Venice Design Biennial
Venice Design Biennial is the first and only design festival in Venice.
Seeking to encourage a dialogue between international contemporary design and the historic setting of Venice, founders Francesca Giubilei and Luca Berta created Venice Design Biennal in 2016. The biennial is composed of a main group exhibition centered around a curatorial theme and a series of collateral projects spread out across the city. The exhibitions encompass all types of design, from furniture and objects to fashion to architectural and landscape installations, and include collaborations with independent designers, studios, museums and academic institutions. Our Biennial is designed as a walk through the city, where visitors receive a map and each stop is an opportunity to explore design in a unique location. Many of these exhibition venues, such as private studios and historic palazzos, are typically closed to the public. Venice Design Biennial coincides with the first month of the Biennale Architettura - La Biennale di Venezia, making it the perfect time to visit the city.
The first edition in 2016 presented the works of more than 80 designers (from emerging ones to international icons such as Ron Arad, Alessandro Mendini, Karim Rashid, Antonio Citterio) in 12 different locations in the Accademia/Zattere and the Castello areas. The second edition in 2018 centered around the theme ‘Design After Darwin. Adapted to Adaptability’ and welcomed approximately 45,000 visitors to 20 projects in unique locations spread out across Venice.
The 3rd edition of Venice Design Biennial developed in five exhibitions through the city, around the theme 'Design as Self-Portrait', from May 20th to June 27th, 2021.
The fourth edition opened from May 19 until June 18 under the curatorial theme of 'Auto-Exotic'. On show as part of the Main Group Exhibition were more than 70 international designers, divided in four different "auto-exotic" locations.
In addition to these, the official programme was enriched by Collateral Projects. To find out more, visit the official website: www.venicedesignbiennial.org.
The next edition will take place in May 2025.