Perth Design Week: A Uniquely Western Australian Festival Celebrating Innovation & Purpose

Since its launch in 2023, Perth Design Week (PDW) has quickly established itself as a leading platform for showcasing design excellence and thought-provoking discussions on issues shaping Western Australia and beyond.

Now entering its third year, PDW 2025 (March 20-27) is set to be more impactful than ever with new collaborators and over 75 events scheduled to take place within Boorloo (Perth) and beyond.

Taking inspiration from world-renowned design festivals in cities such as Milan, New York, London, and Melbourne, PDW aspires to place Perth on the global map as a major hub for design creativity, innovation and critical thinking on matters such as sustainable design.

Co-founders Sandy Anghie and David Smith describe the festival as an annual celebration of design’s power to drive positive change.

“Design is all around us—from the homes and suburbs we live in to the clothes we wear and the objects we use every day. Design shapes our lives in countless ways,” says Sandy and David. “Perth Design Week is about bringing this awareness to the forefront and offering Western Australians the opportunity to engage with the design community in meaningful ways.”

Spanning a wide range of disciplines—including architecture, urban planning, landscape design, interior design, furniture, fashion, and graphic design—PDW is designed to be inclusive and accessible to all. It’s a celebration of how design touches every part of our lives, and how we can collectively shape the world around us through creative collaboration.

“From the very beginning, we’ve seen incredible enthusiasm from the public to engage directly with design professionals. This year’s program offers even more opportunities for that connection,” says Ms Anghie and Mr Smith.

A key focus of Perth Design Week is providing a platform for emerging designers, ensuring their voices and visions for the future are seen and heard. Returning this year are the annual exhibitions by North Metropolitan TAFE and Curtin University. Both beautifully curated, they offer new perspectives from the next generation of creatives. Also aimed at fostering dialogue among emerging talent, NODE will present a panel discussion featuring leading designers shaping Perth’s creative future.

A few highlights from this year’s program

Perth Design Week opening night celebration at the Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip with a panel conversation, as we ask “what makes design from this place uniquely Western Australian?”

PDW’s inaugural “Western Australian Design Now” exhibition at Boola Bardip featuring recent and innovative work from 30 leading WA designers.

Global engineering giants, Arup and Aurecon, working in collaboration with Peter Farmer and Little Rhino Design, welcome us into their new Perth headquarters, each of them sharing their stories on co-design and Indigenous engagement.

Cultivated × Mark Tuckey Pop Up and tour at Monash House, showcasing restored iconic furniture and recycled timber pieces in a zero-waste retail space by Foolscap Studio.

Cerclos, a global leader in optimising sustainable design of the built environment, will host a series of events for both design professionals and the broader community.

PROJECT_HOME: Architects Joel Benichou and Craig Nener explore the evolution of Australian housing design, presenting innovative solutions for efficient, pre-designed living spaces.

Community Engagement: Town Team Movement and Northbridge Common Town Team lead a workshop to redesign Lock Lane in Northbridge, creating a safer, more sustainable, and connected urban space.

Perth Design Week 2025 is a pivotal event for Perth’s creative community and beyond, offering a platform for innovative ideas and meaningful dialogue on key issues such as sustainable design, nurturing emerging talent, and the role of design in driving social change. As it continues to grow, PDW solidifies Perth’s position in the global design landscape while fostering a more sustainable and connected future.

For more details on the full Perth Design Week 2025 program, visit perthdesignweek.com. 

Perth Design Week runs from March 20-27 and is supported by Major Sponsors SHAPE, UniFor, Zsa Zsa Property, Human-Urban, Consulate of Italy in Perth and Sandy Anghie Architect. PDW’s Major Partners, the Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip, the State Buildings, Curtin University, North Metropolitan TAFE, Central Park Perth and Block Branding, are all now in their third year of support. The Committee for Perth and Dexus have come on board as Major Partners for 2025, hosting the Program Launch event.