Auckland Design Week 2026 will explore the powerful relationship between People + Place—how design shapes our lives, our communities, and our environments.
People + Place celebrates the vital connection between design, humanity, and community in an increasingly digital world. It challenges creatives to design with purpose—fostering belonging, sustainability, and cultural identity through every discipline.
ADW 2026 invites designers, makers, and businesses to reflect on how their work can deepen social connection, public interaction, and a shared sense of place—both locally and globally.
At its heart, design is about people: their emotions, their needs, and the places they call home. From indigenous knowledge systems to contemporary practices, Aotearoa’s unique design identity offers a powerful lens to create inclusive, sustainable, and human-centred solutions.
Whether through public art that sparks reflection, digital experiences built on empathy, or objects and spaces that tell cultural stories, design strengthens the ties that bind our communities.
People + Place invites us to embrace sustainability, diversity, intuitive design, and indigenous perspectives - creating environments and experiences that foster connection, reflect who we are, and inspire collective action.