Hicham Lahlou Brings Moroccan, Arab, and African Design to the Forefront at Design Show Australia 2025
Moroccan design took center stage at this year’s Design Show Australia 2025, one of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading platforms for design, architecture, and innovation. Held from June 11 to 14 as part of Melbourne Design Week 2025, the show spotlighted the timeless craftsmanship and contemporary creativity of Morocco, led by the internationally acclaimed designer Hicham Lahlou.
Organized in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Canberra and Maison de l’Artisan, the Moroccan delegation played a prominent role throughout the event. Highlights included two keynote talks and a panel appearance by Lahlou, as well as his participation in the Next Stop Designers Awards, where he championed emerging Australian talent.
With Melbourne now standing alongside Sydney as a design capital in Australia, the show served as an ideal stage to introduce Moroccan and African perspectives to a wider global audience.
A Leading Voice in Arab and African Design
Recognized as one of the leading figures in African and Arab design, Hicham Lahlou celebrates 30 years of international career in 2025-2026. His work was prominently featured in Australian publications such as Australian Design Review and InDesignLive, which praised his global vision and cultural influence (read more: Crossing Cultural Divides).
As Guest of Honour at the show, Lahlou presented two acclaimed conferences titled Arab Perspectives, Global Solutions, exploring how Moroccan, Arab, and African design can offer sustainable answers to global challenges. He also took part in a major panel on human-centered design as a tool for inclusive urban development, where he advocated for design as both a form of cultural diplomacy and a driver of social transformation.
This marks a historic first: Lahlou is the first designer of Arab and African origin to be officially invited to such a major Australian design forum, supported by the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AACCI), which also facilitated B2B meetings in Melbourne and Sydney.
A Platform for Cultural and Economic Exchange
Design Show Australia 2025 brought together over 250 international exhibitors, more than 1,000 brands, and nearly 90 expert-led conferences and talks. Attracting over 12,500 professional visitors, the event solidified its position as a key platform across sectors including hospitality, retail, interior architecture, industrial design, and beyond.
Lahlou’s participation further reinforced Morocco’s positioning as a creative hub for Africa and the Arab world, while opening opportunities for new partnerships with the Australian market, valued at over AUD 4.3 billion in potential contracts over the coming year.
Building Bridges for the Future
Beyond the main event, the Moroccan Embassy and AACCI curated an ambitious program of roundtables in Melbourne and Sydney, academic exchanges with top design universities, and institutional meetings with key Australian industry leaders.
The Moroccan community in Australia played an active role throughout, contributing to the outstanding success of this landmark showcase of Moroccan and African creativity.
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