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2021 Schedule of Events
Thank you to all our event organizers, presenters, and attendees for an amazing Design Week 2021!
Sunday, Sep 19
3-8 PM
“Outside” – Outdoor Community Event with Art Market + Music
Hello all! We are hosting our second installation of “Outside”, an outdoor community event. It will take place on Sunday, September 19th 2021 from 3-8pm at the Steel Yard.
RECORDING NOW LIVE!
Print to Disarm
Join local printmakers Jacques Bidon (Counterform), Lois Harada (DWRI Letterpress), and Ally Thatcher (Fallen Cargo) for a conversation about their practice. All three utilize text based posters and printing as a form of activism. In addition to this moderated conversation, the artists will offer a hands on demonstration on Saturday, September 25th.
WATCH VIDEO
Friday, Sept 24
5-7 PM
Conscious Design
On the heels of many forces coming together in a short span of time – #metoo, the Black Lives Matter movement, the global pandemic, the potential fall of American Democracy – all facets of American culture seem to be awakening to a point where we are assessing, adjusting, and living in a hyper-aware state of our being.
Friday, Sep 24
7-10 PM
Kickoff Party
Join DESIGNxRI and the Rhode Island Design Community as we celebrate the start of the 8th Annual DESIGN WEEK RI. Here we will be launching the DESIGN WEEK RI 2021 Beer made in colaboration with Moniker Brewery, featuring labels created by local artists and designers. Music will be presented by DJ Uncle Thirsty and you will get a free drink with the purchase of your ticket. We are excited to see you there!
Saturday, Sep 25
11AM-4PM
Open Studio: Anthony Tomaselli
Join artist/ restaurateur/ storyteller/ Providence native Anthony Tomaselli for an art, wine & conversation open house in the historic Fleur de Lys studio next to Providence Art Club.
Saturday, Sep 25
3-4 PM
Print to Disarm (workshop)
Join local printmakers Jacques Bidon (Counterform), Lois Harada (DWRI Letterpress), and Ally Thatcher (Fallen Cargo) for a hands on printing demonstration. The artists will present their work the previous week via a Zoom panel in a conversation about their approach to text based posters and printing as a form of activism.
Saturday, Sept 25
4-6 PM
UP&UNDR
The event will be an rsvp only panel in discussion of fashion design in the modern world. Touching upon subjects like innovation, sustainability, and design that shape our culture.
Saturday, Sep 25
4:30-5:30 PM
Print to Disarm (workshop)
Join local printmakers Jacques Bidon (Counterform), Lois Harada (DWRI Letterpress), and Ally Thatcher (Fallen Cargo) for a hands on printing demonstration. The artists will present their work the previous week via a Zoom panel in a conversation about their approach to text based posters and printing as a form of activism.
Friday, Sept 24 | 6-9 PM
Saturday, Sept 25 | 6-9 PM
Sunday, Sept 26 | 3-6 PM
Rhode Island Fashion Week
Rhode Island Fashion Week spotlights emerging and seasoned apparel and accessory designers, as well as independent retailers.
Sunday, Sept 26
12-6 PM
Maker’s Mark(et)
A marketplace that will host 10 – 15 vendors that will consist of collective of different crafters, makers, and designers from Rhode Island.
Sunday, Sept 26
2-4 PM
Fungus x Design
As part of the 8th Annual Design Week RI, Goode Landscape Studio is excited to host an interactive workshop on the ways fungi influence and shape urban landscape design. Our event, Fungus x Design (pronounced, ‘fungus by design’), will be outdoors for the first half and indoors for the second half.
Sunday, Sept 26
3-6 PM
A Walk Through the Woods
Join us and see what it takes to bring a tree into a one of a kind piece of furniture. We will be showcasing some amazing varieties of wood in all shapes and sizes. Some raw and some finished. To say thank you for taking the drive, we will be giving away some wood swag as well. There will also be food and drink available.
Ongoing
Download the App. now, experience anytime!
Tidal Resonance: Part of PVD Waterways
Providence Waterways is a multimedia, collaborative, storytelling project. Through a combination of online and onsite experiences, Providence Waterways invites you to take a deep dive into place-based stories, sounds, and events that explore Providence’s water.
MORE INFO.
Monday, Sept 27
All Day
Newport Day of Design
This year, DESIGN WEEK RI goes local and focuses on specific communities of creativity for the entire day! Join us on Monday, September 27 in NEWPORT.
SEE THE EVENTS
Monday, Sept. 27
9:30-11:30 AM
Crossing the Pell
Crossing the Pell is both a design exhibit and an interactive experience. Four visions for adapting this iconic bridge for cycle and pedestrian access — both updating/upgrading RI’s infrastructure and for using innovative materials and techniques for domestic infrastructural work — are at the heart of this exhibition. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from the project leaders and experience an interactive virtual reality walk across the bridge.
Monday, Sept 27
10-11 AM
Coffee Break with Designers: Newport
Join Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) to hear from RI business owners in the design industry who have participated in 10KSB – and have a coffee on us! The designers will share why they participated in the program and how their businesses have grown!
