Melbourne Design Week at Walsh Street!

Design Matters: Blots & Bouquets

Aurelia Tasha Handoko, Common-sens and Madi Lo-Booth in conversation with Associate Prof Rory Hyde

The Robin Boyd Foundation has invited students and recent graduates for an in-depth conversation on student publishing and design criticism today.

This ‘Design Matters’ panel will use Robin Boyd’s spirited authorship of a ‘Blot’ and ‘Bouquet’ in the Students Society of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects’ publication Smudges as a step-off for discussion. Through these monthly awards, Boyd honed his ability to deliver a mastery of phrase, insight, and wit. He formed a distinctive voice amongst architectural critics going on to write scholarly and popular books, newspaper columns, and TV and radio programmes over twenty-five years – including his most famous work, The Australian Ugliness.

Expect a wide-ranging discussion exploring the contemporary experience as a student writer, editor and publisher, including new media, collaborative publishing models, and maintaining a critical writing practice beyond university.

Tuesday 23 May, 6.30 pm

Tickets:
$20/$30

Venue: 
290 Walsh Street
South Yarra Victoria 3141

This event is part of Melbourne Design Week 2023, an initiative of the Victorian Government in collaboration with the NGV.

Mud Talks 05 | Co-design and Collaboration

Shelley Simpson and Zachary Hanna in conversation with Karen McCartney 

What happens when designers from different disciplines combine to bring a product into the world?

Mud Australia present an open and honest conversation on collaborative product design with Shelley Simpson (founder, creative director and designer of Mud Australia), Zachary Hanna (lighting and furniture designer at Studio Zachary Hanna) and Karen McCartney (author, editor, curator and promoter of exceptional architecture, interiors, craft and design).

Using a soon to be released collaboration between Shelley and Zachary as a step-off, expect a wide-ranging discussion, with Q&A, on aligning skills, design ideation, product execution and going to market.

Saturday 27 May, 11 am

Tickets:
$20/$30

Venue: 
290 Walsh Street
South Yarra Victoria 3141

Presented by Mud Australia in partnership with the Robin Boyd Foundation. This event is part of Melbourne Design Week 2023, an initiative of the Victorian Government in collaboration with the NGV.

Design Matters: The Great Great Australian Dream

Georgia Birks, Jamileh Jahangiri, Mimmo Cozzolino and Tristan Wong in conversation with Jill Garner AM

The confused pastiche of incoherent architecture and how it failed to represent a national identity or culture was a topic that Boyd passionately interrogated right through to his last book, The Great Great Australian Dream.

This ‘Design Matters’ panel will explore how we can design sensitive architecture that speaks to our identity and culture to celebrate connections with the environment, Country and heritage. Expect a discussion that traverses civic architecture, public space, graphic design, expos and biennales to delve into design’s critical shift from aesthetics and symbolism to materiality and place.

Sunday 28 May, 2 pm

Tickets:
$20/$30

Venue: 
290 Walsh Street
South Yarra Victoria 3141

This event is part of Melbourne Design Week 2023, an initiative of the Victorian Government in collaboration with the NGV.

Preserving the Past with Edwin Fox Furniture

Interested in restoration? Keen to learn some new skills or maybe improve on existing knowledge? Perhaps you just love mid-century furniture?

Edwin Fox Furniture proudly presents a one-of-a-kind restoration demonstration at Walsh Street. 

You will be shown a variety of restoration methods, skills and practices all used in the industry. The experts will demonstrate an approach to restoring and reviving your mid-century furniture in 3 steps! Edwin has teamed up with professional mid-century restorer Richard Lloyd to share their knowledge and industry insight into the world of furniture restoration.

Saturday 20 May, 9.30 - 12 pm
Sunday 21 May, 9.30 - 12 pm

Tickets:
$120

Venue: 
290 Walsh Street
South Yarra Victoria 3141

This event is part of Melbourne Design Week 2023, an initiative of the Victorian Government in collaboration with the NGV.

Images top to bottom:
1: Detail: Smudges. vol. 1, no. 5 (1939). Royal Victorian Institute of Architects. Students’ Society. © The authors, 1939. 
2: Image courtesy of Mud Australia.
3: Entry to the Australian Pavilion, Montreal Expo ’67, Canada. Mural by Clifton Pugh. Slide taken by Robin Boyd, 1967. © Estate of Robin Boyd. Item digitised by Restore Conservation Services.
4:Image courtesy of Edwin Fox Furniture.

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We are custodians of the legacy of Robin Boyd and the iconic Walsh Street house that he designed, built, and inhabited. Inspired by Boyd, our purpose is to provoke and lead fearless dialogue on Australian architecture and design.