Melbourne Design Week unleashes mega 2020 program

Design in a new decade.

We’re only halfway through December, but 2020 is looking to be a jam-packed year for arts and culture. In partnership with the Victorian Government, Creative Victoria, and the National Gallery of Victoria, the 2020 Melbourne Design Week line-up has been announced. And it looks incredible.

Running from March 12 – 22, Australia’s leading annual design event will present its largest program to date. Celebrating the best of local, national and international design, the state-wide festival will feature a casual 300 events over 11 days.

The overarching question of the week is: How Can Design Shape Life?, but the five other themes explored throughout the festival are Healthy Cities, Waterfront, Design Cultures and Evolution, and Waste. Each theme explores topics such as the effects of increasing urbanisation, Melbourne’s relationship to its waterways, and the ways design can champion diversity.

A number of keynote speakers are set to deliver talks. Internationally-renowned architect Francis Kéré will speak about how architecture has shaped his life, and Amsterdam-based artists, filmmakers, and designers, Metahaven will present a lecture at the NGV on opening day.

As part of a series with the Creative Women’s Circle, host of podcast Design Matters, Debbie Millman will speak about how she designed her life to fit her personal definition of success. And founder of Fairphone —the social enterprise that aims to develop smartphones with minimal environmental impact — Bas van Abel, will talk about how design-led businesses can transform the environment and economy.

More program details to be announced in February next year.

In the meantime, you can check out this year’s MDW to get keen.