s runway shows, which are often likened to performance art, and experience the mesmerising and intriguing Timepiece installation, specially commissioned for the exhibition.
Inspired by Vagabonds, Viktor & Rolf’s most recent haute couture collection, this fantastical work contrasts the antiquated charm of a porcelain doll with the sophistication of twenty-first century animatronics. Viktor&Rolf: Fashion Artists has been developed in close collaboration with Viktor & Rolf and international guest curator Thierry-Maxime Loriot, curator of the blockbuster exhibition The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier, shown at the NGV in 2014–15.Philippe StarckPhilippe Starck is a French designer known since the start of his career in the 1980s for his interior, product, industrial and architectural design including furniture and objects that have simple but inventive structures.Tom DixonTom Dixon (OBE) is an internationally renowned British designer, Creative Director of eponymous brand Tom Dixon (est. 2002). His works are included in permanent collections of the world's most prestigious museums, including the V&A and the MoMA. Tom Dixon has built his universe through intensely diverse experiences, from music, contemporary lighting, furniture and accessories to high profile projects.
Marc NewsonMarc Newson is one of the most accomplished and influential designers of his generation. At 45, he has already worked across a wide range of disciplines to create everything from chairs, household objects, a bicycle and a concept car to restaurants, a recording studio and interiors of private and commercial jets, for clients based in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.Davide RadaelliDavide Radaelli Design Studio, based in Milano, is an Italian office providing a multidisciplinary design and communication consultancy for international clients from all over the world. The studio works in the fields of product design, exhibit and interior architecture, graphic design & communication. We also work as project managers for international companies developing Italy-based projects and events.Cecilie ManzCecilie Manz is a Danish industrial designer. She is considered one of the leading Danish furniture designers of her generation.Hella JongeriusThe Dutch designer Hella Jongerius works on the cusp of design, craft, art and technology to fuse traditional and contemporary influences, high tech and low tech, the industrial and artisanal.
Sebastian BergneSebastian Bergne lives and works in London. His designs are characterised more by his approach than by a particular use of shapes.Alexandre TouguetThe portfolio of a young French designer Alexandre Touguet.Peter BristolPortfolio site for Seattle-based product designer Peter Bristol.Thomas FeichtnerThomas Feichtner is an Austrian designer who, after considerable successes in the field of industrial design, has recently begun to turn heads again with his unusual approach to design. His new work in the area of funiture and object design is positioned midway between industry and handicrafts, mass production and one-of-a-kinds.Alessandro LoschiavoBorn in Rome, graduated at the I.S.I.A. (Industrial Design institute), since 2000 he has been living and working in Milan. He received for three consecutive years (2004, '05 and '06) the Good Design Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, and his works have been requested for scores of shows in museums and galleries of Europe, China, Japan and United States.Jeff MillerBlending his research-driven consulting background, with a more personal elemental approach, Jeff Miller brings this innovative vision to a range of international clients in the areas of product
, furniture and interior design.Dirk WinkelDirk Winkel is a Berlin-based product designer, specialised in lighting and furniture design.Tord BoontjeTord Boontje is a Dutch designer whose designs and products for Studio Tord Boontje have garnered acclaim from around the world. Based in France, his Studio creates design that is as accessible as it is enticing by employing artisan techniques with advanced technologies.Mari IsopahkalaMari is Helsinki based freelancer designer. She works widely between product, jewelry, furniture, light, exhibition and interior design. Her design can be found both domestically and internationally production.Marco De MasiMarco De Masi is an industrial designer based in Rome. He works with brands in the furniture, product and lighting sectors and as freelance as well.Ross LovegroveAs an industrial designer, Ross Lovegrove has worked for numerous internationally important manufacturers and is regarded as one of the most important contemporary industrial designers.
Ross Lovegrove's works are often inspired by forms from nature; in addition, he is an expert on ergonomy, using cutting-edge materials and manufacturing techniques.Iina VuorivirtaIina Vuorivirta is a young Finnish designer, studied product design at the Lahti Institute of Design and Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm.Saleem KhattakIndustrial designer specialized in designing products used in architectural applications.The scope of design work includes families of architectural lighting products, rail car interiors, street furniture, and large scale glass installations.Arik LevyBorn in Tel Aviv, Arik Levy is one of the widest ranging industrial designers at work today. Artist, technician, photographer, designer, filmmaker, Levy's skills are multi-disciplinary and his work can be seen in prestigious galleries and museums worldwide.Beat KarrerBeat Karrer develops new products which resound favourably with his renowned clientele such as Anthologie Quartett and Designerslabel, Boffi, Offecct, Burri, Röthlisberger and Tossa.
As well as among the juries at international furniture exhibitions in Belgium, Germany, Spain and Switzerland which awarded Beat Karrer with several prizes for his designs which often are unusual in their approach yet very functional and practical in their daily application.Kevin SpencerKevin Spencer is an Industrial Designer living in Toronto with over 5 years of professional experience in a wide range of product categories. He specializes in concept development, 3D CAD, and prototyping.Jessica NebelJessica Nebel's specialty is a vibrant mix of furniture, interiors, home accessories, fashion items and consumer electronic products.Samuel AccoceberrySamuel Accoceberry is an industrial designed based in Paris.Ralf KittmannRalf Kittmann is a product designer based in Berlin.Amanda IpAmanda Ip is an energetic, creative and driven industrial designer with a minor in Business Administration from Carnegie Mellon.George AvgerinakisGeorge Avgerinakis is experienced in design & development of new products and services.