The first annual Boston Design Week, a 10-day citywide design festival March 20-30, will play host to more than 60 events including exhibitions, speaker presentations, receptions and behind-the-scenes tours—all free and open to the public.
“The goal of Boston Design Week is to increase public awareness and appreciation of all aspects of design and foster recognition of the vital role design and creative industries play in our lives,” said Tony Fusco, founder of the design week. “We want to offer the public an opportunity to explore architecture, urban design, interior design, fashion, graphic design, product and industrial design, and studio design such as furniture, decorative arts, sculpture, textiles, jewelry and more.”
Events will take place throughout Boston and its neighborhoods such as Fort Point Channel/Waterfront, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, North End, Roxbury, South Boston, and South End; and Greater Boston in Avon, Belmont, Brookline, Cambridge, Concord, Danvers, Natick, Newton, Norwell, Somerville, Sudbury and Wellesley.
Below is a synopsis of the events taking place throughout the week:
The week will kick off on Thursday evening, March 20, with The American Society of Interior Designers annual awards gala at the Mandarin Hotel in Boston.
The Park Square Design District events March 20-30 include open houses, cocktail hours, speakers and special sales at Park Square showrooms including bulthaup Boston, Christofle, Circle Furniture, Il Decor, International Poster Gallery, Landry & Arcari, Ligne Roset, Marcoz Antiques, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Montage, Pompanoosuc Mills and Thos. Moser.
Art & Design of the 20th & 21st Centuries and The Boston Print Fair, March 27-30, will feature 50 select exhibitors offering modern to contemporary fine art, jewelry, vintage and contemporary studio furniture, sculpture, photography and fine prints.
On Sunday, March 23, Poggenpohl will present “Downsize your Space. Maximize your Lifestyle” at the Newbury Street showroom.
“How Massachusetts Designers Changed the World” will take a look at historical design at the Restoration Resources Showroom on Monday, March 24.
Design specialists will discuss “How to Build Your Brand” at the West Elm showroom in Fenway on Thursday, March 27.
Fusco will conclude the week on Sunday, March 30, with “Design that Endures, Ensuring the Future” at the AD20/21 show.
Twenty-five non-profit partner organizations will offer an array of programming, including AIGA Boston, ASID, Artisan’s Asylum, BostonAPP/Lab, Boston Architectural College, Boston Preservation Alliance, Boston Society of Architects (BSA), cultureNow, Design Industry Group of Massachusetts (DIGMA), Design Museum Boston, The French Cultural Center, Fuller Craft Museum, Future Boston Alliance, Institute for Human Centered Design, International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA), International Interior Design Association (IIDA), Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Museum of Fine Arts Boston (MFA), North Bennet Street School, School of Fashion Design, The Society of Arts and Crafts, Wentworth Institute of Technology and Youth Design.