Monday, Sept 27
11 AM – 2 PM
Open Studio: Tamar Kern / Alloy Gallery
Alloy gallery is the studio of tamar kern and a showplace of talented contemporary jewelers.
Monday, Sept 27
12-1 PM
On Becoming a Designer: A Conversation with Lakuna Design
Join us with your brown bag lunch for a conversation in the park. Misi and Dave Narcizo founded Lakuna Design in Newport some 20+ years ago using their creative foundations to grow into graphic design.
Monday, Sept 27
2-5 PM
3D Printing + 3D Design
Attend this open event to experience the emerging world of 3D printing! You’ll be introduced to the process of designing for 3D printing and how it can be used in the architecture, yacht and prototyping industries.
Monday, Sept 27
3-4:30 PM
African Heritage Entrepreneurship and Makers of History in Newport
It’s well known that Newport, RI is filled with history. But whose history are we telling? And who gets to tell it? Join Keith Stokes and the RI Black Heritage Society on a tour of Bellevue Ave in Newport to explore the untold and sometimes mistold stories of African heritage entrepreneurship in Newport.
Monday, Sept 27
3:30-4:30 PM
Dan Clayman
Join IYRS and Dan Clayman as they discuss how Dan incorporates 3D modeling and 3D printing in his workflow of fine art glass.
Monday, Sept 27
4:45-5:45 PM
IYRS + Flux Marine: A Prototyping Partnership to Improve Ocean Health
While the world was shut down, RI innovator Flux Marine engaged IYRS to help prototype its cutting-edge electric motor in their campus prototyping lab. Learn more about their partnership and how they plan to change the boating industry at this event.
Monday, Sept 27
5:30-7:30 PM
Cocktails & Conversation at Hammetts Wharf
Hammetts Hotel is the most recent new buildings along the waterfront in Newport. An infill project, the development involved a mix of designers and partners in Rhode Island and is an amazing case study in collaboration and innovation. Join the team who made it happen for cocktails and conversations at the end of the DWRI Newport Day of Design.
Tuesday, Sept 28
9-9:30 AM
Business Over Breakfast
Small Business makes up over 95% of all RI businesses, and employs over 55% of Rhode Islanders. Business Over Breakfast speaks with RI businesses and organizations every Tuesday morning to learn, to share the important work they do, and to demonstrate how incredibly important our “main street” businesses are to build sustainable communities. Tell us how you thrive!
WATCH RECORDING HERE
Tuesday, Sept 28
10-11 AM
Coffee Break with Designers: East Providence
Join Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) to hear from RI business owners in the design industry who have participated in 10KSB – and have a coffee on us! The designers will share why they participated in the program and how their businesses have grown!
Tuesday, Sept 28
12-1:30 PM
Design Improv!
Creativity thrives with spontaneity and collaboration, but for many of us, this past year has been defined by rigidity and isolation. In this workshop, we’ll explore how the “yes, and…” principal of improv comedy can be applied to your creative practice to spark inspiration.
Tuesday, Sep 28
2-3 PM
Open Studio: INDO-
Come join us as we (finally) celebrate opening our first studio! INDO- is an award winning furniture and lighting design studio co-founded by RISD grads Urvi Sharma and Manan Narang.
Tuesday, Sept 28
4-6 PM
Explore Sustainable Style at The Nest
The Nest is Providence’s first secondhand style collective. Join our Co-Founders for an open studio to discuss and learn more about how to join our mission to elevate & incubate sustainable style.
Tuesday, Sep 28
6 PM
Marathon Clambake
Join us in-person or digitally for Marathon Clambake! This year, our four speaker line up has been curated in partnership with both Boston Design Week and Nashville Design Week! This inter-regional inter-disciplinary group of four speakers will blow you away. Each will present on their passion and practice, followed by a panel discusion with YOU! Come join us for an evening of design and community.
Wednesday, Sept 29
10-11 AM
Coffee Break with Designers
Join Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) to hear from RI business owners in the design industry who have participated in 10KSB – and have a coffee on us! The designers will share why they participated in the program and how their businesses have grown!
Wednesday, Sept 29
12-1:30 PM
How to Sharpen Your Creative Edge
Designers bring immeasurable value to the world: compelling and innovative products, unique perspectives, and often the lightheartedness and escape we most need. Their creations have the power to connect diverse groups and influence culture.
Wednesday, Sept 29
12:30-2 PM
Design in Sync: The Benefits of Enduring Collaborations
Who knew that a chance encounter on a bus ride to New York City would lay the foundation of a nearly two decade collaboration in design?
RECORDING NOW LIVE!
The Design of Black Business: How Black Creators are Fueling Innovation and the Economy
Kerlyne Jean-Baptiste speaks with documentary filmmaker Ade Osinubu and Isabelle Thenor-Louis, creator of For Black Health. They discuss their expertise and experiences creating social change and innovation through entrepreneurship.
