Founded in 2007 the RMIT Design Archives (RDA) holds a unique place among Australia’s collecting institutions for its exclusive focus on design practice across all disciplines: architecture, automotive, fashion and textile design, graphic design, illustration, industrial design, interior design and landscape architecture. The expansive archive holds over 350,000 items and 16,400+ items are available via the online database.
Both digital and physical, the collections represent historical and contemporary practices which tell the story of Melbourne as a design city and provide the resources and support for research into Melbourne’s designed environment, design professions and practices.
The RDA attracts scholars from across Australia and overseas. It encourages debate and discussion around design and proactively engages with the broader culture of Melbourne and Victoria through publications and events. The RMIT Design Archives Journal is published biannually and a limited number of public programs are hosted by the RDA throughout the year.
The RMIT Design Archives’ home is RMIT University’s Building 100, known as the Design Hub, which received the Victorian Architecture Medal and the William Wardell Award at the 2013 Victorian Architecture Awards. The RDA welcomes students, researchers and the general public to visit and explore its collections.
The RMIT Design Archives actively collects material relating to Melbourne design from the twentieth century onwards, and is an integral part of a vibrant research centre in the heart of the city.
Search our online catalogue for physical and digital resources.
Access to RMIT Design Archives is by appointment only. Please complete the request form.
The RDA's award-winning design journal showcases the collections and publishes scholarly research about architecture and design twice a year.
Contact us at rmitdesignarchives@rmit.edu.au for image or reproduction requests, to explore volunteer and internship opportunities or for all other enquiries.
154 Victoria Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053
Melbourne City campus, Building 100
RMIT Design Archives, RMIT University, Building 100,
GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria 3001
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RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
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