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- DESIGN WEEK Calendar 2023
2023 DESIGN WEEK Events Calendar
The 10th Annual DESIGN WEEK RI brings you 5+ days of events!
DESIGN WEEK RI is the annual celebration of design ~ featuring Rhode Island designers and entrepreneurs!
Each year, DESIGN WEEK RI offers talks, tours, panel discussions, parties, and more that showcase the design talent across Rhode Island – featuring and hosted by our many partners and design friends.
Monday, Sept. 18
PARTY
Monday, September 18
6:00-9:00 PM
Kickoff Party
Join DESIGNxRI and the Rhode Island Design Community as we celebrate the start of the 10th Annual DESIGN WEEK RI.
Tuesday, Sept. 19
TALK
Tuesday, September 19
12:00-1:30 PM
Behind the scenes of the Lifespan Intranet: Balancing Patient Care and Company Culture in a single Digital Platform
A day-in-the-life of a Lifespan employee can vary greatly depending on the role one has. A critical tool that binds all 15,000 employees together is the intranet — a single digital platform that needs to serve all of the needs of this diverse audience. Join us at this talk to learn more about the intranet.
WORKSHOP
Tuesday, September 19
12:00-7:00 PM
The Workshop @ PPL: Open Studio
Join us for this Open Studio at PPL’s maker space (includes 3D printing, laser cutting, vinyl cutting and heat transfer, sublimation, and more!).
TOUR
Tuesday, September 19
4:00–5:00 PM
Turning Noisy Industrial Space into a Quiet Communal Haven for Writers and Podcasters
Tour the new LitArts RI Center and see how its architect transformed it from a raw industrial space serene haven. Explore murals, lighting, sound control, nature influence, and digital art-to-murals tips. Unveil secrets of coworking joy and how to create enchanting windowless rooms.
NETWORKING
Tuesday, September 19
5:00-7:00 PM
KITE Architects Hosts REFERRAL-RAMA – the Ultimate Design Speed Dating Referral Event!
KITE Architects is thrilled to invite you to our Design Week REFERRAL-RAMA where local talent come together for a fun evening of fast and furious connections. The focus of this evening is on making introductions that lead to real work.
EXHIBITION/GALLERY
Tuesday, September 19
5:30-7:30 PM
Artful Harmony: Art as the Soul of Interior Design
Would you have a living room without a sofa? Or a bedroom without a bed? For Kelly Taylor Interior Design and Candita Clayton Gallery, art is simply a non-negotiable component of any interior. Join Kelly and Candita in this combination talk, Q&A and gallery show, where they will share their secrets of integrating art with interior design.
WORKSHOP
Tuesday, September 19
6:30-8:00 PM
Letterpress Shop Tour and Hands-on Demo at DWRI Letterpress
Explore printing with Dan Wood and Lois Harada of DWRI Letterpress. Tour their workshop, learn about the letterpress printing process, and create personalized notecards using Linotype.
Wednesday, Sept. 20
EXHIBITION/GALLERY
Wednesday, September 20
12:00-1:00 PM
RISD Museum Exhibition Design Tour
Join RISD Museum staff as they share collaborative curatorial and design insights in the exhibit “Art and Design from 1990 to Now.” Learn about the role of graphic, layout, and interpretive elements in curation and experience how design decisions impact inclusion and accessibility.
OPEN STUDIO
Wednesday, September 20
4:00-6:00 PM
Scribble, Giggle, and Pop: E. Frances Paper Turns 10!
Come celebrate with the E. Frances team for a peek behind the scenes of our renovated auto repair shop turned vibrant paper studio as we celebrate our 10th year in business. Participate in our community letter-writing project by mailing a card to someone who could benefit from some kind words.
NETWORKING
Wednesday, September 20
5:00-6:00 PM
Social Hour at 10ksb
Please join us at Machines with Magnets to mingle and network with successful owners of design small businesses who are graduates of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program.
TALK
Wednesday, September 20
6:00-7:30 PM
Brown University’s Lindemann Performing Arts Center
Join us for a lecture by Adam Chizmar, project manager at REX Architecture, on the design of Brown’s new Lindemann Performing Arts Center. The Lindemann pushes the boundaries of innovation in performance space to inspire new forms of art-making and artistic collaboration.
EXHIBITION/GALLERY
Wednesday, September 20
6:00-8:00 PM
DESIGNxRI’s 10th Anniversary Exhibition: A Decade of Design in Rhode Island
Join us for the exhibition’s opening night! Rhode Island is a destination for world class design. This exhibit will showcase the vibrant design talent across Rhode Island spanning the past ten years!
