Well, the National Gallery of Victoria’s (NGV) Melbourne Design Week has started with a bang and there is so much to see, hear and do. Those who have visited the program on the website will have noticed the rich array of talks, exhibitions, openings and launches that are happening and its challenging to make that all important list of where to go and what to visit.
This year ‘Design the World You Want’ is the overarching theme for the week and interpretations are many and varied but all inspiring. There are four major areas to visit – 47 Easey Street, Abbotsford Convent, Collingwood Yards and Hanover House plus the Melbourne Art Book Fair along with myriad talks at the NGV.
With so much going on there are a few exhibitions of note seen on the first day of Melbourne Design Week.
(MATTERS) 2024 at Villa Alba Museum in Kew. Here a beautifully curated exhibition of furniture and objects is food for the design appetite. Designers such as Adam Goodrum, Jon Goulder, Dean Norton, Tom Fereday, Marlo Lyda, James Walsh and Elliat Rich among many others exhibit in the beautiful and evocative surrounds of Villa Alba.
Location
44 Walmer Street, Kew
Photography
Sean Fennessey and Tessa Kelly
Tom Fereday, MDW 24 MATTERS, photography by Tess Kelly.
Equilibrium by Ross Gardam is a continuation of the Just Volant Lighting collection launched at Salone del Mobile in 2023 and its lighting that will make a statement wherever they shine. Just Volant is seen along with the new Just Mass side tables constructed from sandblasted aluminium plate and anchored by dense marble offcuts, simply divine.
Location
Le Space
1 Mater Street, Collingwood
Photography
Haydn Cattach
Ross Gardam, Mass, photography by Haydn Cattach.
Sophie Gannon Gallery this year presents DESIGNWORK 08 and as the eight annual exhibition of works from some of Australia’s best designers, 2024 sees works by Elliat Rich based in Alice Springs (Mparntwe) and Danielle Brustman from Melbourne (Naarm/Birrarung-ga). Abstracted forms and a variety of materials are presented large and small through The Gradients; first appearance from Rich and Split a collection of sculptural mirrors from Brustman.
Location
2 Albert Street, Richmond
CRUX by Christopher Boots is a celestial exploration in illumination that showcases Boots prodigious talent and innovation in lighting design. The exhibition is open daily and while pushing the frontiers of the heavens, it will enlighten the visitor with its creativity.
Location
8 Woods Street, Fitzroy
After launching at Salone del Mobile this year, Articolo Studios presents its new HOME Furniture Smalls Capsule collection in their studio and along with the beautiful lighting, these small tables with a difference, are added to the offering. With all the expected detailing legendary from Articolo, new geometric shapes are the essence of the HOME collection and are sure to be on every designers list for projects.
Location
Articolo Studios Studio and Showroom
18 Willis Street, Richmond
And awards abound, firstly with the Australian Furniture Awards 2024, the nation’s most significant furniture and lighting design with a $20,000 prize presented by Stylecraft and NGV. Winner this year is Marta Figueiredo who receives the accolade for her Chronicles of Resilience cabinet that highlights women’s health with a focus on endometriosis and is designed to be a tangible platform for advocacy.
Location
Stylecraft Showroom
145 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Congratulations also go to Adam Goodrum and Arthur Seigneur who have been awarded the prestigious 2024 Melbourne Design Week Award presented by Mercedes Benz for The Kissing Cabinet along with their contribution to the Design Week program and the Australian Design industry.
Location
Tolarno Galleries
Level 5/104 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
A&A, The Kissing Cabinet, photography by Andrew Curtis.
This is but a taster but SO much more is happening in Melbourne. There’s still time to discover design at its best as Melbourne Design Week closes 2 June 2024. Design simply makes life better and this week’s offering will enrich everyone and provide food for thought and inspiration for the future.