Death, Design and the Macabre: Echoes of the Past Through Design

What is the role of design in shaping how we engage with iconic landmarks marked by death, tragedy, and the macabre? From notorious sites like Alcatraz and the Tower of London to Melbourne’s own Pentridge Piazza, Carlton’s Underbelly, Old Melbourne Gaol and the city’s spooky laneways. As technology transforms our engagement, these sites attract visitors not only for their historical importance but also through the lens of dark tourism, where the past’s intriguing aspects are brought to life in our popular imagination through true crime stories, ghost tours and celebrity memorials.


Design has the power to both respect and challenge the legacies of these places, offering visitors meaningful connections to the past, in person and digitally. In this thought-provoking session, experts in design, pop-culture, and ethics will explore the role of design in educating and provoking reflection, creating respectful and insightful experiences at sites with haunting histories.


What challenges do designers face when reimagining places tied to unsettling pasts? How do we strike a balance between educational value and the emotional weight of such places and spaces? And what ethical dilemmas arise when reinterpreting those associated with suffering…where should we draw the line?

Arrive at 6pm for a self-guided tour of Old Melbourne Gaol before the 6.30pm panel conversation.

Getting there
For more information about visiting Old Melbourne Gaol, click here

Accessibility
This event is fully wheelchair accessible. Auslan interpretation can be arranged with prior notice. To help us make this event as accessible as possible, please let us know if you have any accessibility needs or requirements by contacting us at info@ohm.org.au. 

Beyond the Grave: Design + Death is presented by Open House Melbourne, supported by Program Partners DeathTech Research Team, Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust, DocPlay and The Shrine of Remembrance, and Venue Partners Old Melbourne Gaol managed by National Trust.

This event is part of Melbourne Design Week 2025, an initiative of the Victorian Government in collaboration with the NGV.