The yearly Design Parade Festival in Toulon and Hyères is back for its 14th edition in 2019, brought to us by Robert Mallet-Stevens’ early modernist Villa Noailles in the South of France. The festival continues the legacy of art patrons Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles by gathering contemporary artists, designers, press and the general public for a parade opening weekend and exhibitions that remain on show until later in the year.

If you haven’t heard much about this event, that’s probably because it’s rather elusive; the organisers don’t offer up much in the way of information, so we’ve rounded up all the bits and pieces we could find to bring you the most comprehensive coverage. Because we have to say, there are some pretty cool things going on over there, and we wanted our Yellowtracers to be in-the-know.

Under the guise of Villa Noailles Director Jean-Pierre Blanc and President Pascale Mussard, The Design Parade Festival is split into two sections across Toulon and Hyères. Toulon focuses on the latest in contemporary interior design with exhibitions running until November 24, while Hyères focuses on design more broadly with exhibitions on show until September 29. Along with presenting separate exhibitions, each section of the festival runs its own competition amongst ten finalists, who can enter solo or as a pair. Let’s dive in.

As well as heading up the jury for the Hyères design competition, French designer Mathieu Lehanneur presents his Particle Horizon exhibition. The show is a collective showcase of some of his most noted pieces. The title evokes Lehanneur’s continued interest in molecular, biological and technological influences on not just design, but also the human condition as a whole. The exhibition is set across the squash court, terrace, and swimming pool of Villa Noailles.