More than a hundred members of Canberra's artistic community gathered at the National Portrait Gallery on Thursday night to launch a nine-day celebration of design.
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Models showcasing the work of fashion designers posed for photographs at the launch party surrounded by furniture created by Canberra icons.
The Design Canberra event is set to bring more than 70 events to the territory from Saturday including public talks, open studios, tours and collaborations.
With more than 750 participants, the exhibition will showcase the work of teachers, makers, architects and comedians.
The nine-day festival begins with a "design intervention" in Garema Place, which will see Canberrans discuss ideas for urban renewal with renowned architects.
Later in the day, the Canberra Airport will host guided tours of its award-winning terminal and airside facilities not normally available to the general public.
The National Archives of Australia will also display the original plans for territory as drawn by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahoney Griffin.
Design Canberra was first launched in November 2014 after years of planning, although it only ran for four days.
This year's event was launched by government backbencher Dr Chris Bourke hoped it would connect leaders in arts, business and education sectors.
"There will be a tutorial and workshop-based design competition for young designers to revitalise Garema Place, jewellery pop-up shops featuring independent designers and the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair will come to Canberra to showcase some of their incredible work," he said.
The Canberra Glassworks will also open their studio in Kingston with artists such as Emilie Patteson, Christine Atkins and Brian Corr available to discuss their works.
The Embassy of Sweden in Yarralumla will host a guided tour at 2pm on Saturday after an extensive renovation by Guida Moseley Brown Architects.
Old Parliament House will provide history lessons on Canberra's town planning while the Australian National University will showcase the work of textile students at the Hamlet in Braddon.
"There will be calligraphy workshops, a walking tour of award-winning Canberra Airport and the opportunity to meet with architects and designers to explore a range of design ideas about the city at Pavilion, Dr Bourke said..
"We are so fortunate in Canberra to have such a diverse and thriving creative scene, and Design Canberra is a celebration of what is unique about our city."
