Adelaide launches its first dedicated Design Week this August

every*where, the inaugural five-day event, will activate galleries, laneways and pop-up venues across Adelaide CBD with more than 100 free or low-cost exhibitions, workshops, tours and talks.

Developed to recognise the role design plays in shaping everyday life, the new initiative will bring together established and emerging designers, artists and makers from South Australia and beyond. Participants confirmed so far include 2049, 4th Floor Elevator, Fab Workshop, Form-S, FUTUREJUICE, Hugo Michell Gallery, Jam Factory, RMIT, UniSA, the University of Adelaide, Soda Objects, Longplay, Studio Gram, Estilo and 1K Chairs.

The official program will be available online and will centre around a festival hub designed to help visitors navigate events, discover daily highlights and engage with the broader design community.

“After working 25 years in Adelaide’s furniture & design industry, I went to Milan Design Week in April 2024 – and everything shifted,” says designer, Sami Agostino. “Design wasn’t just product or process – it was everything. I came home expelled from everything I thought I knew about the design industry. There was an urgency that I knew couldn’t be ignored, revealing what many of us (creatives) here were thinking: Adelaide Design Week couldn’t wait. It had to happen – now. So, we made it happen. No hesitation. Just vision, guts and absolute refusal to stay quiet. Adelaide is ready.”

Related: Highlights from Melbourne Design Week

Organisers aim to raise the profile of South Australia’s design and arts economy – currently valued at A$1.8 billion and supporting 15,000 jobs – by fostering public engagement and economic benefit. In contrast to larger states, South Australia has lacked a flagship design event, despite a growing local industry and ongoing concerns about the migration of young creatives interstate.

“There is such a diverse and passionate design community here in Adelaide, and creating a platform (that didn’t really exist prior) for disciplines to come together was what seeded ADM every*where,” says architect, designer and educator, Bronywn Marshall. “It is an initiative that has already garnered increasing support and is designed to be a springboard for local creatives and strengthening cross-collaborations.”

Inspired by the success of design festivals in Melbourne and Sydney, every*where: Adelaide Design Week* will serve as a platform for cross-disciplinary collaboration, community connection and cultural visibility. The program will showcase a wide spectrum of practices, while festival organisers describe the event as a timely response to South Australia’s cultural ambitions and a long-anticipated addition to Adelaide’s already rich festival landscape. The event is expected to attract visitors from interstate and overseas, providing a welcome boost to local businesses during the winter months.

Creative Director, Dre Fuzz, concludes: “We build the spaces, objects and experiences that make other festivals possible, so it’s time we celebrated the discipline in its own right.”

Visit @adelaidedesignweek on Instagram for more!

Adelaide Design Week
adelaidedesignweek.com.au

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