Six exhibitions spotlight designer-makers at Melbourne Design Week 2026

Australia's largest design event, Melbourne Design Week 2026, showcased more than 400 exhibitions, discussions, and workshops throughout the city. Curator Timothy Moore highlighted the importance of fostering a design ecosystem. The event underscored a revival among designer-makers who are opting for unique, sustainable, analogue creations over digital ones. Featured were six notable exhibitions: '100 Chairs' by Friends & Associates at Abbotsford Convent, curated by Dale Hardiman and Tom Skeehan, displaying over 100 chairs by Australian designers; 'A Sense of Occasion' by Thomas Maxam Studio, where 20 designers reimagined the champagne bucket, including contributions from Brahman Perera, Leigh Welsh, and Charlie White; 'Arum' by Tom Fereday, introducing sand-cast glass pieces from Canberra Glassworks; 'MarbleWood' by Jessie French, showcasing an algae-based polymer surface by Made by Morgen; 'Between Planes' by Dean Norton, featuring the Pillar Light with gold mirrors and dichroic glass; and 'Jon Goulder x Alpha 60', a partnership with the fashion brand, featuring a 10-metre-long table and a lighting collection designed with Andrew Carvolth. The event took place from 14 to 24 May 2026 at various locations across Victoria.