Category Archives: Uncategorized

The upcoming State of Design Festival in Melbourne is packed full of SO much fun. What we love about State of Design is that it encourages ALL people to attend – both young and old and from all walks of life. Today, we focus on the fun to be had for kids, families and even the big silly kid inside that adult body of yours!

ArtPlay Backyard Open Studio: 30-31 July: How many times have you told your kids to go into the backyard to play for a while? At Backyard Open Studio, kids won’t only be imagining the perfect backyard, they will design and create it too!  Architects Jeff Nelson and Paula Kilpatrick and Designer Ben Landau will help inspire young design visionaries as kids get hands on experience sketching, modelling and playing in the ultimate backyard!

Eco Cubby Workshop: 21-24 July: The cubby is the ideal kids sanctuary. Whether elaborate or simply designed they capture kids imaginations worldwide, as they transform into forts, pirate ships, fairy castles and treehouses. At the Eco Cubby Workshop kids can work side by side with architects and artists to design a funky, environmentally sustainable cubby house model – a kids nirvana.

Makedo’s Marvellous Life-size Maze:  31 July: Both young and old can become part of the Makedo building team, helping to construct sections of a maze made simply from recyclable cardboard and Makedo’s very cool connectors. All your efforts will be rewarded at the end of the day whe you get to explore, play and get lost inside it!

My Patch My Kinetic City:  24 July: Get the family together and construct your ideal “patch” of city. With the help of experts, you will learn about environmental initiatives and be provided with raw and recycled materials to create your  very own patch – At the end everyone’s creative patches will come together to form an “imagined Melbourne” – Looking forward to seeing the result – What does the Melbourne community ideally want?

Paper Plane Acadamy: 23-24 July: Here is your chance for both young and old to show off your paper plane folding and flying prowess! This workshop offers you the opportunity to learn paper folding techniques, and test out your creation in the Aerial Playground’s purpose built obstacle course –  the big test is whether your plane will glide smoothly,  or dive bomb – a big bet lots of laughter will abound at this session!

S.E.A.T – The Stool That Could: 23-24 July: In this hands on workshop, Primary School aged students will learn about sustainability, design and positive social change.  Kids will have a ball building and decorating their own SEAT, whilst learning about SEATS great social initiatives that are being conducted across Australia.

Junk Puppets: 30 July: Pop on down to the Polygot Theatre at the Heide Museum of Modern Art to learn all about puppet design, manipulation and construction techniques. Using common household waste products, your child can create their own puppet and then perform as a puppeteer – great Melbourne winter day activity.

Most events are free, however pre-registration is required and some have limited spaces – So get involved NOW. Of course the hardest part of the State of Design Festival is choosing which event to attend - Have Fun!