Sydney Design Week 2024 is set to offer a diverse range of events across the city, showcasing innovative design practices that challenge conventional models and explore alternative futures for living, connection and culture. Under the theme In Between Worlds, this year’s program, curated by Keinton Butler, Senior Curator at Powerhouse, in collaboration with Amaia Sánchez-Velasco from GRANDEZA STUDIO, brings together visionary designers, architects and artists.

The week will feature keynote talks and panels from some of the most influential figures in design and architecture, addressing critical issues such as sustainability, belonging, and the evolving role of architecture in society. Among the standout speakers, Academy Award-winning production designer Colin Gibson will delve into how he envisions real-world prototypes for future societies, while Sumayya Vally, architect and artistic director of the inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale, will discuss her approach to designing for belonging. David Gianotten, managing partner of the international architecture firm OMA, will provide insights into the shifting landscape of architecture.

The University of Technology Sydney will host these keynote discussions, while the program will expand to various venues across the city, including Parramatta Town Hall and Powerhouse Castle Hill.

Parramatta Town Hall will be a focal point for discussions that push the boundaries of design thinking. Moroccan-British artist Hassan Hajjaj will explore his maximalist approach to image-making, and international space architect Melodie Yashar will speak on the ethics of space settlement. The co-founder of MAIO and architect Professor Anna Puigjaner will share her insights on reimagining domestic spaces, with an emphasis on how design can be a powerful tool for social transformation.

The focus on sustainability and cultural preservation will be further explored through culinary experiences in Parramatta, where food is used as a medium for storytelling. Karima Hazim and Sumayya Vally will prepare a traditional Lebanese breakfast at Baba Ghanouj, using family recipes to illustrate how cuisine captures significant cultural moments. In a separate event at Parramatta Square, Puigjaner will collaborate with Powerhouse’s Vitocco Kitchen Program Manager Xinyi Lim to showcase global food stories, reinforcing the idea of food as both a cultural and social connector.

Sydney Design Week 2024 will also feature events for families. At Powerhouse Castle Hill, the Australian Production Design Guild will host a weekend program of workshops and behind-the-scenes tours. These activities, led by award-winning production designer Jacinta Leong and others, will provide an insider’s look into the world of production design, blending creativity with technical expertise.

The festival is made possible with the support of the NSW Government, as well as Principal Partner Holdmark Property Group, and key collaborations with educational institutions like the University of Technology Sydney and Western Sydney University. Additional partners, including the City of Parramatta and Ace Hotel Sydney, have also contributed to making the week a citywide celebration of design.

Sydney Design Week 2024 will be a testament to how design can act as a catalyst for change. By bringing together experts and audiences across various disciplines – from architecture to culinary arts – the event emphasizes the critical role design plays in shaping sustainable and socially engaged futures.

Related: Keinton Butler on Sydney Design Week 2023

“Creativity and imagination have become critical tools in helping us to think differently about how we live, as we face an increasingly divided, inequitable future,” says Sydney Design Week Creative Director, Keinton Butler. “This year’s design week program highlights leading designers and architects who are challenging the status quo, to reimagine more resilient, sustainable and inclusive cities.”

This week-long celebration of design promises to inspire innovation, spark conversations about future challenges, and showcase the power of design to transform society at all levels.

Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah comments: “Powerhouse is proud to present Sydney Design Week 2024. For nearly three decades, this annual event has brought together the world’s most influential designers and creatives to spotlight design’s essential role in bringing communities together. I’m excited to see how this year’s program will amplify the rich and diverse stories of our communities and cultures through disciplines including food, film production and space exploration.”

Sydney Design Week
powerhouse.com.au

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