‘Solving Problems & Enhancing Daily Life within the City’
The 8th Annual DesignPhiladelphia Festival returns this week, honoring its vital role of design within the region, celebrating the City of Philadelphia’s contemporary significance as a center for creative advancement.
DesignPhiladelphia demonstrates, supports and promotes the ability that design has to generate innovation, solve problems, enhance daily life, and influence both the perception and economics of the region.
DesignPhiladelphia is one of the most important design festivals in the country, uniting and highlight all design disciplines to promote a unique and innovative Philadelphia,” says Jason Schupbach, director of design for the National Endowment for the Arts. “DesignPhiladelphia is a model for how cities can leverage their local assets and create a compelling urban brand, one that attracts visitors and new residents alike.”
The festival is the nation’s largest of its kind with 120 events taking place in a 5 day period all over the city, showcasing the work of 450 national and international designers. Below is our quick guide of some of the events that we found interesting.
- PopUp Place ~ October 10 ~ The DesignPhiladelphia Festival kick-off party. An evening of design exhibitions, fashion showcases, with food and drinks. From 5:30 pm-7:30 pm in Northern Liberties.
- Fast Forward >> What’s Next for Philly?: ~ October 10 ~ (free) A lineup of presenters from various creative backgrounds will Fast Forward through 20 slides at 20 seconds each to answer one question: What’s next for Philly? From 6-8 pm at the Center for Architecture on 1218 Arch Street. The conversation continues offstage at a happy hour.
- Four Corners Exhibition & Opening Party ~ October 10-14 ~ (free, except party) Four Corners is a window into Philadelphia’s current design identity and an answer to the question: What is Philadelphia design today? Pieces by designers and brands based in and around Philadelphia are showcased in the familiar context of a lived-in loft. The exhibits can be seen at Minima on 118 N 3rd Street, 2nd floor from 11 am – 6 pm daily. The party is at the same place on October 12 from 6 pm to 10 pm.
- Printing in the Open: Common Press: ~ October 11 ~ (free) Printing in the Open, a one-night only, interactive printing event, bringing together Marc Blumthal, Marianne Dages and Matt Neff, will take place in the garden, where you can help print unique designs inspired by the center’s op-art exhibition Color Motion: Edna Andrade Prints. From 6-8 pm at The Print Center on 1614 Latimer Street. BYO t-shirt, tote bag or bandana! Tote bags will also be available for purchase.
- Philadelphia’s Green Affordable Housing Tour: ~ October 11 ~ (free) Take a bus tour with the Office of Housing and Community Development of recently completed and under construction developments with green and blue roofs, permeable paving, solar hot water systems and sustainable features reducing stormwater and heat island impacts. And get a chance to meet the developers, architects and government officials making Philadelphia the “greenest city in America” through affordable housing development. RSVP to michelle.sonsino@phila.gov. From 4-5:45 pm, departing from the Connelly House on 1212 Ludlow Street.
- Adrian Pearsall Furniture Exhibit/Presentation ~ October 12 ~ (free) A look into the life and mind of the great mid-century modern furniture designer, Adrian Pearsall. This event will consist of a furniture exhibition including some of his finest pieces collected from the surrounding area accompanied by presentations given by his daughter, son, and wife. Cocktails and hors d’oeurves will be served. From 6-9pm at the ReMod Gallery at 38 S. 3rd Street.
- Sustainable Streets Scavenger Hunt: ~ October 13 ~ (free) Join The Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities and the Philadelphia Water Department for a Sustainable Streets Scavenger Hunt. Participants will be able to explore some of Philadelphia’s most innovative street design features from those that reduce storm-water overflow to those that protect Philadelphians as they cross, drive, or ride down our urban corridors. From 11 am-1 pm, held at the Columbus Square Recreation Center on 1200 Warton Street.
- Explore Philly Painting ~ October 13 ~ Explore Philly Painting, through the Mural Arts Program, is a guided walking tour and artists’ talk, and experience the powerful transformation of the Philly Painting project. From10 am-noon, taking place at 2500-2800 Germantown Avenue in North Philly.
- Green Wall Design: ~ October 13 ~ (free) This demonstration will educate you on the intricacies of green wall design. You’ll be shown how to design, prepare and build a living green wall in your home or business. RSVP to curt@urbanjunglephila.com. From 4-5:30 pm at Urban Jungle on 1526 East Passyunk Avenue.
- The Switched-On Garden 002: ~ October 14 ~ (free) Join Data Garden at the oldest surviving botanic garden in North America for an interactive exhibition exploring the relationship between plants, music and technology. You’ll have the opportunity to wander Bartram’s Garden and connect with their natural environment through live music, performance and sculpture that blurs the distinction between biological and digital worlds. From 2-8 pm at Bartram’s Garden on 54th Street and Lindberg Boulevard.
Click the appropriate links for a list of DesignPhiladelphia’s Feature Events and All Events.
DesignPhiladelphia transforms the city into a stage for ideas and designs of the present and future, highlighting the impact design plays in our everyday lives. During this festival, you truly get to embark on what design is all about and how it strives to enrich the city in many areas of our daily lives.
Location
All over the City
Dates
October 10-14, 2012
Phone
(215) 717-6515
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