Thursday, Sept. 21
TALK
OPEN STUDIO
Thursday, September 21
10:30 AM-12:00 PM
An Inside Look at an Artist Run Collaborative Gallery
Discover Hotpoint Emporium Artist Collaborative’s journey to a thriving local gallery. Meet board members, learn about our history, and explore our gallery. Founded by artists for artists, we’re a commission-free space fostering creative visions.
TOUR
Thursday, September 21
12:00-1:00 PM
Reel Virtual
(add)ventures, the first virtual production studio to open in New England, welcomes DESIGN WEEK attendees and the creative community to a live demo of our studio. Learn how we are leveraging the new technology in innovative ways, as well as inventing new processes to maximize the storytelling possibilities.
TOUR
WORKSHOP
Thursday, September 21
4:00-7:00 PM
Pulp it, Spin it, Weave it
Explore hand papermaking, weaving, and natural dyeing with Lauren Pearlman Sugita (Paper Connection) and Suzi Ballenger (Real Fibers). Tour tools, equipment, and the ART ANNEX, a collaborative makers’ space fostering traditions and innovations.
TALK
Thursday, September 21
4:30-7:30 PM
Design Thinking
Join Venture Café Providence for a Thursday Gathering as they kick off their new Idea to Impact Series! The first module of this ten part series will be focused on Design Thinking, led by Roberta Dombrowski of Learn Mindfully. Idea to Impact aims to overcome barriers that inhibit access to business resources, capital, and networks for historically underrepresented entrepreneurs.
TALK
Thursday, September 21
5:00-7:00 PM
Repair and Sustainable Design Futures
Join a 2-hour discussion panel led by Markus Berger, Director of the Repair Atelier and Professor of Interior Architecture at RISD, exploring how architects and designers can shift from mass production, aesthetics of either the new or the old to sustainable futures, unlearning mistakes, and questioning our design responses in a changing world. The multi-disciplinary panel will consist of architecture and design historians, industrial designers and Brown- RISD students and alumni.
TALK
OPEN STUDIO
Thursday, September 21
5:00-7:00 PM
Utile Architecture & Planning Open House
Explore Utile’s new Providence office, meet architects and planners, and delve into their impactful work in RI. Learn more about the I-195 Redevelopment District and enjoy free food and drinks.
EXHIBITION/GALLERY
Thursday, September 21
5:00-8:00 PM
Not in My Home
The Mue Collective invites viewers to visit a quintessential Providence home that has been furnished with the strangest and most cutting edge designs of RISD’s Furniture MFA in an exhibition aimed at interrogating the role of artistic design outside of galleries and showrooms.
OPEN STUDIO
Thursday, September 21
5:00-8:00 PM
K-Zao Fall/Winter ’23 Open Studio
At this Open Studio, the community is invited to join founder/tailor Bao in viewing both new designs and works in progress. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the bespoke process and try on some of K-zao’s newest samples!
NETWORKING
5:30-7:30 PM
Minority Designer Meet Up
Join us at 10 Rocks Tapas Bar for networking, drinks, and great conversation. RIMIAD aims to connect minorities from all design fields to network and help foster a supportive community in Rhode Island.
EXHIBITION/GALLERY
Thursday, September 21
6:00-7:30 PM
Gateways into the Polycene
The Polycene is an urgent call for your imagination — towards transformative alternatives to the currently dominant and human-centered processes of globalized development, including its structural roots in modernity, capitalism, neocolonialism, and heteropatriarchy. Join the CfC at this exhibition of work that addresses aspects of the Polycene through art, design, or curatorial practice.
EXHIBITION/GALLERY
Thursday, September 21
6:00-8:00 PM
New Work On View By Ben & Aja Blanc And O & G Studio
O&G Studio and Ben and Aja Blanc will be hosting an opening featuring new work by each firm.
NETWORKING
Thursday, September 21
6:00-8:00 PM
[CANCELED] Clever Cocktails
Come meet design pros from architecture to apparel. Hear quick introductions of their work, then mingle over drinks and bites for an evening geeking out on design work.
TALK
OPEN STUDIO
Thursday, September 21
6:00-8:00 PM
Unveiling the Future: An Immersive Journey into Wellness Device Innovation and Data Privacy
Join us for an electrifying event that delves into the world of wellness device innovation. Our panel of experts will discuss data privacy and security and how that plays into the development of wellness and medical devices.
