In a city full of beauty which takes on many forms, with creativity oozing from all around, it’d be rude not to establish an entire festival which celebrates all things design. For the first time ever, the brand new Fremantle Design Week will be engulfing the sunny port city this October
The inaugural Fremantle Design Week is set to span from Friday 14 until Friday 21 October, with an engaging program of design-inspired events, conversations and open-studios which are expected to inspire, entertain and challenge you.
A whole range of places and spaces around Freo will be transformed into event spots where you can connect with design and designers, from tattoo artists and architects, to industry leaders and urban planners.
The biannual event’s hub can be found at PS Art Space, where in a Western Australian first, Monash University’s XYX Lab will present its award-winning HyperSext City exhibition, a festival highlight which examines how gender impacts our experience of space, and poses important questions around how we can design safer and more inclusive cities for the entire community.
Led by Associate Professor, Nicole Kalms and Associate Professor, Gene Bawden, the Monash University XYX Lab operates at the intersection of gender identity, urban space, and advocacy, and in the Fremantle iteration, the exhibition will reveal design-led tactics that challenge the root causes of social inequity.
Leading architecture practices such as Spaceagency and Kerry Hill Studios, and fashion designers including Harriette Gordon will host open-studio events and conversations, providing an insight into the inner-workings of creative minds. International artisans will also share their expertise, with the renowned lacemaker, Pierre Fouché hosting workshops and a talk at the Maritime Museum.
Events will also be led by design-conscious Fremantle shops, restaurants, bars, and hotels, and in a feast for the senses, Fremantle Design Week Film Festival, presented by Hougoumont Hotel & Warders Hotel will feature an eclectic cinematic mix including the Perth premiere of titles such as Making a Mountain and Mau.
These interactive events aim to inspire curiosity, open-up new perspectives and spark imagination of both yourself and design peers.
Fremantle Design Week and DesignFreo Creative Director, Pippa Hurst says, “Our specially curated program invites people to engage with things they are familiar with, such as fashion and house design, but there will also be moments to delve deeper, understand more and hopefully inspire.”
“Fremantle is well-known for its diverse and creative community, it’s a place where the arts are nurtured and celebrated, and we have so many design experts in this city doing amazing things on a local, national and global scale.
“We’re excited to provide a platform to shine a light on the creative talent we have in our small but high-impact pocket of Perth,” Pippa shares.
Come be inspired, and celebrate design in all its forms in this first design-specific festival in Fremantle this October. Check out the full Fremantle Design Week program below.