If your vacations take you to the south of France, there is a design event not to be missed – a double event, at that. Design Parade takes place simultaneously in two cities: Hyères, which is on the western border of the French Riviera, and Toulon, 20 km away.
Founded in 2006, Design Parade Hyères aims to introduce the public – professionals and mere enthusiasts alike – to contemporary creation in the field of design. The competition features ten young designers each year, giving them a unique showcase and support.
Design Parade Toulon was founded in 2016 and has the same objectives as its older sibling but focuses on interior architecture (this is the first competition and festival of its kind in France).
In tandem with these two competitions, Design Parade also organizes exhibitions focused on the most interesting names of the international creative scene; those in Hyères are open until September 4; and in Toulon they continue until October 30. What’s more, in 2019, the Centre Pompidou and the Metropolis Toulon Provence Méditerranée signed a multi-year agreement to exhibit national design collections in Toulon.
This lets Design Parade give a full overview of the decorative arts in contemporary creations. Its many awards, supported by prestigious sponsors, such as the Sèvres Manufactory, Val Cleef & Arpels, Chanel, lets it give real support to the young people it recognizes. They are supported for a period of two years in multiple areas: financing, production, crafts, materials, publishing, legal, exhibition, laboratory and residence.
