Artists, designers and architects are being invited to pitch their projects and ideas for Melbourne Design Week 2023.

Now in its seventh year, the 2023 Melbourne Design Week will celebrate local and international design excellence from Tuesday 18 until Friday 28 May 2023.

As Australia’s leading design festival, Melbourne Design Week calls for participants to engage with the theme ‘Design the world you want’, encouraging the design industry to utilise creative thinking to address pressing issues facing today’s society.

The Design Week will see the return of annual programs such as the Melbourne Art Book Fair, Open House Melbourne, and the 2022 NGV Architecture Commission: Temple of Boom by Adam Newman and Kelvin Tsang.

“Victoria’s creative industries are a powerhouse of design, recognise across the country and the world,” says Victorian Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos.

“This program acknowledges some of Victoria’s most compelling talent alongside international innovators in Australia’s largest showcase of design industry excellence.”

The Melbourne Design Fair also returns for a second year, presented in collaboration with Melbourne Art Foundation and will take place on the first weekend of Melbourne Design Week across four days.

Previously held in Abbotsford, next year’s event will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, showcasing the event as the leading platform for the presentation, promotion, and sale of collectible design in the region.

The Fair is a first of its kind in Australia and brings together a commercial showcase of limited edition, rare and one-of-a-kind collectible designs by Australian creatives. Applications to participate in Melbourne Design Fair open in November 2022.

The Melbourne Book Fair, now in its ninth year, will include the annual Stallholder Fair held in NGV International’s Great Hall from Friday 19 until Sunday 21 May 2023.

A satellite program of events will also take place from Thursday 18 until Sunday 28 May across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria at bookshops, galleries, libraries, community centres, public gardens, and design studios.

Collectively, the month of May is a “celebration of design thinkers who are not only shaping today’s society but also planning for the needs of future generations” says NGV director Tony Ellwood.

“Through this program, we celebrate the design industry and welcome curious minds to explore creativity and innovation through a series of accessible talks, tours and exhibitions across Melbourne.”

Expressions of interest to participate in the 2022 Melbourne Design Week will close on Saturday 26 November 2022. Participation is free.

For further information, visit the Design Week website.

Lead image: Installation view of Craft Victoria presenting works by Jessie French, Anastasia la Fey, Vanessa Lucas, Jessica Murtagh, Yoko Ozawa, Caro Pattle, Owen Rye, Kenny (Yong-soo) Son of Studiokyss, Belle Thierry,  Danielle Thiris, Dean Toepfer, Lisa Waup, and Misseu on display at Melbourne Design Fair from 16 – 20 March 2022, presented by NGV in collaboration with Melbourne Art Foundation during Melbourne Design Week 2022. Photo: Sean Fennessy.