Free lunch-time talks every Wednesday and Sunday at the Powerhouse. Throughout August Talks After Noon focuses on some of the unique events, exhibitions and people featured in SD08. more

Explore the Historic Houses Trust’s Marion Hall Best collection with curators Joanna Nicholas and Michael Lech. One of Australia’s most influential interior designers from the 1930s to 70s, Marion Hall Best set up a studio and display area in Queen Street, Woollahra in 1938, and later added a retail business. more

Does originality still exist?
This is a question often asked of Birgit Lohmann, CEO and editor-in-chief of the international online design publication designboom. In this talk Lohmann searches for an answer by drawing on her experiences working in a transcultural context and organising international design competitions. more

Modernism transformed life in Australia during the twentieth century. From jazz clubs to espresso bars and abstract art, modernism defined an exciting new cosmopolitan culture. Be inspired by the spirit of modernism at special night viewings of the Modern times exhibition, with live jazz, entertainment, speakers and refreshments. more

The Powerhouse Museum’s collection is like an iceberg; about nine tenths are hidden below the surface. Take a journey to those depths on a curator-led tour of our basement and Castle Hill storage areas. See the historical and contemporary design and decorative arts collections in their resting state - folded, filed, sorted and shelved. more

The times are modern, the music is jazz and the dance is swing. This evening presents the perfect opportunity to don your best vintage clothing and immerse yourself in all things 20th century modern. Be guided through a series of dance steps designed to get you up and moving and in the mood, and enjoy a special viewing of the Modern times exhibition. more

In 1967, Grant and Mary Featherston designed their now-famous ‘talking chair’ for Expo 67 Montreal, Canada. The Expo was considered to be one of Australia’s most successful overseas promotions, with over 20,000 million visitors during a six-month period. Forty years on, Ann Stephen, Principal Curator of the Modern times exhibition, talks to three award-winning Australian designers who are exposing Australian design internationally. more

At the end of World War II, Australia faced a housing crisis. In response, government, the media and architects became actively engaged in providing practical solutions. It was a period of experimentation and brave new ideas. Given the many issues surrounding the provision of affordable and sustainable housing today, are there lessons to be learnt from this period? more

To coincide with Sydney Design 08, the Powerhouse Museum, the British Council and Arts NSW are proud to present this inaugural travelling scholarship for a NSW designer to undertake a program of professional development overseas, valued at $18 000. more

Krispin K, international trend forecaster and fashion guru, returns this year to explore the modern movement in Australia with a fast-paced, fun-filled tour of the new exhibition Modern times. more

Design Stories: inspiration and creativity in exploring and generating ideas
A unique opportunity for students to hear successful designers speak about their personal and professional philosophy and the inspiration that underpins and informs their design decisions. more

Open Day: DESIGN
Open Day highlights include two very special behind-the-scenes tours. Join celebrated Australian designer Jenny Kee and Powerhouse curator Christina Sumner for a tour of the Jenny Kee-designed Sydney 2000 Olympic Games opening ceremony costumes more

This talk by Edwina Hirst, lecturer at the International School of Colour and Design, will leave you feeling more confident using colour. Hirst sets out to demystify colour by explaining what drives trends and demonstrating ways of understanding and using colour effectively. more

This talk charts the influence of architecture on music through the design of enclosed spaces for musical performance. Learn about the history of this practice and how architects have integrated architecture with aural experience. more

To complement the exhibition Architectural excellence in Bangladesh, this talk introduces architectural heritage in Bangladesh and the influence of western architecture in contemporary professional practice. Speakers will discuss the evolution of Bengal architecture from the early 8th century to today and the contributions of the international architecture community. more

Will pixels take precedence over paper? In this debate, students in the Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design (Digital Design) at The Design Centre Enmore go head to head with students in the Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design (Print, Packaging & Publishing) to argue the pros and cons of graphically designed communication in a digital age. The debate coincides with an exhibition of student typography that ‘visually argues’ the same topic. more

The Historic Houses Trust’s recent conservation and redecoration of the State drawing rooms of Government House has broken new ground in the conservation and presentation of Australian historic interiors. Contemporary artists and designers were commissioned to design new carpets, furniture and furnishing textiles for project. Hear about the challenges and the triumphs during two discussion forums. more

Experience the award-winning Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Education Centre, designed by Glenn Murcutt, Wendy Lewin and Reg Lark. Recently nominated in Architectural Review one of the most influential buildings in Australia in the past 25 years, the centre is located at Riversdale, a 20-minute drive from Nowra, overlooking the Shoalhaven River. These guided tours highlight the building’s sustainable design features and extraordinary detailing. more

Spend an afternoon with industry professionals from industrial, graphic, interior, multimedia and textile design and take the fear and question marks out of creating your own unique portfolio. View a range of professional portfolios and presentation styles, ask questions, receive feedback and focus on what you would like your work to say about you. Meet and connect with design professionals by booking in for a 15 minute session to discuss your own portfolio. more

A discussion about the exhibition Colour in Art – Revisting 1919, which shows the work of Australian painters Roland Wakelin (1887–1971) and Roy de Maistre (1894-1968) in the context of de Maistre’s ‘colour-music’ theory; a key tenet in the development of our understanding of modernism. more

Art critic and writer John McDonald reveals the secrets to success in the competitive world of visual art. He is joined by R Ian Lloyd, photographer and creator of Studio, a book, video and exhibition project that explores the creative process through a selection of Australian artists at work in their studio environment. more

The artist and teacher Ludwig Hirschfeld-Mack (1893-1965) was a student then later a master at the Bauhaus, teaching the first Bauhaus seminar on colour. In 1936 Hirschfeld-Mack fled Nazi Germany for England, but was eventually deported to Australia in 1940, where he was interned as a German ‘alien’. more

The NSW branch of the Design Institute of Australia launched its Top 10 x10 Designer Talk series in 2007 to provide an opportunity for established and influential designers to share their knowledge and experience with an audience of practicing designers and those interested in the design industry. more