Experience, discover, and celebrate Rhode Island’s design community during 11 days of events! The third annual DESIGN WEEK RI, from September 14th through the 25th, features more than 35 events throughout the state, including speakers, tours, eat and speak lunches, panel discussions and parties.
DESIGN WEEK RI officially kicks off with a party at the Arcade on Friday, September 16th. Doors open at 7 PM, and tickets are $25. Hosted by the Providence Design Catalyst designers, this fundraising event offers imaginative displays, performance antics, music, drinks, food stations, and more. You’ll have a chance to interact with designers, bid on custom auction items, and enter raffles for prizes.
The week culminates with the RI Design Hall of Fame Party on Thursday, September 22nd from 6 to 10 PM at the Rooftop at Providence G. Tickets are $65 (and $55 before September 19th). The party features heavy hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and DESIGNxRI’s inauguration of emerging designers and lifetime achievement award winners into the RI Design Hall of Fame.
In between, from Monday through Friday, start each morning at Design Hub Open Coffees in the parklet space outside BOLT Coffee at The Dean Hotel, 122 Fountain Street. Sign up to hear keynote speaker James Wynn, partner and vice president at SYPartners, on Tuesday, September 20th. And RSVP for eat & speak lunches including a downtown Providence design tour on Tuesday, September 21st and a conversation about re-envisioning Kennedy Plaza on Wednesday, September 22nd.
Mark your calendars for special events like the Business Innovation Factory Summit on Wednesday, September 14th, PARK(ing) Day on Friday, September 16th, the Ocean State Oyster Festival on Saturday, September 17th, the Marathon Clambake at Aurora on Wednesday, September 21st, and the Downcity Design Block on Saturday, September 24th in Grants Block.
DESIGN WEEK RI is hosted by DESIGNxRI, with partners: RI School of Design, City of Providence, IIDA, ASID, AIAri, AIGA-RI, RI-ASLA and A Better World by Design. Special thanks to DWRI 2016 Platinum Sponsor: Ximedica, as well as other sponsors including: 10,000 Small Businesses, Providence Monthly, Polaris MEP, MOO, (add)ventures, RI State Council on the Arts, parsonsKellogg, IOLabs, and Bradford Soap Works. For updates, like DESIGNxRI on Facebook.