Detroit ‘Month of Design’ to highlight inclusivity for 2019

Over the years, Design Core Detroit has transformed September into a nonstop, month-long celebration of design in the city. This year’s iteration features some of the same events that have become staples of the festival, like Eastern Market After Dark and Light Up Livernois (though it will be modified somewhat due to road construction on Livernois Avenue).

But with 55 events, almost all of which are free, on nearly every day of the month, there’s plenty of new things on the schedule. And a definite emphasis on a new theme.

In April this year, Design Core Detroit released a report that looked at ways to grow the city through inclusive design practices. Programming at this year’s festival reflects that new direction.

On September 29th, there will be a ceremony at Beacon Park unveiling the winners of the Detroit City of Design Competition. The three winning teams came up with prototypes that will eventually be installed in Detroit neighborhoods for up to six month. SmithGroup, for example, designed a public installation for Hope Village with hand-powered cranks and stationary bikes that powers a display panel showing energy output, among other features.

Other events as part of the theme of inclusive design include the wide-ranging exhibition, “Detroit Design 139,” which kicks off the festival on September 5 and will be featured in four different spaces across the city. There’s also Halal Metropolis, an exhibition exploring Muslim identity in metro Detroit; multiple talks on diversity in design and music; presentations on empowering communities through design; and more.

“In a city where we have significant challenges, we want to show how design can be a tool for improving quality of life and economic opportunity,” says Olga Stella, executive director of Design Core Detroit.

There’s many other talks, tours, and open studio events, so be sure to check out the full schedule for up to date information on when and where everything takes place.

While the festival is in its ninth year, it greatly expanded in scope after Detroit was named a “City of Design” by UNESCO in 2015—the first American city to receive the honor. Representatives from all 31 cities meet on an annual basis, and this is the first year that they’ll be convening in Detroit.

“Detroit needs to be seen on a global stage,” Stella says. “We’ll spending time amongst ourselves working on issues of shared interest, but the other half is about getting out and seeing the city.”

Ultimately, the Month of Design is about showcasing Detroit’s design legacy and its promising future.

“The whole purpose is to create enough buzz and energy that people in the region and around the world look to Detroit every September,” Stell says. “And find inspiration in what they see.”