Always a hotly anticipated event on the design calendar, Décor + Design celebrates its 20-year anniversary this year with the theme of Evolution and the launch of the new Green Design Show. Held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre with a new three-day format from Wednesday 17th to Friday 19th July, the interior design trade event will feature over 200 exhibitors across indoor and outdoor furniture, soft furnishings, lighting, textiles and art. More than 9,000 visitors are expected to walk the halls and take in talks from design luminaries including Abigail Ahern, David Hicks, Greg Natale and Brahman Perera, and even our very own Jen Bishop.
The new Wednesday – Friday format reflects feedback from the design industry. “Decor + Design will celebrate 20 years with the return of important heritage brands that have earned a loyal following around Australia, such as GlobeWest, Uniqwa and Satara,” says the exhibition director Chris May.
The International Seminar Series is back again this year with a fabulous line-up of design speakers including the British design star Abigail Ahern and the trends futurist Victoria Redshaw from Scarlet Opus. Australian speakers include David Hicks, Greg Natale, James Treble, Brahman Perera, Amelda Wilde, Kate Nixon, Natalie Walton, Sonia Simpfendorfer and Sally Evan (Nexus Designs).
Running alongside the event will be the new Green Design Show which is focussed on capturing the established audience but changing the conversation. This year sees the addition of a series of a series of new green design talks featuring speakers including Sasha Titchkovsky (Koskela), Taryn Cornell (Green Building Council of Australia), Matt Woods (Killing Matt Woods), Libby Staggs (Sustainable Business Matters) and Anne-Maree Sargeant (Authentic Design Alliance). Jen will be in conversation with digital marketing guru Farah Halabi from Oh Tu Agency on the Thursday, with great tips on how to master the ever-evolving landscape.
“Our partnerships with industry leaders like the Green Building Council of Australia and inspirational brands like Koskela mean that visitors can be inspired by people at the forefront of change. We’re taking visitors on a circular journey into the future!” says the Décor + Design and Green Design Show creative director Skye Rytenskild.
The Green Design Hub: Makers Movement will feature live demonstrations from makers including renowned master upholsterer John Halpin, shining a spotlight on the essential role artisans play in the circular economy. “For the Green Design Show, we’ve worked closely with Karie Soehardi of Circular Design Thinking to ensure that no greenwashing takes place, which is pervasive across industries,” says Skye.
The Vivid Emerging Designer Awards are set to return too – the leading awards program for emerging and early career Australian designers, the program has advanced the careers of many designers including Nicole Monks, Edward Linacre, Adam Markowitz, Dale Hardiman, Dean Norton and more.
Decor + Design & Green Design Show 2024
Wednesday 17 July – Friday 19 July | Melbourne Exhibition Centre
Entry to Decor + Design & Green Design Show is free but limited to trade visitors. Seminar tickets range from $44-to-$99, with a 3-Day ‘Masterpass’ also available.
