From open studios and giant art installations in Civic to a symposium on architecture and a bus tour of the capital's mid-century masterpieces, it's hard to know where to start when planning your DESIGN Canberra itinerary. So we asked the boss. Artistic director Rachael Coghlan generously lets us in on her top five picks of this year's festival (which, for Coghlan, is like being asked to choose a favourite child). Here are her must-sees.

No better way to start the DESIGN Canberra festival than with an opening party on the first weekend. Visitors can enjoy experimental lighting designs, an auction of contemporary studio-produced design, as well as music, local wines, craft beer, cocktails and more at the Monaro Mall. There'll be limited edition and one-off pieces from Canberra’s leading designers displayed on the night and a highlight I’m looking forward to is Dark Mofo lighting designer Matt Adey of House of Vnholy, who will have an experimental lighting design installation up on the night.

Museum of Possibilities is a large scale, interactive art installation inviting the community to share their hopes and dreams for Canberra’s city centre. For one day only, as part of the 2018 DESIGN Canberra Festival, Montreal-based artists Daily Tous Les Jours will transform City Hill so that people of all ages can have their say about the future of their CBD. Everyone is invited to participate in this unique, creative and democratic exercise, or to simply relax and enjoy the spectacle.

The Typism conference brings together designers, students, artists, calligraphers and creatives of every age and description. A fantastic look at local art at its finest. United by a shared love of letterforms, they gather once a year on the Gold Coast to hear from eight inspirational speakers sharing their professional journeys with us. In this one-off collaboration with DESIGN Canberra, we're taking Typism on the road. If it’s your first time at Typism, come along, you'll feel welcome and soon find your tribe.

DESIGN Canberra is honoured to work with Kengo Kuma, one of the world’s leading architects, to design the inaugural ephemeral architecture project. With an authentic sensibility, both careful and considered, the project will activate Aspen Island in Lake Burley Griffin in the heart of Canberra. This noble project embodies education and experimentation and is a first for Canberra, a city of design. Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre leads the project with DESIGN Canberra platinum partners the National Capital Authority and the University of Canberra. Another great honour.

Enrico Taglietti’s contribution to architecture is significant: his thoughtful detailing, aesthetics and sense of place have helped to shape Australia’s national capital, home to the most ambitious and most successful example of 20th century urban planning in Australia. We are so honoured to be celebrating his legacy, so this one will be a real goodie to get along to, if you can.