Always a highlight of the annual design calendar, Canberra’s annual celebration of all things design, DESIGN Canberra, is back with one of the most eclectic and exciting programs yet.
For 2018, DESIGN Canberra is pulling out all the stops. From November 5 to 25 our nation’s capital will be transformed into a one-stop shop for design experiences. Conversations, ideas and installations focussing on how design shapes our world and how we can change it are all on the menu for design lovers.
A real highlight of the festival is an installation piece from acclaimed Japanese designer Kengo Kuma. Kuma’s ‘NAMAKO’ installation will feature as the inaugural ephemeral architecture project to launch this year’s DESIGN Canberra. The highly anticipated project will activate Aspen Island in Lake Burley Griffin for the duration of the festival.
A prototype of what will in Canberra be a 2.5-metre-high, 12-metre-wide installation has already been revealed in Tokyo – seen above. The installation will see a steel rod frame and mesh made structure with bio-acrylic rods woven together by zip-ties. Inspired by the Japanese word for sea cucumber “namako”, Kuma’s installation reflects the unique characteristics of the animal’s softness, transparency and form.
Other highlights of the festival include an appearance from Australia’s leading practitioner of the late 20th century organic style of architecture, Enrico Taglietti; the 2018 designer-in-residence, furniture maker Chelsea Lemon; Design Diplomacy events in collaboration with Helsinki Design Week; Dark MOFO favourite known for his lighting designs, Matt Adey of House of Vnholy; a type artist’s conference; hands-on workshops, Tim Ross and more.
“DESIGN Canberra has resonated with Canberrans, the design sector and design lovers near and far because design is in Canberra’s DNA. This year’s program will be full of new ideas, conversations, and innovations to further inspire what makes Canberra a living design laboratory,” said Rachael Coghlan CEO of Craft ACT and Artistic Director of DESIGN Canberra 2018.
INDESIGN is on instagram
Follow @indesignlive
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
BLANCOCULINA-S II Sensor promotes water efficiency and reduces waste, representing a leap forward in faucet technology.
A longstanding partnership turns a historic city into a hub for emerging talent
The Sub-Zero and Wolf Kitchen Design Contest is officially open. And the long-running competition offers Australian architects, designers and builders the chance to gain global recognition for the most technically resolved, performance-led kitchen projects.
Gaggenau’s understated appliance fuses a carefully calibrated aesthetic of deliberate subtraction with an intuitive dynamism of culinary fluidity, unveiling a delightfully unrestricted spectrum of high-performing creativity.
Following a strong 2025, Perth Design Week (PDW) is set to take on a special format with ten major events in 2026.
The Regional Architecture Association (RAA) is putting on an experience in Canberra in March 2025.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
On the eve of Cerith Wyn Evans’ first museum exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region, we interviewed the internationally acclaimed contemporary artist in a wide-ranging discussion spanning Japanese gardens, the aesthetics of Buddhism and the Australian light.
In an era where the demands of modern work often clash with the need for restoration, The Commons Health Club in Melbourne sets a new precedent.
In this edition of The Edit, take a closer look at Pedrali’s 36th showing at Salone, where spatial choreography, and new ideas in form, function and material come into view.
While the alluring myth of a lone genius can be particularly appealing, Knoll’s enduring legacy was built on a more profound reality: that a singular vision is only augmented through dialogue, proving that collaboration is one of the most transformative tools in design.