DesignPhiladelphia
The DesignPhiladelphia festival, the city-wide celebration of all things design, has been presented in partnership with the University of the Arts since 2010. Now in its ninth year, it is one of the largest events of its kind in the country, featuring over 130 events and more than 400 participating designers.
Held each October, the festival showcases the role that design has played historically in the region and celebrates Philadelphia's contemporary significance as a center for creative advancement, bringing together individuals and organizations from across the design spectrum and building valuable community relationships.
The DesignPhiladelphia initiative unites the creative disciplines – from architecture to interior design, fashion to product design, multimedia to graphic design – reinforcing the message that Philadelphia is a rich resource for creativity, innovation and cultural vibrancy.
Organized by Executive Director Hilary Jay, the festival includes a dynamic mix of open studios, exhibitions, lectures, runway shows, tours and workshops that take place in boutiques, galleries, museums, universities, warehouses and city streets. A vast majority of DesignPhiladelphia events are free and open to the public.
