In just over three weeks, the capital’s biggest design festival kicks off, with close to 70 activities featuring more than 750 participants.

This is DESIGN Canberra’s second year and the 2015 event is bigger and better, with something for everyone and all ages. Many activities are free.

Held from 21 to 29 November, including over two weekends, the nine-day festival is designed to put you in direct touch with Canberra’s vibrant and diverse design community. It shines the shines the spotlight on the work of architects, interior designers, industrial designers, landscape designers, fashion designers, jewellers, visual artists, craftspeople and more.

So what can you expect from the festival? The opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of design. You’ll be able to create, connect and collaborate by participating in these five streams:

ACTivate—Explore an ACTivated Canberra CBD through pop-up exhibitions, installations, studios and shops featuring the diverse work of some of the capital’s most innovative designers.

Capital of CULTURE—See Canberra in a whole new light through exclusive guided tours of architectural and cultural landscape around the city, led by designers, architects and artists.

DESIGN Buzz—Engage in vibrant discussions on big ideas, creative thinking, design for social change, and Canberra’s urban future through a unique conversation and lecture series with national and international experts and speakers.

Living Artists—Gain exclusive insights into the innovative work of some of Canberra’s best local artists and design firms through tours of their inspiring studios and working spaces.

Exhibitions— Experience exciting art, craft and design through exhibitions hosted in premier galleries.

The best way to make sure you don’t miss anything throughout the festival is to take time to explore the extensive program and map out a plan of attack. Remember, some events are held throughout the entire nine days, at heaps of places in Civic and surrounds. Others will ‘pop up’ over several days only and some will take place over just one day. Drop-ins are welcome for many. Some require bookings.

outincanberra will keep you posted with an upcoming article on top picks for DESIGN Canberra. In the meantime, keep your eye out for the distinctive pink and yellow festival program (free) that will be distributed starting soon through Canberra’s best cafes, shops and cultural institutions.

The full program festival is on www.designcanberrafestival.com.au

DESIGN Canberra is an initiative of Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre, a key cultural arts organisation that has been operating in the capital for more than 40 years.

Featured Images:
Designs from the bush: Babbarra Designs, Raylene Bonson, Pandanus mats. Image: Courtesy of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation

Pathways through Canberra presented by ThinkPlace. Image: Martin Olman for CBR

DVAnt Designs. Image: Courtesy of the designer.

Cox Architecture Westside Acton Park Tour: Opening. at Night. Image: Rodrigo Vargas

Mi Wallet: unique paper wallet by Domingo Morchio. Image: Courtesy of the designer.

one ov one: Zepharine designed by Leonie Gill. Image: Courtesy of the designer.