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DESIGN WEEK RI 2025 Host Resources
Welcome to DESIGN WEEK RI 2025! On this page you can find everything you need to know about hosting an event or open studio during DESIGN WEEK RI. There are three different opportunities to apply to host an event or open studio during DESIGN WEEK RI: Providence Open Studios on Friday (limited to DESIGN WEEK RI sponsors), Saturday (northern RI) and Sunday (southern RI) Open Studios, and DESIGN WEEK RI events (Saturday-Friday).
Learn more about hosting an event or open studio during DESIGN WEEK RI 2025 and apply below. We can’t wait to see what you propose, and we look forward to having you as a part of the 12th annual DESIGN WEEK RI!
Ready to apply? See the application options below. Even if you have hosted in years past, please make sure to review the hosting details before submitting your application as things may have changed slightly!
Open Studio Proposals close May 14th and DESIGN WEEK RI Event Proposals close May 21st.
For any questions, please contact devanshi@designxri.com.
What is DESIGN WEEK RI?
DESIGN WEEK RI is put on by DESIGNxRI.
:: spoken : Design by Rhode Island ::
DESIGNxRI is a nonprofit economic development organization that creates an opportunity-driven environment for RI designers, design businesses, and the design sector to thrive. We believe design is a critical economic sector that drives change globally, socially, and locally in the state of RI.
DESIGN WEEK RI is the annual celebration of design in RI since 2013! We invite the design and creative community to celebrate with us, sharing the unique story of design in Rhode Island through collaboration and engagement!
This year, DESIGN WEEK RI will run from Friday, September 12th to Friday, September 19th. DESIGNxRI is producing a highly curated week of programming with limited event overlap, ensuring maximum event attendance and accessibility to interested participants! The week will feature thoughtful programs that engage the public around design. Events can be a talk, a tour, a workshop, panel discussions, or a family event all centered around a design and creative practice in Rhode Island.
DESIGN WEEK RI will include:
- Open Studios from Friday 9/12 – Sunday 9/14
- Events and Programs from Saturday 9/13 – Friday 9/19, featuring:
- DESIGNxRI Events
- Partnered Key Events with RISD, Gallery Night, and Innovate Newport
- Sponsored Events
- Curated Events from Community Proposals
What is Open Studios Weekend?
Open Studios Weekend is a curated 3 day event within DESIGN WEEK RI, where local studios open their doors and connect with the community. This is organized and curated so that design enthusiasts can visit multiple studios in proximity to each other, explore the state, and connect with design studios in a unique way.
Running from Friday, September 12th to Sunday, September 14th, Friday features sponsoring open studios in Providence, while Saturday is centered on studios in northern RI and Sunday on studios in southern RI.
Schedule of Events
DESIGN WEEK RI 2025 runs from September 12th – 19th. Below are some of the key events.
Open Studios Hosts vs. Event Hosts
Open Studios Weekend is its own three day event within DESIGN WEEK RI, taking place on Friday 9/12, Saturday 9/13, and Sunday 9/14. Open Studios are come-and-go drop in studio hours that don’t need a planned program.
A DESIGN WEEK RI event is an event with a planned, timed program or activity. Event Host slots are available from Saturday 9/13 – Friday 9/19. We are looking for thoughtfully planned events and programs that engage the public around design. Events can be a talk, a tour, a workshop, panel discussions, or a family event all centered around a design and creative practice in Rhode Island.
You may host both a distinct Open Studio and a distinct event. For more information about Open Studios Weekend and DESIGN WEEK RI events, see the Open Studios and Event Host sections below.
Open Studios Hosts
Friday - Sunday, September 12th - 14thUnsure if you’re an Open Studio host? See “Open Studios Hosts vs. Event Hosts” above.
Next Steps
Participating as a DESIGN WEEK RI Open Studio will carry a $25 administrative fee to offset the operational cost for planning and hosting DESIGN WEEK RI. If accepted, this fee will be due on June 5th along with an Open Studio Confirmation form. The form for payment will be provided if your event is selected for inclusion in DESIGN WEEK RI 2025.
Friday afternoon’s Open Studios are a highly curated, sponsored collection of studios for industry leaders in Providence open from 1-5 PM before the DESIGN WEEK RI Kickoff Party. There are only 5 slots for available for Friday’s Open Studios. If interested in sponsoring, please reach out to reba@designxri.com and fill out the Friday Open Studios Form.
If interested in hosting an Open Studio for DESIGN WEEK RI 2025 please follow the application process below:
- Submit the Open Studios Weekend Form
If you’re a creative business, design firm, or designer with a studio space interested in participating in DESIGN WEEK RI Open Studios Weekend, please fill out the Saturday/Sunday Open Studios Form. If you are interested in sponsoring DESIGN WEEK RI 2025 and hosting an open studio, please fill out the Friday Open Studios Form. Friday Open Studios are limited to sponsoring hosts.
Both forms will be open from Thursday, April 24th – Wednesday, May 14th.
