On 2 September, Melbourne will be transformed into a utopia of design, with Saturday Indesign and The Project inspiring our exhibitors and creatives to create their own versions of paradise. As if you needed any other reason to attend the industry’s most loved event, this year’s theme will have you transported into a fantasy unlike any other, with installations, activations and exhibitions taking you from the streets and showrooms of Melbourne into a world of imagination.
That’s right – the Project is back this year and participating exhibitors have been hard at work collaborating with design’s most innovative minds to create work drawn from a theme of “utopias”. The Project is one of Saturday Indesign’s most enduring elements and is a fan favourite year after year. It enables participating brands to flex their creative muscles and add to their showroom experience by installing a temporary, bespoke experience that speaks to their brand identity and vision.
More than just a physical creation, The Project is a testament to the power of collaboration, with brands working with architects, designers, artists and more to create something memorable, sustainable and evocative.
For 2023, Utopias has us counting down until September 2nd, with event day promising a series of Project submissions that will give us all a glimpse into a dream world that might just be the future of design. We’re thinking fields of flowers or installations with water, experimental design models or blueprints into sustainable futures – the possibilities are endless!
Ready to plan your Saturday Indesign experience around The Project? Read on and discover this year’s collaborations and get a sneak peek into just what they have planned or see examples from past Projects.
Ajar x Santa & Cole
“The ancestral meets the avant-garde”
A series of highly technical structures dressed in handmade paper. Alone or in repetition, its luminous power can vary from a whisper to an exclamation. Tekiò, “adaptation” in Japanese, fuses ancient techniques with Dim to Warm LED technology, which allows the light to be regulated in intensity and colour temperature. Created by Anthony Dickens, this unique contemporary lamp is a contrast between the ancestral and the avant-garde.
Image courtesy of Ajar x Santa & Cole
Aspect Furniture
“Tomorrow’s Materials”
Venture on an innovative journey as Aspect Furniture joins forces with their internal design teams to pioneer the future of materials. Explore the uncharted realms of ‘tomorrow’s materials,’ pushing boundaries and redefining possibilities to craft a sustainable and visionary tomorrow.
Axor x Plus Architecture
“Moving Underwater”
Dive into an extraordinary water projecting experience that immerses you in a multisensory wonderland, where sight, sound, and touch unite to transport you to the depths of aquatic marvels, leaving you awestruck and refreshed.
Great Dane x Verpan
“Cloveleaf Giant Jigsaw”
“Get ready to embark on a creative experience with Verpan and Great Dane, as they invite designers to unleash their artistic prowess and reimagine the legendary Cloverleaf sofa by Verne Panton.
Inspired by the concept of utopian togetherness, designers will have the opportunity to sculpt their own interpretations of the iconic Cloverleaf, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and exploring uncharted creative territory. Expect the unexpected as the collaborative spirit ignites a symphony of interpretations and witness the magic unfold as your peers come together to reimage this timeless masterpiece, crafting an immersive and captivating experience for all.”
HAY
“Build a World”
“Experience the ultimate eco-adventure as you unleash your creativity and build your sustainable haven using vibrant, coloured crates. In this immersive experience, you become the architect of change, transforming recycled materials into unique and inspiring structures that redefine eco-friendly living.”
HOW.Group & Autex x RMIT
“Framing Conversations”
Join the procces of 20 students as they enrich on an 8-week guided project, an integral part of the course assessment, where year three and honours students will immerse themselves in hands-on learning, fostering valuable skills and knowledge that will shape their academic and professional journeys.
Reece & Neolith x Fraser and Partners
“A “Virtual” World”
Step into a mesmerizing VR adventure where you don the goggles and find yourself whisked away to a breathtaking utopian Bathroom scape, where imagination knows no bounds and dreams become reality.
Signature Floors
“The Big Weave”
Unleash your creativity as everyone contributes their unique touch to the art of weaving, culminating in a magnificent collective masterpiece that showcases the beauty of collaboration and the power of individual expression coming together as one.
Winya x Indigenous Creators from Naarm and Nationally
“Decolonised Space”
“Winya’s utopia is a decolonised space and is designed in collaboration with Indigenous artists across Naarm and nationally. Decolonisation seeks to reverse the negative impacts colonisation has had on Indigenous people and the land, particularly through direct and active listening to First Nation’s Voices. Winya’s space centres and celebrates Indigenous voices in the forms of space making, cultural sharing, and artist activations throughout the duration of the day. This space celebrates art and culture in many forms with community coming together to create a space almost entirely developed by First Nations people. We invite visitors on a journey starting at the intersection of Flinders Lane and Queen Street, travelling down Queen Street and through our showroom located at 15 Queen Street. Non-Indigenous visitors are encouraged to learn from and celebrate our cultural educators and performers through “paying the rent”.
Why do we “pay the rent”?
Read more https://paytherent.net.au/whypay/
Art produced by ENOKI
ENOKi (They/Them) is a proud Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta Blak Fulla based in Wurundjeri Country (Melbourne), they’re a multimedia artist with a main focus on digital media. ENOKi explores Blakness and Queer Identity themes in their practice and is heavily inspired by the ’80s, ’90s, and early ‘2000s artists, rap and hip-hop, and pop culture.”
PLUS more to be announced from Surface Gallery & Style Timber Floors x Hot Black!
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Saturday Indesign will be held in Melbourne, Australia on Saturday 2nd September. Registrations are free and provide access to the full daytime event including all participating showrooms, hospitality, talks, activations and free event transport.
Image courtesy of Winya x Indigenous Creators from Naarm and Nationally
To see all of these installations, and enjoy the full day of Saturday Indesign activations, Register now for free.