Open House Melbourne 2023

We are witnessing a disruption of city living—specifically through digital connection. Despite technological advances, a widening gap is dividing individual experiences—inspiring the 2023 theme of a ‘Collective City’. To us, design is impactful when it considers the diverse people interacting with it. The challenge was to develop an identity that speaks to how we can harness technology to create meaningful connections for individuals, as well as better outcomes for cities as a whole. The design must be engaging—without alienating segments of a vast public audience—translating across digital and print, motion and static, and from small format to large scale.

The resulting identity tells a story of how each person, language, and moment, are the building blocks of Melbourne’s unique DNA—and how a city is greater than the sum of its parts. Using ASCII character code and multilingual glyphs, the concept showcases how different people from diverse and inclusive backgrounds interact with architecture—coming together to reveal the true nature of the built form. When communicating with the wider public, accessibility became a key focus for the design. Ensuring legibility and contrast allowed wider audiences to engage with the design and reinforced the theme of a ‘collective city’.

The visual appeal of the design increased program engagements across social, digital, and physical interactions. Facebook post impressions increased 43% from the year prior and Instagram post impressions increased 234%. The increased engagement with the program fostered greater community connection with urban spaces and sparked important conversations on inclusive urban design. The event brought people together across varied demographics—where families, students, professionals, neighbours, and all walks of life could create new perspectives on their shared city.