From May 15 to 25, Melbourne Design Week 2025 is set to challenge traditional design paradigms and promote inclusivity through boundary-pushing lighting and neurodivergent-forward furniture.
Now in its ninth year, Melbourne Design Week has cemented its place as Australia’s largest national design event. Over 11 days, more than 350 events, tours, exhibitions, talks and workshops will engage audiences with progressive designs and ideas, celebrating the depth and diversity of both emerging and established national and international designers and brands.
Notable exhibitions include A New Normal, a presentation by 12 Melbourne architects exploring how Melbourne can become self-sufficient by 2030 at the Boyd Baker Compound in Bacchus Marsh; Deep Calm by Sibling Architecture, a year-long study on how architecture can support neurodivergent individuals, featuring weighted sofas and tactile rugs used by occupational therapists to assist children with autism spectrum disorders; and a range of presentations from Australia’s leading showrooms, studios and creators, including Coco Flip, Jessie French, Fiona Lynch, Tait, Cult and more.
Volker Haug Studio | Photography by Paul Allister
Volker Haug Studio | Photography by Paul Allister
Adding to the lineup, 100 Lights will illuminate North Melbourne’s Meat Market Stables, staged by Friends & Associates. The immersive display will showcase a variety of lighting designs by emerging and established practitioners, including Adam Goodrum, Ross Gardam, Tantri Mustika, Marlo Lyda, Jay Jermyn and more.Â
In celebration of 20 years of designing in Australia, decorative lighting designer Volker Haug Studio and furniture designer Trent Jansen will present retrospective exhibitions reflecting their design legacies. 20 Years of Volker Haug Studios will highlight the evolution of the studio’s design philosophy, tracing their early works to their most iconic pieces, while Trent Jansen: Two Decades of Design Anthropology will explore his journey from repurposing materials to collaborating with First Nations makers, including designers Johnny Nargoodah, Errol Evans and Tanya Singer, as well as artist Maree Clarke.
For the first time this year, Melbourne Design Week 2025 will introduce a series of events aimed at fostering industry connections through organised sport. Designers will have the opportunity to engage with their peers in a run club that will guide participants past iconic Melbourne landmarks, including designs, architectural works and sculptures created by women.
Finally, for the sixth consecutive year, Mercedes-Benz Australia will present the Melbourne Design Week Award by recognising the designer or project that has made a significant contribution to the program. The winner will be announced at the festival’s opening, setting the tone for the exciting events to follow.