WATCH VIDEO
Wednesday, Sept 29
4:30-6 PM
Look Around
Human-centered design offers an innovative perspective to change architecture as we know it. Participants will engage in an interactive session at KITE Architects’ studio to learn why.
Wednesday, Sept 29
6-9 PM
Design Hall of Fame Celebration
Join us for an evening of inspiration, honor and celebration. Each year during DESIGN WEEK RI, DESIGNxRI inaugurates designers into the RI Design Hall of Fame. Our Lifetime Achievement and Emerging Designer honorees are selected from a pool of talented nominees by an independent jury of design leaders from across New England.
Thursday, Sept 30
10-11 AM
Coffee Break with Designers: Warren
Join Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) to hear from RI business owners in the design industry who have participated in 10KSB – and have a coffee on us! The designers will share why they participated in the program and how their businesses have grown!
RECORDING NOW LIVE!
MoralDocs
The Moral Documents or MoralDocs is a transmedia art project and virtual reality film that reenvisions public safety as an issue of public health. Residents of the City of Providence have brought their lived experience into this collaborative Afrofuturist story that envisions an abolitionist future for the City of Providence. In this story, we travel to the Temple of Music in 2040 via a space/time chariot to witness the first graduating class of Community Health Justice. Created and presented by Vatic Kuumba and Shey Rivera Ríos of Studio Loba.
Thursday, Sept 30
3:30-5 PM
Climate Smart House Renovation
A presentation and discussion on net-zero ready house design and construction, hosted at the site of recently completed house rehabilitation/addition in Providence.
Thursday, Sep 30
5-6 PM
Re-Wilding the City: Urban Landscapes as Integral Urban Infrastructure
10,000 SUNS and Living Edge, are recent urban landscape projects by the Landscape Architecture office Design Under Sky, led by Landscape Architect Adam E. Anderson. Each project presents a unique strategy in their initiation, constructability, site challenges and their response to urban and natural forces in the city.
Thursday, Sept 30
5-7PM
Designing Meaningful Change
The promise of change can be disruptive or helpful, incremental to seismic, immediate to indefinite. Change is what keeps culture and industry moving forward. So, how might we design for a better tomorrow? Enjoy a drink in the Valley Neighborhood and get to know Tellart’s Providence Studio
Thursday, Sept 30
5:30-7 PM
Collaborative Design Showcase at NEIEP
A design showcase for the recently completed Educational & Training Facility for the National Elevator Industry Educational Program, located in Warwick, RI. Hear about the design process, the collaborative efforts with Vendors and Reps, and take a tour!
Thursday, Sept 30
6-7 PM
Festive Fall Wreath Workshop
Don’t miss out on creating your very own wreath for the fall season in collaboration with Design Week RI! We dive into our creative sides and show you step by step how to make a beautiful wreath without the hassle.
Friday, Oct 1
10-11 AM
Coffee Break with Designers
Join Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) to hear from RI business owners in the design industry who have participated in 10KSB – and have a coffee on us! The designers will share why they participated in the program and how their businesses have grown!
Friday, Oct 1
12-1 PM
My State House
State Capitol buildings are designed and constructed to give the appearance of permanence, solidity, and grandeur. Yet times are changing: citizens’ confidence in and engagement with government is waning, while new technologies will make aspects of State Capitol design obsolete. What will these buildings look like in the 22nd century?
RECORDING NOW LIVE!
Opportunity for Experience: Creative Perspectives on Connecting with People
We believe there is a need to reinforce our connection to each other as human beings. Suppose we can return to this concept as a core principle of creative practice and education. In that case, we can create new opportunities to come together instead of driving people apart.
Friday, Oct 1
2 – 4 PM
Open Studio: Pratt Frameworks
We will be having an open studio at our bicycle workshop on Wickenden St. in Providence! Visitors can see how and where we design, fabricate, and assemble our bike frames right here in Rhode Island.
Friday, Oct 1
5-6 PM
Dreaming With Place: Bookstore as Experience Design
Curiosity & Co. is the next stage of public and community experimentation by Epic Decade. It reinvents a building that was once the one-room schoolhouse of the island of Jamestown and an anchor hospitality offering on main street into a literary and culinary experience center. As a storefront, it is a curated bookstore and wine bar.
Friday, Oct 1
6-7 PM
Open:Close Party
What happens when an experience design studio builds a bookstore wine bar? Mayhem. For an epic decade, we’ve been dreaming about combining our greatest passions: books, bubbly, art + design, and Bob Ross.
Sept 27 – Oct 16
Boston Design Week
Boston Design Week seeks to increase public awareness and appreciation of all aspects of design, foster recognition of the vital role design plays in our lives, and bring new audiences to a wide array of design industries and organizations. Our vision is to encourage the public to explore all aspects of design.
Saturday, Oct. 2
1-6 PM
Open Studio: Anyhow Studio
Join DESIGNxRI 2021 Catalyst Elizabeth Welch for a free class and ceramics studio tour. Perfect plan for a Saturday afternoon!