A fresh take: Inside Adelaide Design Week

In late August, Adelaide felt different. A steady hum ran through the streets as laneways, galleries and pop-up spaces filled with people eager to see, hear and engage with design. What began as a grassroots idea amongst architects, designers and makers – had finally materialised into a citywide activation – through a ‘design week’ program that was both ambitious and affirming.

The sold-out program spanned more than 100 events – exhibitions, talks, workshops and tours – each designed to reveal how design permeates daily life in Adelaide. From the opening exhibition that spilled out beyond capacity onto the footpath (gathering some 80 South Australian makers under one roof), to industry talks about place and propositions of the city as an energy producer, the initiative generated a new kind of interest. Exhibitions with designers of various backgrounds, shopfront activations and the opening of both architecture firms and maker workshops – each become a proof of concept. 

As Sophie Wilkinson of Renewal SA observed, it was “an intense and rich call to attention on what and who is happening in Adelaide.” The city, often overshadowed by its larger counterparts, had revealed itself as a place where creativity is not only present but thriving – and where scale provides intimacy, access and genuine connection. The intention was always to create a platform that didn’t previously exist: one that could act as a springboard for local talent, strengthen cross-disciplinary collaborations and invite the public into the conversation. 

From having lived overseas and interstate – seeking out design incubator spaces elsewhere – there was a sense that the city was ready for its own iteration of a ‘design week’. Together with other board members, we drew on key established professional relationships to test ideas and experiment with the potential of what the ‘week’ could be. The overwhelming response became further confirmation, with feedback throughout the week consistently noted how much Adelaide had been waiting for something of this scale – an event many felt they would previously have had to travel interstate to experience.

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Adelaide’s size, often considered a limitation, instead emerged as a distinct advantage. In a city where design and making are deeply entwined (and where makers are made), the collaboration felt natural, even inevitable. “Adelaide deserves something like this,” said Matiya Marovich of Sans Arc Studio, while Emily Nankivell of Future Urban adding, “It’s a great initiative and really exciting for Adelaide – we’re really exciting and looking forward to seeing what’s in store next year!”

This spirit of momentum carried through to exhibitions such as Soft, curated by Andy TT and Callum Hurley, which explored Adelaide’s heritage of making while grounding it firmly in the present. Hosted in the historic Mansions building, the show felt both like a tribute and a provocation. “This edition [of Soft] felt particularly close to home,” Andy explained. “Growing up in Adelaide, it was easy to overlook the city’s richness. Yet distance brings clarity, and in returning we were reminded how much talent, history and beauty are held here. Working with artists across the board, we included small nods to Adelaide’s heritage of making. Hosting Soft in the historic Mansions building felt like a tribute to the city that raised us.”

As a representation of an emerging voice for the design community, Adelaide Design Week has become something with its own identity. It represents a grounded connection to making and being an opportunity to expand the seats at the table, confirming the want for fresh and emerging talent to take up space. 

Looking ahead, the plan is to build on this inaugural success to further amplify Adelaide’s place in the national and international design conversation. For now, the afterglow of ADW everywhere lingers as both proof and promise: Adelaide’s creative pulse has always been here, with this year tuning in on its frequency. 

Adelaide Design Week
adelaidedesignweek.com.au

Photography
Christopher Arblaster
Jonathan VDK