Sydney Design Festival 2019

Overview

The Sydney Design Festival will return from March 1–10, showcasing the best in Australian and international design in a whopping 138 events taking place across the city. Curated by Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS), this year's festival theme is 'accessing design' — a challenge to broaden the term's definition — and spans tours, workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions, makers markets and podcasts.

The festivities will begin with Methodic Optimism, a talk by award-winning architect Ana Luisa Soares, who hails from Portugal's Fala Atelier design firm. Additional highlighted speakers include Rachel Wingfield of London studio Loop.pH, preeminent Japanese-Australian fashion designer Akira Isogawa, and blind design practitioner Duncan Meerding. Other discussions topics include cultural and social development, aged care and housing, issues of accessibility and a new age of recycling.

You'll want to visit the Powerhouse Museum, if not just to check out the immersive Agora installation. Commissioned by the museum and created by architecture film Penhale and Winter, the space acts as a meeting place for those interested in design and science.

As far as exhibitions go, an interactive musical installation has been created by MAAS Research Fellow Ollie Bown, and will be on display at the Australian Design Centre for the duration of the festival. Over at the Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre, a new program will explore the Tasmanian Aboriginal cultural practice of delicate shell necklaces.

Plus, Golden Age Cinema will present Jiro Dreams of Sushi, the Australian Design Centre will host a makers market and a live podcast recording of In Situ Science will take place on March 6.

Yes, it's a lot to sort through. Luckily MAAS has also provided these festival itineraries, which focus on certain topics of interest, such as women in design, indigenous design and shaping the future.

Image: Atmeture by Loop.