Overview

RMIT Design Hub Gallery exists to ask questions about design’s role in the world today. Through exhibitions, conversations, performances and publications, we explore the process of design – making space to imagine, test and risk new ideas together.

Founded within RMIT University, the Design Hub Gallery has its roots in the city and in research practice. But most of all we are a public place, a zone for exploration and a platform for exchange, locally and internationally. We are an open space for discovery, questioning and experimentation.

RMIT Design Hub Gallery acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands we work.

 

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RMIT Design Hub Gallery is part of RMIT Culture.

RMIT Culture brings together the university’s cultural spaces, creative programs and art, film, design and research collections, providing valuable support for the university’s learning and teaching activities and opportunities to inspire creativity and collaboration. By showcasing and expanding RMIT’s cultural assets through new initiatives, RMIT Culture helps facilitate a University-wide approach to cultural engagement.

 

At the top of the Design Hub forecourt is an installation by landscape architecture and urban design practice Openwork. The project was commissioned by the University with the brief to provide a visual and physical deterrent for vehicles entering the building’s plaza space at speed from adjacent streets. Skeptical of the message that bollards transmit about permission in public space, Openwork proposed a land-form instead of a bollard that doubles as seating for students and passersby. The form is a 1:1 copy of the deliberately imperfect circle paving motif on the existing plaza. 

Read more about the project here.

 

Opening Hours (when exhibition is currently showing)

  • Tuesday to Friday

    11am – 5pm

  • Saturday

    12.30pm – 5pm

  • Sunday and Monday

    Closed

  • Closed Public Holidays

Location

Level 2, Building 100, RMIT University
Corner Victoria & Swanston Streets
Carlton, Victoria, Australia 3053

Entry to Design Hub Gallery
via the Victoria Street forecourt

Gallery located below street level

Accessibility

Accessibility

Design Hub Gallery welcomes all visitors and is committed to making our exhibitions and programs accessible to everyone.

Wheelchair Access

Design Hub Gallery is wheelchair accessible and there is a disabled parking space just outside on Swanston Street. The gallery is located on level 2, one floor down from street level. Please note street level in Building 100 is level 3.

You can enter via the lifts on level 3 just inside the buildings main entrance at the corner of Victoria and Swanston Streets or via the Victoria Street ramp.

Wheelchair accessible bathrooms are located on street level and within the gallery itself. The gallery is an open plan space, with no stairs or elevated areas.

Guide Dogs

Guide dogs are welcome at Design Hub Gallery.

Hearing Loops

Hearing loops are available in both gallery spaces.

Blind Or Low Vision

All wayfinding signage in the gallery spaces include Braille and raised letters.

Contact Us

Contact Us

RMIT Culture

RMIT Design Hub Gallery is part of RMIT Culture.

RMIT Culture brings together the university’s cultural spaces, creative programs and art, film, design and research collections, providing valuable support for the university’s learning and teaching activities and opportunities to inspire creativity and collaboration. By showcasing and expanding RMIT’s cultural assets through new initiatives RMIT Culture helps facilitate an enterprise-wide approach to cultural engagement.

TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST NEWS ON EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS AT RMIT GALLERIES – JOIN OUR MAILING LIST HERE!

General information: galleries@RMIT.edu.au

*Please note that Design Hub Gallery is not available for event hire, photoshoots or exhibitions that have not been selected through our annual program call-out. If you are interested to apply, please sign-up to our mailing list for future alerts.

Group Bookings

Please email us at galleries@rmit.edu.au to organise your visit

In your request please include the following information:

  • Group leader(s) name, email address and contact number
  • Desired date and time for visit (RMIT Gallery is open 11am-4pm Tuesday-Friday and Saturday 12pm-5pm during exhibition dates)
  • Name of institution and subject/course of study (if relevant)
  • Number of people in your group and educators or supervisors
  • If any members of your group have accessibility requirements

We require all groups of ten or more people to book their visit to RMIT Gallery in advance. Bookings are essential to minimise clashes with other events and programming.

