Australia’s largest celebration of design; 2011 State of Design Festival is happening 20–31 July throughout metropolitan Melbourne, and regional centres around Victoria. mecho.com.au | the style black book is once again a proud sponsor of the event and we would like to especially put the spotlight on Design:Made:Trade, starting Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 July 2011 – it is in its 4th year as the one and only design fair of its kind in Australia.

Design:Made:Trade is again take place at the historic Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton, and will be accompanied by design-related workshops, talks, exhibitions and displays. A two day trade fair, two day public consumer fair with the very best of Australian design covering furniture, fashion, industrial design brands and more. Proven a stepping stone for emerging designers, Design:Made:Trade is a curated show which presents a unique platform to create networks.

Celebrating a diverse range of design, this year’s exhibitors cover an array of disciplines such as graphics, interiors, industrial, software, fashion, and visual arts – a spectrum of designers blur creative boundaries, offering boundless inspiration. One of the exhibitors is our mecho July Guest Blogger & Textile Designer Ellie Bradley of Xavier&Me – interact with her online or at the event this month!

The Royal Exhibition Building is also host of other activity including:

Melbourne Design Embassy Melbourne Design Embassy central zone where industry can meet with Victorian design talent to relax, network and do business. The Embassy will facilitate business connections by inviting buyers, industry groups and companies to meet with design professionals.

Open Studio Craft Victoria and State of Design will work with select designers to take their practice on site at Design:Made:Trade. The designers will create a temporary studio on site where they will make their artworks over the four days, showcasing their skills to the Design:Made:Trade audience of trade and public visitors.

Innovation Platform – MoOD/Materio 2011 showcasing high tech materials as well as surprising new applications for existing materials, the MoOD (Meet on Original Designs) Innovation Platform is a collaborative exhibit of two leading European organisations dedicated to material innovation, MoOD Brussels and Materio. The materials in this exhibition have been selected for their innovation in process, technical properties, performance, integrated intelligence or contribution to the environment.

A number of State of Design’s public program of workshops and creative activities will be located at the Royal Exhibition Building during Design:Made:Trade including the Design Institute of Australia’s exhibition, Australian International Design Award, the Sow’s Ear Challenge presented by Chapman & Baily and the Treadlie Handmade Bike Show.

Where and when?
Royal Exhibition Building, 9 Nicholson Street, Carlton, Melbourne
Dates: Thursday 21 – Sunday 24 July 2011
Thursday 21 and Friday 22 – trade only – register online
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 – open to trade and public
Opening Times: 10am – 5pm
Entry: Public $10.00 – available at stateofdesign.com.au or on entry
Trade – pre-register for free trade pass online or $10 at the door

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