Design isn’t just the façade of Prahran Market or the price tag on a pair of designer pumps.

It’s also the perfectly sized handle on your favourite coffee cup, the food-to-plate ratio of a restaurant eye fillet steak, and it’s even the reason that chocolate bars and magazines somehow seem to find their way into your trolley while you’re waiting in the supermarket line.

Victoria’s State of Design Festival is Australia’s largest and most innovative design event, and from 20 – 31 July it will reveal a multitude of ways in which all these things play into our lives and our emotions — and perhaps leave you more vigilant next time you’re eyeing up that Cherry Ripe at the grocery check-out.

Through a series of workshops, forums, exhibitions and events, 2011’s theme will tackle the theme of design that moves. Hotly anticipated highlights include a digital alfresco art gallery along Gertrude Street (choose from walking, running, cycling or tramming it), a sampling of Ladro’s finest pizza creations, and a workshop where you can work some sartorial DIY magic on a pair of Melissa + Gaetano Pesce boots.

Design is always ubiquitous, but only once a year it can be oh-so entertaining.

State Of Design Festival
20 – 31 July 2011