The week-long celebration of design will run from 3–9 March and aims to build on the momentum of 2024 whilst drawing inspiration from international design festivals. With internationally renowned designer Karim Rashid secured as keynote speaker and a host of prestigious brand sponsors on board to help bring it to life, including Resene, Forté and Lexus; ADW is set to be a landmark event.

Karim Rashid is one of the world’s most prolific designers. Exhibiting his art in galleries around the world and with more than 4000 designs in production, his work has won 400+ awards including luxury good design for Veuve Clicquot and Alessi; high tech products for Asus and Samsung; brand identity for Citibank and Sony Ericsson; and packaging for Kenzo and Hugo Boss. Rashid says “I am extremely excited to have been invited to New Zealand for ADW25. I aspire to shape culture through my work by making design a public subject, so I relish this opportunity to meet with designers, design enthusiasts and the Kiwi public to share our passion for all things design.”

ADW25 aims to transform the spirit of place and space through the positive power of design. Its mission is to create a platform for change that facilitates collaboration and encourages conversation, whilst also showcasing and supporting the local design community. The theme for 2025, Chance + Change, explores the transformative potential and ethical implications of emerging technologies in the multidisciplinary design landscape including AI, VR, AR, prefabrication, 3D printing, robotics, software-generated design and more.

Early bird tickets are on sale now at www.aucklanddesignweek.com and the full scope of activity will be announced in the new year. The event will incorporate satellite events, design workshops, exhibitions, a design conference, and networking opportunities. Satellite events will span the city from Parnell, Newmarket and Grey Lynn to Morningside and Drury, and will be free to attend. The main hub for ADW25 will be situated in Mt. Eden, hosting exhibition space for emerging and established designers, as well as a ticketed conference day which will explore subjects such as, The Future of Design, Women in Design & Tech and Balancing Risk & Reward: Ethics, Cybersecurity, and Emerging Technologies.

Lexus, a new sponsor for 2025, has signed on as one of the event’s Gold Partners and will create an emerging design studio which will include exhibition space for its Lexus Design Award (LDA) winners. “Lexus merges brave design with leading-edge technology, so a partnership with Auckland Design Week was a natural fit for our brand,” says Andrew Davis, Lexus New Zealand Vice President. “The annual Lexus Design Award calls on our young emerging designers in New Zealand to push the boundaries of how design can create a better tomorrow, and we are really excited for this year’s winners to showcase their concepts at Auckland Design Week”.

Resene and Forté, both supporters of the event since its inception, have renewed their Principal and Platinum agreements respectively, for 2025, with Gaius Piesse, Director of Forté, acknowledging ADW’s potential as the “cornerstone event we know it can be”. Resene has also committed to aligning its annual Total Colour Awards with ADW for 2025; whilst the ADW line-up is also expected to include a strong fashion element in partnership with Yasmin Farry, former NZ Fashion Week General Manager.

ADW’s Founder and Director, Jen Jones, has spent a significant portion of her career in the design and construction industry. She was driven to create the event by her admiration for the talent and skill of the designers she worked with and says “I’m astounded by the response we’ve had to ADW, and to be heading into year two with such incredible support provides a great deal of confidence for the future of the event. Our aim is to embed ADW as a highly anticipated annual fixture for the design community, as well as locals and visitors to Auckland. One that inspires, educates, stimulates and celebrates all things design”.

For more details about Auckland Design Week visit www.aucklanddesignweek.com.