Design for Everyone: Design is a Verb

This July, Melbourne and Victoria will experience design like never before as the State of Design festival brings the city and regional centres to life with over 45 design related events. Design for Everyone, the satellite program of the State of Design festival, is a curated, cultural program which aspires to reveal the "process" behind design.

Under the 2008 theme of "Design is a Verb", Design for Everyone will showcase design in varied and dynamic ways. It's about doing, being, making, crafting, thinking, shaping - showing design is a process not an object and that design is for everyone! The diversity of the exhibitions and workshops allows everyone to get involved, from design lovers and professionals to the uninitiated.

"The satellite events under the umbrella of Design for Everyone celebrate the unique qualities of Victorian design across a diverse range of disciplines" said Fleur Watson, Curator of the cultural program. "The program is about the democracy of design: open to all. Revolving around the central theme 'Design is a verb!' participants will explore the creative process of design rather than focusing on the end result of designed objects."

Design for Everyone offers designers a rare opportunity by providing a space for design in all its guises and allowing the public direct interaction. From free exhibitions to public talks, interactive experiences, installations, performances and iconic design statements, the possibilities of design will be open to everyone. The program represents and explores many current and important ideas such as sustainability, design in our everyday lives and the world class quality of Victorian design.

Highlight events include Eat, Green, Design, a temporary restaurant that will serve as an incubator for sustainable thinking; Pecha Kucha, an event for designers to meet, network and show their work to the public; Totally Open, featuring open studios and TV installations showing the inner workings of 4 storeys of design practice in the city; Bavaria: Baverium: Bavaried, a regional event in Castlemaine where ceramic based designs by Gretchen Hillhouse will be on exhibition, exploring the inner workings of a designers mind. The program also includes open days to exclusive trade shows at the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton and Melbourne Exhibition Centre on Sunday July 20.

The State of Design festival also features The Premier's Design Awards, recognising design excellence in Victoria; Design Capital, Australia's first multi-disciplinary design and business conference; and Design:Made:Trade, the wholesale showcase for innovative and emerging design brands.

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