We are living in a virtual world

The architecture and design community is nimble, resilient, and above all, determined. Examples are at every turn. We were shocked when Salone del Mobile was post-poned, but reality really set in when it was officially cancelled for the year.

As the mood rapidly changed here in Australia we at Habitus we made the tough decision to hold off on the launch party for issue #47, the NGV announced its temporarily closure, and soon we were all working from home and socially distancing.

Despite the uncertainty it seems no one had or sought a quiet moment. Instead, we put our heads down, embraced the increased efficiency of working from home (for most of us), and got creative. Architects and designers ploughed forward, the construction industry never stopped, and architecture media welcomed the challenge of new parameters to work within.

Forced to completely rethink and overhaul our interactions with the industry, the products, programmes and projects that have resulted are some of the most innovative to date and it’s an exciting time to have so much on offer.

“The world has changed, so have we” says Denfair, Denfair 2.0 that is. Originally planned to go ahead in the live format known and loved since foundation in six years ago, this year Denfair 2.0 takes place as a week-long, completely virtual event from 20-26 July. Collections from 40 local and international designers will be on offer alongside 3D virtual experiences, interactive videos, interviews and masterclasses from leaders around the world. Registrations for the new world-class digital design experience are open now.

On Thursday 13th August the INDE.Awards will be hosting a global, live stream event announcing the winners of the 2020 shortlist. A fixture on industry calendars since its inception in 2017, each year, the awards brings together the wider architectural community in recognition of the people, practices and projects that put our region on a global scale. With more than 400 entrants across 15 categories, there was no shortage of outstanding projects to recognise and award, so it’s a welcome challenge to do so in a completely new – and globally inclusive – format.

IndesignLive has confirmed the second CPD Live digital day program will take place on Thursday 1 October 2020. The first event took place 25 June and had more than 1700 registered attendees. Five content packed sessions will allow you to gain a full formal CPD-point for each.

Around the world San Francisco Design Week has opened its first ever entirely virtual iteration of the festival, in fact the world’s first city and region to announce transitioning to an entirely virtual design week. They’ve cited excitement around launching a digital event taking the opportunity as one to come together and reimagine how we gather, interact, engage and celebrate design. And in an entirely digital space Dezeen hosted Virtual Design Festival, the world’s first online design festival that ran for two months from 15 April to 10 July 2020.

Locally and globally the design community displays a heavy investment not only in solution-driven design to better facilitate our lives and the way we live, but also the better our emotional experiences and ensure enjoyment and inspiration is always there to be had or found.