100 Chairs, Melbourne Design Week 2026

The landmark 100 Chairs exhibition was a major kick-off event for Melbourne Design Week 2026, bringing together the work of over 100 Australian creatives, artists and architects to explore the chair as a medium for storytelling.

After the success of their 2025 MDW exhibition 100 Lights, Friends & Associates returned to present the show where each piece was defined by two criteria — must be made in Australia and must be able to be sat on.

The resulting works ranged from refined timber craftsmanship to highly sculptural and unconventional forms. Wired steel constructions, stone-like seats, horse-inspired pieces made from playground materials, and chairs resembling melting ice all reflected a growing appetite for expressive, risk-taking design that moves beyond purely commercial furniture outcomes.

Among the works was “Pre-Chair” by our Senior Industrial Designer, Pearson Bulmer, whose experimentation with chair design will be explored in a separate feature on StreetChat soon. 

Alongside 100 Chairs, other MDW exhibitions explored similar themes of experimentation in object design. A Sense of Occasion by Thomas Maxam Studio reinterprets the champagne bucket, while Arum by Tom Fereday presents a series of sculptural lighting works that highlight the raw origins of cast glass.

Melbourne Design Week is now a fixture on the international design calendar, continuing into its 10th edition and attracting creatives from around the world.

More information about 100 Chairs can be found via Melbourne Design Week.

Image credit to Friends & Associates and Tom Ross.