The Big Design Market

One of Australia’s most anticipated independent designer shopping weekends, The Big Design Market, is returning to Melbourne from 2-4 December and has announced the addition of a Sydney event from 25-27 November.

The Big Design Market caters to an audience who value originality, quality and ethically produced designs and also the convenience of a one stop Christmas shopping experience; an event where shoppers can connect directly with the designers of the products themselves.

The Big Design Market offers a curation of the best local and international design with over 230 exceptional stallholders across homewares, textiles, lifestyle, fashion, furniture, lighting, stationery and kids products.

This year the event will be held across two iconic venues, launching in Sydney at the Royal Hall of Industries while continuing into its fifth year at the majestic Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne.

Since launching in 2012, The Big Design Market has established itself as a premiere destination shopping event for high quality and original design with attendance figures reaching venue capacity.

The beloved and trusted Melbourne event, scheduled in the weeks leading up to Christmas, attracts 57,000+ visitors a year over a three day shopping weekend and generates impressive sales for its independent designers..

The Big Design Market’s Director Simon Obarzanek comments on the unique approach, “The event provides a great platform for independent design businesses to present emerging brands and launch new product ranges to a responsive audience who are design-focused, early adopters and eco-aware. There is such a great atmosphere when these like-minded elements come together. We love bringing these products to new audiences.”

The Big Design Market will showcase new independent creatives, alongside high-calibre designers who rarely stray from their studios. These designers have been selected for their cutting-edge design, impeccable presentation and product quality with an emphasis on ethical business practices and sustainability.

The Big Design Market will present Australia’s most talented design led businesses with a line up for 2016 that includes Beci Orpin, Elke Kramer, Trent Jansen, Bridget Bodenham, Lekker Bikes and Bailey Nelson.

Enthused to bring the designer shopping experience to Sydney, Obarzanek says “We know Sydney is going to respond well as many of our customers already fly to Melbourne to attend our event each year.”

“We thought it was time to offer Sydney its own event which has been localised through the mix of participating designers, workshops, kids activities as well as food and drink offerings that the city already knows and loves.”

Creative workshops hosted by Sydney and Melbourne creatives have become a signature highlight of The Big Design Market and this year is no exception.

Design industry aficionados including Gemma Patford, Sibella Court, Home-Work, Beci Orpin and LuxBite will share their creative process, knowledge, insight and work alongside workshop participants to help them make and create a unique piece to take home with them.

Sydney’s stellar paper engineer Benja Harney of Paperform will also install a large-scale coloured sculptural work inside each venue. And for the kids, The Big Design Market have commissioned talented artist Penny Ferguson of Min Pin to create a play area dedicated to kids in both cities.

Activities are free and will actively engage a steady stream of families all day. Penny’s magical forest installation will bring to life illustrations from her recently released kids book Wild Lumploaf. Kids can join Penny in the hand-painted forest to create their own Wild Lumploaf mobile to take home.

The Big Design Market’s limited edition designer showbags have become highly sought after by shoppers over the past 4 years (often selling out within minutes of the doors opening) and this year will be no exception.

There will be a limited number of showbags available to purchase at the event each day. The bags include up to $200 worth of curated design pieces from selected stallholders and are available for $15 in Sydney and $25 in Melbourne.

In the lead up to Christmas, The Big Design Market offers an interactive, fun shopping experience; an inspired day out for kids and adults whilst also supporting high quality, original and sustainable design based businesses in the process.

KEY DATES & INFORMATION:

The Big Design Market – Sydney Royal Hall of Industries, Moore Park
Fri 25 Nov 10am-9pm
Sat 26 Nov 10am-7pm
Sun 27 Nov 10am-5pm

The Big Design Market – Melbourne Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens
Fri 2 Dec 10am-9pm
Sat 3 Dec 10am-7pm
Sun 4 Dec 10am-5pm

Admission: Adults $2, Free for kids 12 and under

thebigdesignmarket.com