About Geelong Design Week 2023
Geelong Design Week is a celebration of Geelong’s global recognition as a UNESCO City of Design. It acknowledges our commitment to use design and creativity to build a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive community.
In October 2023, the City of Greater Geelong held Geelong Design Week with an inspiring program covering 11 days of creativity, innovation, and design excellence. This event showcased the power of design to transform our city and our lives through 50 exhibitions, talks, workshops, and unique experiences. From thought-provoking discussions to interactive workshops and captivating exhibitions, Geelong Design Week offered something for everyone. Attendance surged to 17,288, a 172% increase from 6,343 in the previous year with 26% of participants from the Melbourne Metro area and 6% of attendees from Regional Victoria, emphasising the event’s regional appeal and 1% of attendees travelling from interstate. Geelong Design Week 2023 championed local designers’ work and featured historic product design feats such as the Ford ute and the fridge, product designs that have made an impact on peoples’ lives globally – with the design originating right here in Geelong.
History of Geelong Design Week
A successful 22-event partnership in 2019 with the National Gallery of Victoria and the Melbourne Design Week program, progressed to become a stand-alone event in 2020 with more than 80 events. However Covid-19 forced the cancellation of this program.
In 2021, Geelong Design Week returned with the theme ‘Unpredictable’ and attracted more than 6000 people who were inspired, challenged and delighted by events showcasing local design and creativity. More than 50 local designers, artists, innovators, schools and community groups hosted events across the 2021 program, which included Rone’s major exhibition at Geelong Gallery.
Over 10 inspiring days from 17-27 March 2022, audiences embraced a rich program that responded to the theme of Taur, meaning ‘belonging’ in the language of the local Wadawurrung people. A program of more than 50 events highlighted how design can respond to our need to belong, how we are creating places and spaces accessible to all, and how staying connected keeps us safe and promotes a better quality of life. In Wadawurrung language, we are one with our country, we are all connected.
Geelong Design Week 2022 was attended by 6,343 people. The program was made possible by the ideas, partnerships, collaborations and creative minds of local artists, designers, makers, community groups, businesses and organisations. The program provided opportunities to share clever ideas, explore design thinking and stimulate creativity through talks, tours, workshops and exhibitions.