It's back: the Melbourne festival at the heart of design

The State of Design festival is set to take place again this year, with an extensive line-up of new events, workshops, talks and topics to explore in Melbourne from 20 to 31 July 2011.

Established in 2004, the festival is billed as the largest and most innovative design event in Australia.

State of design festival opening night 2010

The festival sets out to increase awareness of the value of design and showcase how design generates innovation, promotes sustainability and adds value to both business and society.

Creative director Kate Rhodes said that the festival programs show how the Victorian and Australian design profession are working to improve living conditions, create sustainable development opportunities, and generate new and innovative products and services.

“With new types of programs, the chance to engage directly with speakers and a tightly curated series of events around the festival theme, the 2011 State of Design festival is looking forward to its most successful year to date. Having welcomed over 150,000 visitors in 2010 we hope to engage even more this year,” she said.

Design that Moves

Under the 2011 theme of Design that Moves, the festival surveys design in, on and around projects that are transformative, mobile and networked. Workshops and forums explore the nomadic, the cyclical and the role of design systems. Events will be presented in transitional zones: platforms, revitalised spaces, foyers and stairs as the festival explores how Melbourne can use design to become a more active city.

The festival will also examine how design affects us mentally and physically by asking; how does design influence our experience of objects and environments, how does design influence how we feel?

The event takes place throughout metropolitan Melbourne and key venues in regional Victoria. In 2011, key venues will include: The Royal Exhibition Building, Federation Square, The Wheeler Centre and The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.

Visit www.stateofdesign.com.au/ for more details.