Inspired by events staged in London, Milan, Tokyo and Moscow, Paris will experience an international-scale design week in conjunction with Maison&Objet this fall, September 12-18. 

Paris Design Week (aka Paris Capitale de la Création) is a cultural and commercial, professional and consumer event rolled into one. Its program will bring together 100+ events including top-ranking design exhibitions, launches of new collections, round tables and debates, installations, studio visits, exceptional locations and celebrations. These events give the general public the opportunity to freely discover the facets of design.

Etienne Cochet, Managing Director of SAFI,  created Design Week because he felt a 'general public' link in the design chain was still missing. "It is an extremely busy time in Paris. Design has become a strong communication world-scale signal reflecting the high level of culture and the industrial quality of a country. The French have a genuine asset in this field which will henceforth be promoted at this time of the year," he said.

The event aims to support the international profile of design in Paris. The birthplace of Haute Couture, but also of fine craftsmanship and design, from Charlotte Perriand to Jean-Michel Frank, Philippe Starck to Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Paris Design Week is intended to spotlight Paris as an ideas laboratory and an essential incubator of talents.

Attendees are encouraged to exchange new ideas, develop contacts and business, take advantage of the creative environment and celebrate design.

The week starts by emulating the September home and style exhibitions during the last days of Maison&Objet exhibition when some 100,000 visitors are present in Paris, including some 3,500 journalists from all over the world.