Design Circus: Patricia Urquiola. Melbourne

Design Circus captivated and inspired the Melbourne design community in March, with the long-running west coast event coming to Victorian capital for the first time ever. The highly lauded international designer Patricia Urquiola was the exclusive special guest speaker for both the Melbourne and Perth events, both selling out in record time.

Mobilia's Design Circus not only celebrates design excellence but also serves as a charitable endeavour, giving back to the community through funds raised in ticket sales. The overwhelming response underscored the Melbourne design community's eagerness to participate in this exclusive opportunity to hear from Urquiola and contribute to a worthy cause.

"Patricia has an incredible following in Australia. She lights up a room and brings immense energy to everything she does. It was such an honour and pleasure to have her vision, positivity, and support for Design Circus and for our local design community," remarked Sam Fazzari, founding director of Mobilia.

Urquiola, a Spanish-born architect and designer, co-founded Studio Urquiola in 2001 and has left an indelible mark with her innovative contributions across various fields. As an integral part of five major brands represented by Mobilia in Australia, Urquiola’s designs are part of the collections at Cassina, CC-tapis, Moroso, and Kettal, and some of her new pieces made their debut outside of Europe for the first time.

"Creating a dialogue between Australian design and international design is one of the ways we support the design community. Not just by bringing the local design community together, but by exposing local designers to the inspirational stories, experiences, and work of many of the most important designers of our time," explained Fazzari.

In addition to her involvement in Design Circus, Urquiola served as the ambassador for Vogue Living’s inaugural VL50 Awards, presented in partnership with Mobilia.

Design Circus, which originated in Madrid in 2010 and made its Australian debut in Perth in 2014, has consistently united the design community while raising funds for charity. This year, all proceeds from the event were donated to ToyBox Australia, supporting its mission to improve the lives of sick and disadvantaged children across the country.

ToyBox Australia expressed excitement about partnering with Design Circus, emphasising the importance of fundraising efforts in providing distraction therapy and support to children in need.

Marking another milestone in its illustrious journey, Design Circus promises to continue inspiring designers, cultivating the design industry, and giving back to the community through its charitable initiatives.

Thank you to everyone who came along and supported this year’s Design Circus.