DesignFest 2026
Description
DesignFest is back. Once a year, South Melbourne's design and architecture precinct opens its doors for one big night of ideas, inspiration and celebration.
From 3pm, wander between 15 showrooms across the South Melbourne Design District for a program of talks from some of the industry's best. Speaker lineup below.
From 7pm, head to Miele's newly renovated Experience Centre for the after party. Grab a drink, catch up with the design community, and stick around for the prize draw at 8pm.
Whether you're a designer, architect, renovator or just love good design, DesignFest is the one night a year the whole precinct comes together.
Schedule
- 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Talks, product launches and showroom visits
- 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
After party
Miele’s new showroom welcomes registered guests to kick back and enjoy good food, cocktails and live DJ. Door prizes will drawn at Miele at 8.30pm.
- 8:00 pm
Prize draw @ Miele Experience Centre
Visit. Scan. Win. Each showroom has its own prize. To enter a showroom’s draw, simply visit, scan its unique QR code and enter your details. Your entry goes into the draw for that showroom’s prize. One entry per person, per showroom. Then head to Miele’s new showroom for the 8:00pm prize draws. Registered guests can kick back with good food, cocktails and a live DJ while we announce the winners. Argent Australia—Multicoloured La Boule premium porcelain dinner set, valued at $779 Bertazzoni Australia—Your choice of any Bertazzoni built-in oven, valued up to $5,999 Gaggenau—An exclusive cooking masterclass for up to 8 guests with internationally renowned Australian-Malaysian chef Tony Tan, held at his boutique cooking school in Trentham, valued at $2,500 Hacker Kitchens—Missoni towel hamper and a $100 Hector's Deli voucher, valued at $700 Hettich—ComfortSpin revolving tray that rotates 360° and glides partway out of the cabinet as it turns, valued at $167 Kitchen Choice—Set of three premium German-made Fissler saucepans, valued at $780 Laminex—Omega 34-bottle freestanding wine cabinet, valued at $549 Made in Italy Kitchens—Italian wine set including Alessi corkscrew, Bormioli Rocco glass decanter, 4 bottles of premium Italian wines, valued at $715 Miele—Vacuum Guard L1 Comfort XL, valued at $1,099 Mint Kitchens—Bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky Parisi—PARISI Envy 30 Kitchen Mixer with Round Spout Pull Out Spray Brushed Nickel PVD, valued at $930 Pepper Design—Handcrafted Solid Walnut Chopping Board by TEAM 7 plus a Patient Wolf Distilling Co. Experience Voucher, valued at $750 Schweigen—$250 Village Wine Bar gift card Sirius Design Centre—Backlit LED mirror with touch controls, built-in anti-fog and your choice of colour finish, valued up to $1,121 TecLED—Handmade Australian timber pendant light, valued up to $2,000
What's on
- 3:00 pm
PARISI—Showroom tours
Showroom tours featuring our New Collections, hosted by our PARISI Specialists.
- 3:30 pm
Sirius Design Centre—Beyond the Bathroom—Design, Technology & Innovation
Join us for a guided showroom tour exploring some of the world’s leading premium bathroom brands. We’ll take a closer look at Japanese and German design philosophies, uncovering the quality, technology and innovation that set these products apart in the Australian market.
- 3:30 pm
Hacker—Newly opened showroom tour
15 minutes talk about our latest product releases.
- 4:00 pm
Gaggenau—Set Stage For Extraordinary | Introducing Vario Cooling Expressive Series |
Gaggenau, the luxury brand for professional-grade home appliances, continues the evolution of the Vario cooling Expressive series with several new refrigeration models. Designed to offer a modular approach to contemporary kitchen architecture, the presentation reinforces Gaggenau’s vision for cooling as an integral part of purposeful kitchen and interior design.
- 4:00 pm
Mint Kitchens—The Bigger Picture Starts Small An Artist's Insight with Antoinette Ferwerda
For over 20 years, artist Antoinette Ferwerda has turned small moments into big pictures. In this honest, warm talk, she shares the reality of building a creative business while raising a family, from her first steps as an artist to commissions, reinventions and gallery direction, mistakes included. Expect good vibes, a few laughs and plenty of inspiration for anyone who creates, designs or dreams of starting something of their own, because you never need to see the whole picture to begin.
- 4:30 pm
Sirius Design Centre—Beyond the Bathroom—Design, Technology & Innovation
- 4:30 pm
Argent Australia—Villeroy & Boch and Argent Showroom Tour
Showroom tour presenting our shower and tapware ranges.
- 4:30 pm
Bertazzoni Australia—The Bertazzoni Story
Introduce the Bertazzoni brand, its history as the oldest stove manufacturer since 1882, and still run by the 6th generation family members. Showcase our product range, innovative technology and values. A guest appearance by the Stone Ambassador team discussing their beautiful Vasari range which features in the Bertazzoni showroom.
- 4:30 pm
Hettich—The future is in motion | From static storage to kinetic furniture
A 15-minute journey through the evolution of furniture joinery at Hettich, from static storage solutions of the late 19th century to a future where furniture is in motion. Discover how innovation in joinery has transformed the way we interact with furniture, leading to dynamic and futuristic solutions such as FurnSpin and RoomSpin.
- 4:30 pm
Pepper Design—Gin Tasting with Patient Wolf Distilling Co.
Patient Wolf Distilling Co. makes its gin just down the road, and it’s pouring at Pepper Design. A neighbourly drink among solid wood Team 7 kitchens and furniture. Showroom open from 3pm, so drop in anytime.
- 5:00 pm
Schweigen—The importance of good Ventilation
Talk on the importance of effective kitchen Ventilation and how Schweigen rangehoods help improve air quality, comfort and functionality.
- 5:30 pm
TecLED—Lighting Trends for 2026
15 minutes in Lighting Trends.
- 5:30 pm
Laminex—Colour Collection 2027
Josh Woods, Innovation & Design Development Lead at Laminex Australia presents Laminex Colour Collection 2027. Discover a carefully selected collection of new colours and woodgrains designed to elevate the spaces we live and work in. Be inspired by the tones, textures and environments that have long shaped the Australian landscape, each addition captures a sense of place that feels distinctly Australian.
- 5:30 pm
Made in Italy Kitchens & Wardrobes—New finishes and products from Milan Design week 2026
15 minutes introduction to new finishes, solutions and certifications
- 5:30 pm
Sirius Design Centre—Beyond the Bathroom—Design, Technology & Innovation
- 5:30 pm
Mint Kitchens—The Bigger Picture Starts Small An Artist's Insight with Antoinette Ferwerda
- 6:30 pm
Sirius Design Centre—Beyond the Bathroom—Design, Technology & Innovation
- 6:00 pm
Kitchen Choice—Trends with Breathe Architecture
15 minute talk from Breathe Architecture on trends in Sustainable living.
- 6:30 pm
Miele—All things outdoor cooking with Scott Kinsman and Emily Alonzo
Our showrooms
Map
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
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