We’re excited to share the design that emerged from the Design Victoria Meeting Point Co-Design Challenge. ‍

The Big Draw is an interactive hub designed to spark creativity and community connection at the upcoming Design Victoria 2026 Festival. Anchored by a bold ten-foot-tall “DV” sculpture, this installation serves as both a meeting place and a participatory design project, an evolving reflection of the festival’s collaborative spirit.

This project was brought into being through a collaborative design process that was stewarded by Rick Clark, Breanne Des Roche, Maureen Elmer, Carrie Smart and Jignaa Vala.

Sponsored by RJC Engineers and AME Group, and delivered in collaboration with Man & Son Design—the studio behind last year’s festival hub—dHKarchitects and the Building Material Exchange,(BMEX) this initiative blends creative exploration with real-world design expertise.

From May 1-3, the Meeting Point will be a hub for activity in the Rotunda. Events include: Public Access Exhibition (daily); Coffee & Community with Indigenous Roots Coffee (Friday); Ask An Expert (Friday); Panel Discussion: What Do Our Shared Spaces Say About Us? (Friday); Ground for Equity (Saturday); Ask An Expert (Saturday); Coffee & Community with Indigenous Roots Coffee (Sunday); Family Day (Sunday).

Below is an oveview of the Meeting Point concept and creation.

‍You Are Here: The moment visitors enter the festival hub, they encounter the vibrant “DV” landmark. Its bright colours and playful geometry signal a space for gathering. The structure stands as a beacon, drawing people together and marking the heart of the festival.

Early in the process, the team recognized the need for a bold, recognizable form that embodied the festival’s identity. The form was developed to balance visual impact with material efficiency and ease of fabrication. Using Design Victoria’s signature colours, the “DV” became both a logo and a space, an emblem of connection where one could be welcomed, find belonging, and experience connection.

‍You Are Welcomed: The “D” acts as an open doorway, inviting everyone to step in and belong. Visitors are encouraged to linger, create, or chat. This threshold transforms arrival into engagement, a symbol of openness and inclusion at the core of Design Victoria.

‍You Are Part of an Evolving Design: The “V” reimagines seating as an adaptable landscape. With integrated handles, the benches can shift into distinct configurations, forming a flexible, modular system for both small “Meet the Expert” sessions and larger community gatherings. The design evolves with the festival, responding to its rhythms and people.

‍You Find Inspiration: Beside the sculpture, an interactive community wall invites expression and collaboration. Starting as a blank grid of metal mesh, it gradually fills with photographs, ideas, drawings, poems, and spontaneous creations from festival-goers. A free “little design library” offers paper, pens, and a small printer; tools for play and participation. The wall becomes a living canvas of contributions.

‍Modular: The installation is conceived as a modular, flat packed system that is economical in construction and expressive in form, and designed for efficient fabrication, transport, and assembly.

‍The Process: The Big Draw grew from a three-part community design charrette, where participants, many meeting for the first time, co-created a meeting place for the festival. With groups shifting weekly, the process celebrated adaptability, diversity, and co-creation across boundaries. One collaborator even joined, visiting from India, highlighting the global reach of Design Victoria’s creative community.

‍Partnerships: Turning concept into construction required collaboration. The group partnered with Make Space North Park, a local nonprofit maker-space, and Toolpath, a Victoria-based fabrication studio specializing in precision plywood cutting. These partnerships exemplified the project’s core value: design as community-making.

‍More Than a Structure: The Big Draw also acts as an information hub, displaying festival schedules, partner listings, and event updates. Every detail was guided by community values: welcoming participation, to celebrate creativity, and to uplift local artists and makers. The project prioritizes material efficiency, using plywood offcuts where possible, and is designed for disassembly, reuse and redeployment in future contexts.