2. Keep an eye out for Open Studios Weekend notices of acceptance in late May
DESIGNxRI will contact all Open Studios Weekend applicants by the end of May. If accepted, DESIGNxRI will send an Open Studios Schedule for review and confirmation. A final confirmation form and the $25 administrative fee will be due June 5th.
Once a schedule confirmation has been sent and the administrative fee has been paid, you are officially a DESIGN WEEK RI 2025 Open Studios Host.
Materials
Open Studios hosts are provided with the following digital assets:
- Studio-specific social media graphics
- General Open Studios Weekend social media graphics
- Social media caption suggestions
- DESIGNxRI logo
- DESIGN WEEK RI Open Studios Weekend logo
Open Studios hosts will be provided with the following print assets:
- General DESIGN WEEK RI posters
- DESIGN WEEK RI brochures
- Printable DESIGN WEEK RI Open Studios Weekend door signs
What to Expect
- DESIGNxRI will be promoting Open Studios Weekend on social media and by email
- Because of the large number of open studios, DESIGNxRI may not be able to post individually on our social medias about each studio. However, if you post and tag us, we are happy to share your open studio in stories! See the Marketing Guidelines section for details
- Open Studios Weekend is organized by location. Work together with other studios to share your event by tagging and sharing each other’s content!
- DESIGNxRI will host the Open Studios Weekend Calendar on our website, which will include a general interest page for Open Studios Weekend where potential attendees can select studios they’re interested in, but we will not require registration for each studio
Event Hosts
Saturday - Friday, September 13th - 19thUnsure if you’re an Event host? See “Open Studios Hosts vs. Event Hosts” above.
Next Steps
Participating as a DESIGN WEEK RI event host will carry a $50 administrative fee to offset the operational cost for planning and hosting DESIGN WEEK RI. If accepted, this fee will be due on June 5th along with a Final Event and Marketing Detail form. The form for payment will be provided if your event is selected for inclusion in DESIGN WEEK RI 2025.
If interested in hosting an event for DESIGN WEEK RI 2025, please fill out the following form: DESIGN WEEK RI 2025 Event Proposal Form
The application process is outlined below:
- Submit the DESIGN WEEK RI 2025 Event Proposal Form
If you have an idea for a DESIGN WEEK RI event you’d like to host, please complete the Event Proposal Form. This form will be open from Thursday, April 24th – Wednesday, May 21st.
2. Keep an eye out for DESIGN WEEK RI event notices of acceptance in late May
DESIGNxRI will contact all DESIGN WEEK RI event applicants by May 27th. If accepted, applicants will receive the Final Event and Marketing Detail form and DESIGN WEEK RI administrative fee form, due June 5th.
Once both forms are completed and the administrative fee has been paid, you are officially a DESIGN WEEK RI 2025 Event Host.
Materials
Weekday event hosts are provided with the following digital assets:
- Event-specific social media graphics
- General DESIGN WEEK RI social media graphics
- Social media caption suggestions
- DESIGNxRI logo
- DESIGN WEEK RI logo
Weekday event hosts will be provided with the following print assets:
- General DESIGN WEEK RI posters
- DESIGN WEEK RI brochures
- Printable DESIGN WEEK RI Event door signs
What to Expect
- DESIGNxRI will be promoting DESIGN WEEK RI on social media and by email
- This year, DESIGNxRI is excited to be able to share each event on our social media! In addition to sharing personalized graphics with each host, we will also be posting them on our own social media and tagging hosts. Hosts are still expected to promote their own events and are encouraged to tag DESIGNxRI so we can help cross-promote. See the Marketing Guidelines section for details
- DESIGNxRI will host a DESIGN WEEK RI event calendar on our website, including registration pages for each weekday event where guests can sign up to attend. Event hosts will receive registration lists prior to their event so they can keep track of attendance (to be shared with DESIGNxRI)
Marketing Guidelines
DESIGN WEEK RI title variations
- Any of the following: DESIGN WEEK RI, DESIGN WEEK RI 2025. “DESIGN WEEK RI” should always be uppercase and should always include “RI,” as not to be confused with other Design Weeks around the world. Please do not use the abbreviation DWRI as it might be confused with DWRI Letterpress.
DESIGNxRI name variations
- DxRI or DESIGNxRI. “DESIGN” and “RI” should always be uppercase. The “x” should always be lowercase. “DESIGNxRI” is spoken as “Design by Rhode Island” similarly to how “2×4” is spoken as “two by four.”
DxRI website and social media
- Website: www.designxri.com
- DESIGN WEEK RI Page: https://www.designxri.com/events-calendar/design-week-ri/
- Linktree: www.linktr.ee/DesignxRI
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designxri/ (@designxri)
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/designxri/ (@designxri)
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/designxri (@designxri)
- X: https://twitter.com/DESIGNxRI (@DESIGNxRI)
- Social media hashtags: #DESIGNWEEKRI, #DESIGNWEEKRI2025, #DESIGNWEEKRIOpenStudios, #OpenStudiosWeekendRI