Friday, Sept. 22
TOUR
Friday, September 22
12:00-1:00 PM
Newport Art Museum “Dress Code” Exhibition Tour
Join Newport Art Museum staff on a tour of the current exhibition “Dress Code”, which examines how clothing and personal style can function as an unspoken language, consciously or unconsciously shaping how we are seen. The artists and designers featured in this exhibition break the “norms” of dress to present their bodies and selves on their own terms.
TALK
Friday, September 22
2:00-4:00 PM
Design Law & Licensing: The Design Entrepreneur’s Roadmap to Commercial Licensing Success
In this interactive presentation, Flann will demonstrate how to shepherd a design from idea to licensed work to give participants an overview of the entire licensing process, including contracts, negotiations, and trademarks. This overview is a rare opportunity to assess the entire licensing business model and its potential fit with one’s entrepreneurial vision.
EXHIBITION/GALLERY
Friday, September 22
2:00-7:00 PM
A Decade of Design in Rhode Island Open Hours
In case you missed the exhibition opening, stop by Machines with Magnets to see DESIGNxRI’s 10th Anniversary Exhibition, featuring works by Rhode Island creators made during the last 10 years.
WORKSHOP
NETWORKING
Friday, September 22
2:00-5:00 PM
Design Ideation & Prototyping with Figma
Join this hackathon-type innovation product design workshop. Participants will learn about the key elements of an innovation mindset, Loft’s human-centered design approach, and the concept of rapid prototyping through interactive exercises and case studies.
OPEN STUDIO
Friday, September 22
5:00-8:00 PM
Asterfields Design Salon
Asterfields hosts the launch of new work by DESIGNxRI Catalyst Grant alums: Nicole Deponte, Slow Bloom Ceramics, and Soda Glassworks, with special guests Pretty Snake. Visit our new shop, enjoy a festive nite of bites and bubbly, and shop the alums’ beautiful work.
PARTY
NETWORKING
Friday, September 22
5:30-8:00 PM
Loft Annual Loftoberfest
Prost! It’s that time of the year again, and we’re thrilled to invite you to our annual Loftoberfest party! Join us for an unforgettable celebration filled with frothy beers, mouthwatering sausages, and a whole lot of fun. DJ’s will provide the sonic backdrop to a night of celebrations with the vibrant design community.
Saturday, Sept. 23
TOUR
EXHIBITION/GALLERY
Saturday, September 23
10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Tour de Murals: A Providence Street Art Bike Tour
This casual and relaxed bike tour will take us through the city’s streets, making frequent stops at captivating art pieces. Take your time to appreciate the art, learn intriguing insights, and experience the creative spirit of Providence while engaging in conversations with fellow art enthusiasts along the way.
TALK
WORKSHOP
Saturday, September 23
1:00-5:00 PM
[POSTPONED] Fabrication Fest 2023
Fabrication Fest is a fun-filled day of exploration, creativity, and curiosity focused on design and fabrication that is accessible to everyone from novices to experts. Everything from traditional methods of making things to digital fabrication with machines will be showcased at this show-and-tell event.
TALK
TOUR
Saturday, September 23
3:00-5:00 PM
When Kids Create: The Enduring Impact of Art & Design Education
Explore the impact of children’s art! A panel from Harbor Creative Arts shares enduring benefits of art education—confidence, community, and growth. Led by Rachel Armentano, it highlights emotional development, leadership, and community connection. A studio tour of the interior space and the outdoor creative play space called HCA Outside will be offered after the presentation.
WORKSHOP
Saturday, September 23
4:00-6:00 PM
Whisk Broom Making Workshop
Come learn the secrets to making your very own broom! Attendees will be guided through the tools, materials and process of making a small whisk broom during the event in this fun and conversational gathering. Learn a craft and discuss how skill sharing can connect the disparate creative circles in Rhode Island.
PARTY
Saturday, September 23
7:00-10:00 PM
DESIGNxRI’S 10th Birthday Bash and Fundraiser
Celebrate DESIGNxRI turning 10 years old and help raise funds to support our upcoming year of programs and events! Partake in a fabulous silent auction, have a glimpse into the mystical world with tarot reader extraordinaire Professor Astro VonPsyche, view the exhibition: A Decade of Design in Rhode Island, enjoy refreshing drinks, eat delectable food from Incred-A-Bowl, and dance the night away.
Volunteer with DxRI
Want to be part of the helping design shine? Volunteer with us!