With a huge program to sift through, we pick out our top picks for some design-related inspiration from the blockbuster event.

New Horizons: Cities of The Future, How Will We Work, Live and Play?

This June, Sydney will see four global thought leaders tackle the idea of ‘Cities of the Future’ – a presentation and discussion exploring the built environment of tomorrow. Presented as a part of Vivid Ideas, which is a part of the annual Vivid Festival, Cities of the Future, How Will We Work, Live and Play is a must-see event for those with an interest in the future of our built and designed world.

How do cities best evolve? Do people even want to live in cities anymore? We’ve all heard of liveable cities, but what makes a loveable city? These questions and more will be discussed and explored in the name of what our future cities will look like.

With a reported epidemic of loneliness sweeping across cities around the globe, escalating housing prices, the pressure of high-density living and more – there has never been a more important time to consider the cities of the future.

The highlight of the event will be a keynote address and speech from Professor Genevieve Bell – one of the world’s leading cultural anthropologists and an expert in AI. Professor Bell will bring a unique outlook to the way the spheres of technology, people and future planning interact.

Following the keynote, attendees will be treated to three case studies, from Mayor Mike Rawlings of Dallas, Texas, Mayor Betsy Price of Fort Worth, Texas and Dale Dickson the CEO Gold Coast, Australia. These three cities have undergone radical transformations and are now economic and cultural hot spots, as well as being great places to live.

Join Vivid Ideas for lunch and listen to the unique perspectives of the four global thought leaders on what we can hope from cities in the future and what changes we need to start making now. This discussion is ideal for urban planners, architects, government officials and business leaders as well as for those curious as to the citywide impacts of developments in AI, big data and cultural capital.

Cities of the Future is one of a suite of design-related events taking place in Vivid Sydney 2019. Other highlights for the design curious include…

Future Sydney: Global Innovation for Building Inclusive Cities

Sydney is renowned as a diverse city; rich in culture and with a booming economy – but how do we ensure our rapidly growing city is an inclusive place for all people? In a discussion led by British Council director Helen Salmon, Future Sydney promises to be a lively and inspiring exchange of ideas drawing on leaders across the arts, urban development, and cultural relations.

The Untimed Life – How can City Infrastructure Revolutionise the Way We Live

We have entered an era often referred to as the ‘Metropolitan century’. By 2050, we expect to see  70 per cent of the world’s population living in urban centres. To support this urban migration, we need to change the way we think about urban design, especially considering that Australia is planning to spend over $75 billion on transport infrastructure alone over the next 10 years. A panel of urban planners will discuss this change and consider whether city amenities can actively enhance our ‘work-life’ experience; is there such a thing as a humane city? And can the millions of people and billions of dollars invested in cities actually improve our quality of life?

Designing Something Every Day

In 2016, designer, writer and filmmaker Pete Majarich set himself a unique challenge – to design a new film poster every day for an entire year. In Designing Something Every Day, Pete takes audiences through his creative process, the inspiration behind his idea, and the highlights and lowlights that come with such an ongoing creative project. Find out what it’s like to commit to a year-long design goal, and the ups and downs of trying to be inspired and creative, for a full year.

For the full VIVID program, head over to vividsydney.com.