Requests for group bookings must be made at least two weeks in advance of your planned visit date.

We strongly encourage educators to visit our exhibitions before booking a group visit. If you have any questions about the exhibition and/or specific artworks, please mention this during your booking so we can best support your visit.

Introductory talks given by Gallery staff are available upon request and are subject to staff availability. Introductory talks provide a brief overview of the exhibition and run for approximately five to ten minutes. Teachers and educators are then responsible for group engagement with the exhibition. If you are interested in an introductory talk for your group, please mention this whilst booking. Introductory talks will not be available for groups booking within two weeks of their visit or who arrive at the gallery without making a booking in advance.

For primary and secondary school groups, adult supervision of students is required at all times, at no time will RMIT Gallery assume responsibility for your group. Please find below the required teacher-to-student ratios and ensure the adequate number of teachers and/or guardians are present during your visit:

  • 1:5 for primary groups
  • 1:10 for secondary groups
  • 1:20 for tertiary groups

 

Volunteer

Volunteer applications are currently closed.

Gain valuable skills, develop new networks and expand your knowledge in a broad range of design fields.

Volunteers play an important role at RMIT Design Hub Gallery; they are the public face of exhibitions and assist with the day-to-day running of our public spaces.

Volunteer Responsibilities

  • Assist with the delivery of public programs
  • Greet visitors and provide directions
  • Provide visitors with information about Design Hub Gallery and specific exhibitions and programs
  • Invigilate
  • Maintain the public spaces
  • General event operations support (some out of hours)
  • Administrative duties as required

Time Requirements

  • The program requires availability of at least one three hour shift per week for the duration of the exhibition (Saturday 7 March – Saturday 9 May).

  • Shift times are:
    Tuesday – Friday: 11am – 2pm / 1 – 4pm
    Saturday: 12 – 3pm / 2 – 5pm

Benefits

  • Skills development
  • Networking
  • Written references where appropriate
  • Design knowledge
  • Invitations to openings and special events
  • To apply, please email the Volunteer Registration Form, your resume and weekly availability the Curatorial or Operations Assistant

Apply

Applications are currently closed. 

Design Hub Gallery encourages the public presentation of creative, practice research at all phases of development. Expressions of interest are accepted from researchers, practicing designers, organisations, curators and others engaged in creative practice research.

The EOI is part of a two stage process. We are looking for concepts for ongoing collaborative development. All applications received will be initially reviewed by the Design Hub Gallery Program Advisory Network.

Before completing the application form please discuss your proposal with the Design Hub Gallery curators.

Eligibility

RMIT Design Hub Gallery accepts proposals from all those engaged in creative practice-based research, including:

  • The RMIT design community including staff, design researchers / students, alumni
  • The wider design community in Australia and internationally

Application Process

Please complete the online Expression of Interest form which involves:

  • An outline of your exhibition concept (up to 200 words)

Consider the following questions:

What issues/ideas/research questions are you exploring in the exhibition?

Why do you want to exhibit at RMIT Design Hub Gallery and how will our remit to exhibit design research be a useful/important context for the exhibition?

Who is the intended audience for the exhibition?

  • A description of the exhibition design and/or how the project will be displayed (up to 150 words)

Consider the following questions:

What will be included in your exhibition?

What will your exhibition look like physically?

  • If you would like to supply a scaled drawing of your proposed project in situ, floor plans and specifications of the available spaces can be downloaded from our website.
  • A (maximum) half page CV or bio for each participant in the exhibition.
  • Support material.
  • Please submit up to 10 captioned images (incl. diagrams & sketches), and no more than 5 minutes of video or audio relevant to your proposal.
  • Your preferred dates (please keep in mind that Design Hub Gallery is open Tuesday to Friday 10am– 5pm and Saturdays 12 – 5pm).
  • A brief budget.